Leadville 100 Run 2027 Crew & Spectator Guide: Twin Lakes Aid Station, Hope Pass and Shuttle Rules

The Leadville Trail 100 Run is scheduled for Saturday, August 21, 2027, according to the Leadville Race Series. The Leadville Trail 100 MTB is a week earlier, on August 14, 2027. For crews, the key stop is the Twin Lakes Village aid station, which runners pass on the way out to Hope Pass and again on the way back. Under the official 2026 crew rules, Twin Lakes had no driving access: crews rode a race shuttle from the Outward Bound aid station and had to wear crew wristbands.

Quick answer: Leadville 100 key facts for crews

• LT100 Run 2027: August 21, 2027, with a 4:00 a.m. start at 6th Street and Harrison Avenue in Leadville (2026 start time; 2027 schedule subject to change).
• LT100 MTB 2027: August 14, 2027.
• Lottery: open December 1–15, 2026, with results announced January 6, 2027. Entry was $495 in 2026; 2027 pricing is not yet posted.
• Cutoffs: 30 hours for an official finish and the small buckle; under 25 hours for the big buckle, based on chip time.
• Twin Lakes aid station (2026 course): mile 40.3 outbound and mile 64 inbound. On the traditional course, it sits at about mile 37.9 and 61.8.
• Crew access to Twin Lakes (2026): shuttle only from Outward Bound, running 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. or until all crews are back.
• Pacers: allowed from Twin Lakes inbound onward.

Why Twin Lakes and Hope Pass matter

The LT100 Run is an out-and-back of roughly 100 miles that starts and finishes in Leadville at 10,200 feet. Its crux is Hope Pass, at about 12,500 feet, which runners climb twice: once outbound to the Winfield turnaround, then again on the way home. For trail detail on that climb, see our guide to the Hope Pass hike. Twin Lakes Village is the last crew stop before the first climb and the first crew stop after the second. Runners drop in at Twin Lakes needing food, dry layers and headlamps before Hope Pass, and come back through often wrecked, ready to pick up a pacer. That's why so many crews plan their whole day around this one aid station.

The 2027 course hasn't been published yet; the race says to stay tuned. In 2026, the Willow Fire forced a reroute around Turquoise Lake that avoided Hagerman Pass Road and Sugarloaf, which pushed Twin Lakes to mile 40.3 and 64. Expect the 2027 mileages to change, and use the official course page as your source.

Crew access and parking rules at Twin Lakes

These are the official 2026 crew rules. The race updates them each year, so reread them in the final athlete guide before August:

• No driving access. All crews use the shuttle from Outward Bound, which runs continuously in a loop between Outward Bound and Twin Lakes Village.
• Wristbands required, except for kids 10 and under. In 2025, each athlete received four crew wristbands and one pacer wristband.
• Reserved crewing spaces are 10-by-10-foot areas assigned to a specific athlete and crew. Tents, chairs and other large items are allowed if they fit, but large items must be dropped off Friday. In 2025, spaces were assigned through a random drawing with sign-up windows in May and July.
• Open crewing area for everyone else: a shared space with shade and seating. No tents, chairs or coolers. The race says to bring only what fits in your lap on the shuttle.
• Crew only at official crew locations. In 2026 those were Outward Bound, the Pipeline Alternate and Twin Lakes Village. Crewing anywhere else can get your runner disqualified.
• No crewing at the Twin Lakes Forest Service site or visitor center. The race says crews are no longer allowed there because of past damage.

Outward Bound has no crewing or parking restrictions, and setup there starts at 5 a.m. Saturday. Give yourself extra time: shuttles, crowds and a walk to the aid station all add up.

Timing: when will your runner reach Twin Lakes?

Use the cutoffs as outer limits, not targets. In 2026, the published Saturday cutoffs were:

• Twin Lakes Village outbound: 2:15 p.m.
• Hope Pass outbound: 4:45 p.m.
• Winfield turnaround: 6:50 p.m.
• Twin Lakes Village inbound: 11:00 p.m.

On the traditional 2025 course, the Twin Lakes cutoffs were 1:30 p.m. outbound and 10:15 p.m. inbound. Build your crew plan around your runner's own expected splits, with the cutoffs as the latest possible arrival, and follow them live. The race offers SMS athlete tracking and live results through ChronoTrack. Cell service is patchy in the valley: the race notes that runners cut at Winfield are shuttled back to Twin Lakes, and only get cell service again near Granite.

Pacers at Twin Lakes

Pacers can start at Twin Lakes inbound. Each pacer must wear a pacer bib and sign a waiver, online or at a checkpoint. Only one pacer may run with a runner at a time until mile 99. Pacers may carry food and gear for their runner, but they may not push, pull or tow. After dark on the return from Hope Pass, a fresh pacer with a good headlamp is worth a lot.

Spectator tips for Twin Lakes

1. Pack for every season. The race says Leadville August days can reach the upper 70s while nights fall into the upper 20s, with rain, hail or even snow possible, and lightning above treeline.
2. Be bear smart. The race warns that trash at Twin Lakes attracts bears; keep food and scented items in bear-proof containers or locked vehicles.
3. Respect fire rules. In 2026, the race reminded crews that Leadville and Twin Lakes were under a Stage 2 fire ban; check current restrictions.
4. Leave no trace: use portable toilets and pack out trash, and don't block driveways or disturb residents.
5. Visit the free Race Across the Sky Expo downtown during packet pickup for athlete panels and the race-week buzz.

If you're staying in Twin Lakes, don't assume you can drive to the aid station. The crew rules above cover crews, so check the final athlete guide for any race-day road and access instructions.

The Leadville 100 MTB, one week earlier

The Leadville Trail 100 MTB on August 14, 2027, also passes the Twin Lakes area, at the Twin Lakes Dam aid station. In 2026 it sat at mile 38.2 outbound and 61.8 inbound. In 2026, MTB crews for most starting corrals also had to use a shuttle from Outward Bound, running 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. Riders in the Gold, Silver and Red corrals got a parking pass and a reserved space. Many families come for both weekends, which is one more reason Lake County beds go early in August.

Why crews book group lodging near Twin Lakes early

A typical crew is a runner, a couple of crew members and one or more pacers, all running on little sleep. Leadville's lodging is limited, and August race weeks fill up fast. A house in Twin Lakes keeps everyone together near the key aid station, with room to spread out gear, drop bags and food. It also gives acclimatizing runners a quiet base at about 9,200 feet. See our comparison of where to stay at Twin Lakes for options beyond The Big Mack, and plan to stock up for a group stay before race day. For more on the area, see our Mount Elbert and Twin Lakes hiking guide and things to do in Twin Lakes and Leadville. For training hikes near the course, try the Twin Lakes village and reservoir trails.

Where to stay for the Leadville 100

The Big Mack is across the road from Twin Lakes and sleeps 12 across four bedrooms: three king rooms for runners who need real sleep, and a downstairs bunk room for crew and pacers. There's a full kitchen for race-week fueling, a washer and dryer for muddy kit, a grill, a hot tub for the day after, Wi-Fi for live tracking, and parking for several crew cars. Leadville is roughly 20–30 minutes north for packet pickup and the finish line.

Check your dates and book direct.