RunRace USA › California › Big Sur › The course

One route, three synchronized views

The Big Sur course

26.2 miles · about 3202 modeled feet of climb · roughly 14 to 578 ft elevation

Fly the course

The whole course, built from the best available published route trace and an extruded model of Carmel. Scrub it, change the camera, or let it play. Nothing here is a video: it is drawing the city live.

Route statusCurrent community course trace cross-checked against the published route. Public RWGPS ROUTE 'Big Sur Marathon course' (created Oct 2023). Verified via /routes/44648246.json: 42,255.8 m = 26.26 mi point-to-point, start 36.24762,-121.78195 (Big Sur Station) to finish 36.53758,-121.91146 (Carmel/Rio Rd) — exactly matches 2026 race-day GPS records, so it is the current course.

The route line uses the best published course trace available. Public-domain USGS and USDA aerial photography plus USGS 3DEP elevation are baked into RunRace USA, so the flyover makes no paid map API or third-party runtime requests. Buildings, roads, parks and water use OpenStreetMap, ODbL. This is photographic terrain with modeled architecture, not photogrammetry. Bridge approaches, elevations and facade details are approximations; the organizer's published route remains the reference.

Elevation, mile for mile

Marathon elevation26.2 miles · about 3202 ft of climb
-40 -20 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200 220 240 260 280 300 320 340 360 380 400 420 440 460 480 500 520 540 560 580 600 620 Mile 0.0 to 0.2: -5.6% Mile 0.2 to 0.4: -0.3% Mile 0.4 to 0.6: -0.2% Mile 0.6 to 0.8: -2.9% Mile 0.8 to 1.0: +5.7% Mile 1.0 to 1.2: +1.1% Mile 1.2 to 1.4: -4.2% Mile 1.4 to 1.6: +2.9% Mile 1.6 to 1.8: -0.7% Mile 1.8 to 2.0: -1.9% Mile 2.0 to 2.2: +1.6% Mile 2.2 to 2.4: -5.9% Mile 2.4 to 2.6: +3.9% Mile 2.6 to 2.8: -0.2% Mile 2.8 to 3.0: -6.5% Mile 3.0 to 3.2: +3.2% Mile 3.2 to 3.4: -1.7% Mile 3.4 to 3.6: -1.0% Mile 3.6 to 3.8: +2.4% Mile 3.8 to 4.0: -2.6% Mile 4.0 to 4.2: +1.4% Mile 4.2 to 4.4: +0.8% Mile 4.4 to 4.6: +0.4% Mile 4.6 to 4.8: +1.6% Mile 4.8 to 5.0: -2.6% Mile 5.0 to 5.2: +1.5% Mile 5.2 to 5.4: +0.8% Mile 5.4 to 5.6: -1.7% Mile 5.6 to 5.8: +0.4% Mile 5.8 to 6.0: +0.9% Mile 6.0 to 6.2: -0.4% Mile 6.2 to 6.4: +1.3% Mile 6.4 to 6.6: +2.8% Mile 6.6 to 6.8: +0.8% Mile 6.8 to 7.0: -1.6% Mile 7.0 to 7.2: +2.6% Mile 7.2 to 7.4: +1.9% Mile 7.4 to 7.6: -0.9% Mile 7.6 to 7.8: -0.6% Mile 7.8 to 8.0: +1.0% Mile 8.0 to 8.2: -0.3% Mile 8.2 to 8.4: +1.4% Mile 8.4 to 8.6: +1.6% Mile 8.6 to 8.8: +0.7% Mile 8.8 to 9.0: -5.2% Mile 9.0 to 9.2: -4.6% Mile 9.2 to 9.4: -1.5% Mile 9.4 to 9.6: -3.9% Mile 9.6 to 9.8: -0.9% Mile 9.8 to 10.0: +8.9% Mile 10.0 to 10.2: +2.3% Mile 10.2 to 10.4: +0.4% Mile 10.4 to 10.6: +5.2% Mile 10.6 to 10.8: +3.0% Mile 10.8 to 11.0: +4.0% Mile 11.0 to 11.2: +0.8% Mile 11.2 to 11.4: +5.9% Mile 11.4 to 11.6: +4.9% Mile 11.6 to 11.8: +1.8% Mile 11.8 to 12.0: -0.5% Mile 12.0 to 12.2: +0.9% Mile 12.2 to 12.4: -4.4% Mile 12.4 to 12.6: -4.4% Mile 12.6 to 12.8: -3.9% Mile 12.8 to 13.0: -5.7% Mile 13.0 to 13.2: +5.0% Mile 13.2 to 13.4: -8.5% Mile 13.4 to 13.6: -3.1% Mile 13.6 to 13.8: -12.7% Mile 13.8 to 14.0: +1.5% Mile 14.0 to 14.2: +1.3% Mile 14.2 to 14.4: +1.3% Mile 14.4 to 14.6: +0.5% Mile 14.6 to 14.8: -5.6% Mile 14.8 to 15.0: -1.7% Mile 15.0 to 15.2: -2.7% Mile 15.2 to 15.4: +5.4% Mile 15.4 to 15.6: +6.9% Mile 15.6 to 15.8: -6.7% Mile 15.8 to 16.0: -0.6% Mile 16.0 to 16.2: -0.8% Mile 16.2 to 16.4: -0.4% Mile 16.4 to 16.6: +1.8% Mile 16.6 to 16.8: -0.5% Mile 16.8 to 17.0: -0.5% Mile 17.0 to 17.2: +6.5% Mile 17.2 to 17.4: +3.1% Mile 17.4 to 17.6: +0.3% Mile 17.6 to 17.8: -3.5% Mile 17.8 to 18.0: -0.9% Mile 18.0 to 18.2: +2.3% Mile 18.2 to 18.4: +0.4% Mile 18.4 to 18.6: -0.4% Mile 18.6 to 18.8: +1.2% Mile 18.8 to 19.0: -1.0% Mile 19.0 to 19.2: +2.6% Mile 19.2 to 19.4: -7.6% Mile 19.4 to 19.6: -1.8% Mile 19.6 to 19.8: +4.0% Mile 19.8 to 20.0: +0.9% Mile 20.0 to 20.2: -2.9% Mile 20.2 to 20.4: -3.1% Mile 20.4 to 20.6: +2.9% Mile 20.6 to 20.8: +0.3% Mile 20.8 to 21.0: -1.6% Mile 21.0 to 21.2: +2.0% Mile 21.2 to 21.4: -2.3% Mile 21.4 to 21.6: -0.4% Mile 21.6 to 21.8: +4.2% Mile 21.8 to 22.0: +1.5% Mile 22.0 to 22.2: +3.5% Mile 22.2 to 22.4: -1.6% Mile 22.4 to 22.6: -2.9% Mile 22.6 to 22.8: -2.4% Mile 22.8 to 23.0: +1.9% Mile 23.0 to 23.2: -1.5% Mile 23.2 to 23.4: +4.4% Mile 23.4 to 23.6: +0.3% Mile 23.6 to 23.8: -3.9% Mile 23.8 to 24.0: +1.6% Mile 24.0 to 24.2: -1.7% Mile 24.2 to 24.4: +0.3% Mile 24.4 to 24.6: -0.5% Mile 24.6 to 24.8: -3.9% Mile 24.8 to 25.0: -0.6% Mile 25.0 to 25.2: +3.5% Mile 25.2 to 25.4: +5.6% Mile 25.4 to 25.6: -6.4% Mile 25.6 to 25.8: -0.7% Mile 25.8 to 26.0: +0.5% Mile 26.0 to 26.2: +0.2% 5 10 15 20 25 mile Hurricane Point +513 ft +123 ft +106 ft +103 ft +95 ft +86 ft +80 ft +60 ft
steep up up flat down steep down

This Marathon profile covers 26.2 miles, ranges from roughly 14 to 578 feet, and contains about 3202 feet of modeled climb.

  • Hurricane Point, mile 9.81 to 11.98: 513 feet up, about two miles of steady climbing, roughly 5% average, fully exposed to the headwind the point is named for.
  • , mile 21.61 to 22.3: 123 feet up, 3.4% average.
  • , mile 15.16 to 15.6: 106 feet up, 4.5% average.
  • , mile 7.76 to 8.73: 103 feet up, 2.0% average.
  • , mile 16.78 to 17.54: 95 feet up, 2.4% average.
  • , mile 13.85 to 14.56: 86 feet up, 2.3% average.
  • , mile 24.9 to 25.38: 80 feet up, 3.1% average.
  • , mile 19.57 to 20.02: 60 feet up, 2.5% average.

Click anywhere on the profile to move the flyover to that point. Changing distance in the player changes the profile and plan map with it.

The course on a map

1 5 10 13 15 20 25 26
Marathon route26.2 miles
course featured climb start/finish

Gold is the selected modeled course; route provenance is stated beside the flyover.

The climbs that shape the day

Hurricane Point

Mile 9.81 to 11.98

513 feet of modeled rise · about two miles of steady climbing, roughly 5% average, fully exposed to the headwind the point is named for.

Climb 2

Mile 21.61 to 22.3

123 feet of modeled rise · 3.4% average.

Climb 3

Mile 15.16 to 15.6

106 feet of modeled rise · 4.5% average.

Climb 4

Mile 7.76 to 8.73

103 feet of modeled rise · 2.0% average.

Climb 5

Mile 16.78 to 17.54

95 feet of modeled rise · 2.4% average.

Climb 6

Mile 13.85 to 14.56

86 feet of modeled rise · 2.3% average.

Mile by mile

Every row uses the same modeled route and elevation surface as the player. Net change shows the shape of that mile; the common sparkline scale makes hard and easy sections comparable.

MileShapeModeled netWhat happens
1-62 ft
2-55 ft
3-83 ftBig Sur River Inn
4+3 ft
5-12 ft
6+17 ft
7+15 ft
8+36 ft
9+15 ft
10-25 ft
11+264 ft
12+125 ft
13-311 ft
14-78 ft
15-14 ft
16+7 ft
17-67 ft
18+22 ft
19+41 ft
20+5 ft
21-56 ft
22+61 ft
23-34 ft
24-25 ft
25-86 ft
26+9 ft

The city model is race-specific

Get your bearings with these local landmarks along the course. Their map positions and recorded dimensions guide the 3D models; small architectural details remain approximate.

Big Sur River Inn

Near mile 2.4

Built into the flyover as a race-specific local landmark. The model rises about 8 meters.

Hyatt Carmel Highlands (Highlands Inn)

Near mile 23.1

Built into the flyover as a race-specific local landmark. The model rises about 10 meters.

Carmelite Monastery of Our Lady and St. Therese

Near mile 25.4

Built into the flyover as a race-specific local landmark. The model rises about 20 meters.

Route provenance

Current community course trace cross-checked against the published route. Public RWGPS ROUTE 'Big Sur Marathon course' (created Oct 2023). Verified via /routes/44648246.json: 42,255.8 m = 26.26 mi point-to-point, start 36.24762,-121.78195 (Big Sur Station) to finish 36.53758,-121.91146 (Carmel/Rio Rd) — exactly matches 2026 race-day GPS records, so it is the current course.

Course lines can change between editions. Confirm late adjustments on the official race site →

Know the line. Run the line.

Register for the 2027 Big Sur →on Haku

Course geometry provenance is stated beside the player; elevation profiles always use the same route loaded there. City geometry is OpenStreetMap, ODbL. Aerial imagery is from USGS and USDA; other images carry their own source credits. Weather figures use Open-Meteo reanalysis for April 21-29 across 2016-2025 at the start line. Schedule, prices and expo hours were checked in 2026-08-27 and are the fields most likely to move: confirm them on www.bigsurmarathon.org before you book anything. Spot an error? Tell us and we'll fix it fast.