buffaLO STAMPEDE 100k
6 am Saturday March 29, 2025
Where: The Pavillion, Pioneer Park, Bright
Distance: 101.6 km
Elevation: 5,131m Ascent+ 5,131m Descent-
Cut off: 28 hours
Western States Qualifier Cut off: 23 hours
Prizes: (TBA)
Course Description
An epic course from the alpine township of Bright, to the Horn, the highest point of the Mount Buffalo National Park, and back. With 5,131 metres of elevation gain over 101.6km, this is a challenge for your mind, body and your love of the mountains.
Starting at 6am at The Trailhead at the Pavillion, runners will only have 1.8km to warm up before the first climb up Emily's Spur (1.7km, 440m+) to the summit of Mystic. Then they will descend some technical MTB single trails and dirt roads to the Bakers Gully Aid Station. From here the race turns upwards again via Middle Track (2km with 510m+), a technical climb with steep sections. The first 10k of the race is the hardest, with over 1000m+ of vertical gain.
The Race then makes its way around to Clearspot Aid Station, with Stunning views of the course that awaits. Take a quick breather before the long undulating descent of Snake Ridge. This descent has some kickers in it so don't turn off the climbing legs yet, and enjoy the views!
Traverse the 3km of road across the Buckland Valley before starting the climb up Keatings Ridge, which is your entrance into the Mount Buffalo National Park. Descend the other side of this serene dirt road, down to Eurobin Creek Aid Station.
The Big Walk awaits, with 10km and 1000m+ of climbing. this climb will take you on a journey through the steep lower slopes, to the gently pitched single track in the middle, to the rocky sections around Mackays with exceptional views, to finally spitting you out at the Chalet.
From here you begin the 28km of the course on the Mount Buffalo Plateau where you traverse lands that home plants found nowhere else on earth. These trails are remote and beautiful. Settle into your rhythm at altitude and enjoy Lake Catani, Long Plain Track, the Cathedral and the Hump. Runners summit the Horn at over 1,723 metres to 360’ degree views of the National Park plateau and the Australian Alps.
Loop your way back to the Chalet past Mt Dunn, the reservoirs and the Monolith Track. Here you truly are on your way home with the big descent off the mountain down the Big Walk. Retrace your steps over Keatings Ridge and through the Buckland to the bottom of Dingo Ridge Climb.
Dingo Ridge is your final test, coming 88km into the race, it is the final climb but a big one, with 757m+ over 6.3km to Clearspot. Recoup at the Aid Station, then bomb the last downhill direct to Town. The descent off Clearspot to Bakers Gully is steep in sections, but is broken up nicely into different gradients, and is 4.7km with 661m-.
From the bottom there is 2.2km to go! Scoot around some local singletracks and dirt roads, before hitting the tarmac down Ballroom court with 640m to go. Cross Coronation Avenue with CARE, bomb down the grassy slope, where you will see the long awaited finish line at the Pavillion in Pioneer Park!
The Course
SingleTrack Events have partnered up with friends of trail CAPRA to equip you with the cleanest, easiest to follow maps you’ll ever come across.
It is a mandatory inclusion for all participants to have both the CAPRA app AND the relevant Buffalo Stampede maps on the mobile phone they will be using during their event.
Grab your mobile phone and scan the QR Code below to get started.
FAQs
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Race Entry
GST and registration platform fees
Professional on-course sports photography available for purchase
Coveted Finishers Medallion
Special 100k Finishers Towel wrapped around you at the finish line
Fully marked course
Expert event medical support
On-course nutrition and refreshments
Drop Bag Service
Professional event timing
Live real-time results via on-course checkpoints
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- Baker's Gully: 8.2km, 526m+, 405m-
- Clearspot Outbound: 4.8km, 675m+, 118m-
- Buckland Outbound: 9.3km, 231m+, 942m-
- Eurobin Outbound: 8.1km, 350m+, 325m-
- Chalet Outbound: 10.2km, 1100m+, 83m-
- Cresta Valley Outbound: 9.0km, 404m+, 258m-
- Cresta Valley Inbound: 7.0km, 262m+-
- Chalet Inbound: 11.6km, 363m+, 503m-
- Eurobin Inbound: 10.2km, 83m+, 1100m-
- Buckland Inbound: 8.1km, 325m+, 350m-
- Clearspot Inbound: 7.6km, 800m+, 88m-
- FINISH: 6.9km, 77m+, 761m-
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Total Cut-off: 28 hours
Western States Qualifier Cut off: 23 Hours
SATURDAY
- START The Pavillion, Pioneer Park: 6:00 am
- Baker's Gully: 8:00 am
- Clearspot Outbound: 10:00 am
- Buckland Outbound: 11:30 am
- Eurobin Outbound: 1:15 pm
- Chalet Outbound: 4:00 pm
- Cresta Valley Outbound: 6:30 pm
- Cresta Valley Inbound: 8:30 pm
SUNDAY
- Chalet Inbound: 12:00 am
- Eurobin Inbound: 2:45 am
- Buckland Inbound: 5:15 am
- Clearspot Inbound: 8:00 am
- FINISH: 10:00 am
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A New addition to the Bright Ultra in 2024 will be the added option of having a pacer from the Mount Buffalo Chalet (68.2km) to the FINISH. A runner can only have one pacer with them on course at any time, however that pacer can interchange with someone else at any point. They must change the pacing bib over.
This has been added to assist runners who might have fear of running through the night. It will also potentially improve runners' experience of the race in the final stages. On top of this we expect it might help some athletes to run faster with the right choice of mental coach to run with.
The charge for a pacer is $50 to cover insurance, aid station supplies and admin. No additional charge interchanging pacers.
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There are many places over the course where spectators and crew can see their runners. Please refer to the interactive CAPRA Map to find the best places to see them. All Aid Stations are easily accessible in 2WD as well as all roads on Mount Buffalo. The only dirt roads are the last 2km to the Baker’s Gully Aid Station and from Cresta Valley to the Horn. If you want to drive to Clearspot to spectate or crew, please follow the CAPRA map route to the summit as it can be confusing to find your way.
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An “Athlete Bag Drop” service will be managed by a team of volunteers from the Event Village.
This service is exclusive to 100km Bright Ultra athletes.
The Aid Stations where these Drop Bags will be made available will be via Eurobin (inbound / outbound) and Cresta Valley (inbound / outbound).
Athletes are requested to provide all gear in their own labelled, insulated, zipped “Woolworths-type” bag where practical. Please clearly identify it with your bib number and the appropriate Aid Station (Eurobin / Cresta Valley).
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Waterproof Jacket with hood. Must be made with a waterproof and breathable membrane. The hood must be attached to the jacket by the original manufactured design and must be seam sealed. Must be suitable for protection in bad weather in the Mountains.
Thermal long sleeve top weighing at least 180g (mens medium) made of polypropylene or wool textile only.
Thermal long pants (polypropylene or wool textile only) (weather dependant, TBA prior to the race via Text and email)
Waterproof Pants, with sealed seams (weather dependant, TBA prior to the race via Text and email)
Warm headwear (beanie, buff or balaclava)
Warm full fingered Gloves
2L Litres of liquid storage capacity
Snake Bite Bandage with indicators (not less than 10cm x 2m). We recommend SMART bandage (LINK HERE with valuable information on snake bites as well)
Fully charged Smart Phone that is switched on. It is highly recommended you carry a power bank or have a system to charge your phone at aid stations. Turn off Bluetooth, wifi, and close all apps except Capra. If you listen to music, do it through an ipod or you must carry a power bank to charge the phone.
Survival / Emergency Blanket
Two (2) working torches one with spare batteries. The spare batteries can be a separate power bank to charge a head torch.
Collapsible cup 150ml (recommended, this is a cup free event)
Mystic Park Membership (details TBA as the ownership has changed)
Fleece/Second Warm Layer (recommended if cold forecast, not mandatory)
Ice Bandana / Neck Cooler (recommended if over 23C). There will be ice, at key points on course to cool runners heading into hot sections. The T8 neck coolers are very easy to use and cover the neck perfectly.
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There is no qualification process to run the Buffalo Stampede 100k. We believe with a big field like we have, and good medical coverage that this is a good first 100k race for someone. However, this is a hard 100k as far a trail races go. There is lots of technical trail and steep climbs and descents, so please be prepared and properly trained come March!
The Buffalo Stampede 100k is a UTMB® World Series Qualifier Event.
All runners who complete the course gain qualifier points for their UTMB® Index.
Runners with a valid UTMB® Index will have privileged access to register for a UTMB® World Series Event or UTMB® World Series Major and will use their UTMB® Index to validate their entry into the UTMB® World Series Finals lottery.
The Buffalo Stampede 100k is registered with the International Trail Running Association (ITRA).
All runners who complete the course will gain qualifier points for their ITRA Performance Index.
The Buffalo Stampede 100k is a Western States 100 2026 Qualifying Race!
Runners who complete the course within 23 Hours will be able to enter the Western States Lottery for the 2026 Race.