The Montana Spartan Race is returning to the Flathead Valley next May after a two-year hiatus. It’s part of Discover Kalispell’s initiative to bring more events to the area during the shoulder season to bolster the local economy.  

“We know the role this event plays for businesses throughout Bigfork and Kalispell. Plus, having this event here provides locals with the opportunity to participate in an adventure sport challenge close to home,” Discover Kalispell’s Executive Director Diane Medler said in a press release. 

Spartan Race is an athletic fitness brand that hosts a variety of obstacle course race events across the world. The four-race series, including the Sprint, Super, Beast and Ultra races, is set to take place in Bigfork.  

Each race varies in distance and number of obstacles. Obstacles include crawling under barbed wire, climbing ropes and lifting weights with pulley systems. Racers can also attempt to complete a Trifecta, which is the completion of the Sprint, Super and Beast races in one calendar year.  

The race first came to Bigfork in 2013 on the Flathead Lake Lodge property owned by the Averill family, where it was held for a decade. The race moved to Bozeman in 2024 and 2025, once the Bigfork property could no longer be used.  

Next year, the event will take place on May 9 and 10 at the Wrangler Springs Ranch in Bigfork. The property is also owned by the Averills. 

“Even back [in 2013], Discover Kalispell was looking to bring what we call vacation making events, or destination events, that would bring people here during a certain time of year, when our businesses and hospitality businesses needed a boost,” Medler said.  

Earlier this year, Medler heard that Spartan was reconsidering its Montana location, prompting her to reach out and recommend the race return to the valley. The Bigfork Chamber of Commerce was also part of the effort to bring the race back.  

In 2023, the last time the race took place in the valley, there were 7,300 registered adult racers and 811 registered kids racers. Sixty-seven percent of racers traveled 80 miles or more to attend the event. The racers’ attendance contributed over $1 million to the local economy, Medler said.  

“We continue to have an increase in youth sporting events, which is great... that [helped] a little bit during the break, but not to the impact of this,” Medler said. “The Spartan Race is a big event for our area.” 

Discover Kalispell promotes local restaurants, breweries, shops and activities to racers and spectators. The race also sources local products and services and provides donations to local nonprofit organizations, Medler said.  

A lot of businesses in the valley make the majority of their earnings in the summer months, when tourism is at its highest. In recent years, Discover Kalispell has worked to bring more events to Kalispell and the Flathead during months when there is less visitation. 

“We work to continue to spread that out,” Medler said, in months like May and October. 

The 2026 Montana Spartan Race will help kick off the summer season and bring in thousands of people, Medler said. The race will also take place prior to the partial closing in July of Glacier Park International Airport for runway construction. 

To register for the event or learn more, visit spartan.com/en/races/montana. 

Reporter Kate Heston may be reached at 758-4459 or [email protected].