When is the Bear Paw Marathon?
The Bear Paw Marathon is held the first Saturday in June, annually.
How do I get to Havre, Montana?
Havre is a hidden gem located in North Central Montana along the Canadian border. You can get here by way of Amtrak, Airline, Bus, or Automobile.
Amtrak’s Empire Builder travels between Seattle and Chicago across the Hi-Line with a service stop in Havre 7 days a week. The Amtrak station is conveniently located downtown Havre and within walking distance to bars, restaurants, our local grocery store, retail shops, and lodging. If you’re looking for a scenic and comfortable ride, Amtrak is your answer! Make a vacation out of it take a short ride to Glacier National Park after your race for breathtaking views, and if you’re up for it, some of the best hiking in the country.
Cape Air is our local airline that provides twice daily service to and from Billings, MT. An extremely affordable and convenient way to fly!
Need to rent a car? We have that too! Havre Auto Rental is located within Tilleman Motor Company.
Other travel options include flying into Great Falls International Airport, which is about a 2 hour drive to Havre once you land. The airport offers car rentals. An alternative to renting a car is to hitch a ride on the Opportunity Link Bus that operates between Havre and Great Falls every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Calgary International Airport is about a 5 hour drive once you land.
What is the course time limit?
The course offically closes at 2 p.m., an 8 hour limit for marathon runners and 7 hour limit for half marathon runners. There will be no official time for participants finishing after 2 p.m. Aid stations, traffic control, volunteers, etc. will relinquish their posts based upon 2 p.m. completion time.
What are the road conditions of the course?
New for 2026, the Bear Paw Marathon will be on all pavement following Highway 234 / Beaver Creek Road. There are five cattle guards along this course which are covered with plywood for the race. See official race map for details.
What are the course rules and safety?
The Bear Paw Marathon course is marked well. The course is partially open to traffic. The Northbound lane on Hwy 234 is closed for runners, but there are intersecting roads that may allow some traffic to cross. The Southbound lane will be used for piloting traffic. The in-town portion of the race will be partially open. There will be barricades at all intersections, some will be have volunteers stationed, others will not. There will be four intersections open for traffic and emergency purposes. These intersections will be monitored and controlled by volunteers or other safety personnel - Bullhook Drive South, 13th Street, 9th Street and 6th Street.
Watch for vehicles on the road at all times. Please remain on the right side of the road unless otherwise directed. We recommend participants wear bright clothing to improve visibility.
Dogs, bicycles, skateboards, and roller blades are not allowed on the courses. Baby joggers are allowed, but please be advised that all participants are required to take a bus to the start and we ask that participants using a jogger start toward the back.
We ask that all faster participants yield right of way and go around when overtaking slower participants.
If you experience medical issues while on the course, please look for a volunteer, bike monitor, or traffic & safety control personnel. There is a fully staffed medical tent at the finish.
If you have to drop out of the race, please let a volunteer at an aid station or other course monitor know and they will arrange for you to be transported.
Are music devices/headphone allowed?
If you carry music, you must still be able to hear instructions from race officials; directions from course monitors; motorists that may have made their way onto the course; and, warnings from participants that may be overtaking you.
How do I get to the starting line?
Bus transportation to the starting lines is provided. Please arrive early and load the buses in a timely manner to ensure the arrival at the starting line on time. There is no parking at the start of any of the races.
Are there aid stations on the course?
There are 14 aid stations spaced as evenly as possible along the full course of the marathon. Most aid stations will be manned, but some will be unmanned. All aid stations will have water. A few will have snacks, gels, and electrolyte enhanced hydration products.
Are there toilets on the course?
Portable toilets will be provided at the start of each race and at the finish line, and at 7-8 locations along the full marathon course.
What is the average race weather?
Sunrise is typically around 5:20 a.m. right before the start of the full marathon.
Mornings can be brisk, typically 40-45 degrees warming up to afternoon highs of 72-74 degrees. Expect cool mornings and comfortable afternoons.
June is typically Havre's wettest month, but early June precipitation is usually light and intermittent with average preciptation 0.10-0.15 inches. We recommend monitoring weather conditions throughout the week of the race and adjusting your attire to changing weather conditions.
Have is known for consistent prairie winds with typical wind averaging 9-12mph, commonly from West to Northwest.
Where is the finish line?
New for 2026, the Bear Paw Marathon will finish at Pepin Park, located at 700 4th Street, Havre, MT. A wonderful city park with lots of greenspace and room for families and friends to gather to cheer on participants. There is a playground at the park. There will also be vendors at hte park the day of the race.
Can I drop clothing along the race course?
We do allow participants to drop clothing along the race course and return garments left at an aid station. Clothing and other personal items left at locations other than aid stations are not guaranteed to be returned. Participants are supplied with drop bags they are allowed to drop before the race and are available for pickup at at the finish line.
Is there a pre-race dinner?
We do not have an official Bear Paw Marathon dinner. The Bear Paw Marathon is hosted by the Havre Chamber of Commerce and we encourage you to experience the dining options Havre has to offer, including several establishments that sponsor this event. Visit the Havre Area Chamber of Commerce - Montana for ideas for planning your trip.
