sky run 20km

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7:30 am Saturday March 29, 2025

WHERE: Event Village, PIONEER PARK, BRIGHT

Distance: 20.6 km

Elevation: 1,170m Ascent+-

Cut off: 6 hours

Prizes:

1st🥇$500 ＞ 2nd🥈$300 ＞ 3rd🥉$200

Course Description

The Buffalo 20k is a perfect combination of mountainous trail running in a small enough package to get it done before lunch. It incorporates the iconic summits of Mystic and Clearspot. It has a bit of everything, and therefore it requires a full spectrum of challenges to overcome to get to the finish.

Starting at the Pavilion at the Event Village in Bright, the 20k takes in 800m of Pioneer Park's wide paved roads before hitting the river trails to Mystic Bike Park. After a short stint on the shuttle road, runners turn upwards and tackle the infamous climb of Emily's Spur. In a mile, the course climbs 440m along the exposed ridgeline, with epic views. Summiting Mystic and seeing the views from Mount Buffalo to Bright, it might not feel like it, but it means the journey has only just begun.

Take a quick refresh at the aid station just after the launch pad and then continue downhill along the road. Here the course changes from previous years and we finally get to introduce the Water Reserve Track to the Buffalo Stampede. This trail is one of the most regularly used link ups in the area and is part of the famous Mystic - Clearspot Loop from Bright. It follows the high point through the natural bush from Mystic MTB park to Clearspot Summit. Along the way there are many rolling descents as the trail trends upwards and achieves no less than 890m of vertical gain by the time you arrive at Clearspot.

There is a section of Out and Back between the top of Middle Track and Clearspot, which gives runners the chance to see and cheer their fellow competitors for 2.8km of the route. At Clearspot, take the time to soak in the view of the Victorian Alps. Touch the cairn at the summit and stop yourself from drooling as you gaze over to the West at Mount Buffalo. Spare a thought for the 100k runners that have to run there and back!

Once back to the top of Middle Track, here is where the downhill runners will shine. Do your technical running training, because the loose dirt and rock along this narrow and long descent will challenge those who are ill prepared. Middle Track is a BIG downhill, dropping over 500m of vertical descent to the valley floor of Bakers Gully. Many runners will find the aid station a welcome sight to recover the mind and legs, and refuel for the final section.

The course then goes out the length of Bakers Gully along beautiful single trails. These trails are running heaven, at least for those with fresh legs. After 2.2km of trail you pop out onto a short road section before grinding up a dirt road climb to the base of Huggins Lookout Climb. From here is truly the final test, and you have been warned! This will be hard, really hard, for every runner trying to get the most out of themselves on race day. The iconic climb along the hiking trail to Huggins Lookout is a classic, and a must do when in Bright. But on tired legs, it will hurt. Once at the top, marvel for one last time at the stunning view of the township of Bright, before heading up a slight rise to the top of the final descent.

Survival mode will kick in and do what you can to navigate the twisting and turning descent back to the bottom of the Huggins loop. From here it is just over 2k of "flattish" running to the finish. Run through some of the back streets of Bright, before hitting the Morses Creek river trail and heading upstream along it towards the finish. Resist the urge to swim in the river's water (or do it!) because there is only 1km to go. Eventually the course turns right up a slight rise and the view of the Pavillion and the Event Village opens up. Soak in the final lap of honour, you deserve all the applause.

The Course

FAQs

- Race Entry
- GST and registration platform fees
- Professional on-course sports photography available for purchase
- Coveted Finishers Medallion
- Fully marked course
- Expert event medical support
- On-course nutrition and refreshments
- Professional event timing
- Live real-time results via on-course checkpoints
- Post-event celebration beer!
Mystic: 3.7km, 480m+, 20m-
Clearspot: 5.4km, 410m+, 195m-
Bakers Gully: 4.9km, 120m+, 670m-
FINISH: 6.6km, 160m+, 285m-
- START The Pavillion, Pioneer Park: 7:30 am
- Mystic: 8:50
- Clearspot: 10:30 am
- Baker's Gully: 12:00 pm
- FINISH: 1:30 pm
There are many places over the course where spectators and crew can see their runners. All Aid Stations are easily accessible in 2WD. If you want to drive to Clearspot to spectate or crew, please be aware that it can be confusing to find your way and there is limited Parking.
- 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. (weather dependant, TBA prior to the race via Text and email)
- 1L Litre 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.
- Collapsible cup 150ml (recommended, this is a cup free event)

The 20km Sky Run 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.

Learn more about UTMB Index here >