Buffalo Stampede Festival
Buffalo Stampede 100km
Bright
Race guide
Updated 29 June 2026
The Buffalo Stampede 100km is a point-to-point-and-back ultra based out of Pioneer Park in Bright, Victoria, covering 100.1 km with 4,250 m of climbing and a high point of 1,714 m. Starting at 325 m above sea level and reaching the exposed alpine plateau of Mt Buffalo before returning to Bright, the course is defined by two massive ascent-descent cycles that leave no room for error. With a total cut-off window from 06:00 on race day to 10:00 the following morning — 28 hours in total — this is a race that demands disciplined pacing, solid fuelling and genuine alpine preparedness. The out-and-back structure means every runner travels the same road twice: up to the Cresta Valley turnaround and back. What makes the Buffalo Stampede 100km distinctive is the sheer verticality crammed into the middle third — a sustained climb from near sea level to over 1,400 m — combined with the remote, exposed character of the Mt Buffalo National Park. Checkpoints double as crew points at every major stage, giving athletes a reliable support structure, but the sections between Eurobin Creek and the Chalet are long and demanding enough to punish anyone who arrives under-fuelled or over-paced.
Course & Terrain Overview
The race rolls out of Pioneer Park at 325 m and immediately begins climbing toward Clearspot at 9 km (978 m) — a near-700 m gain in the opening section that sets the tone immediately. From Clearspot the course descends sharply into the Buckland Valley at 18.3 km (290 m), then continues into Eurobin Creek at 26.5 km (318 m), both checkpoints sitting close to valley floor. This opening 26 km oscillates between valley floors and ridgeline, rewarding runners who stay controlled on the early descents. From Eurobin Creek the course turns decisively upward, climbing to Mt Buffalo Chalet at 36.9 km (1,344 m) — a sustained 1,026 m gain over roughly 10 km on alpine terrain. Beyond the Chalet, the route continues onto the plateau to Cresta Valley at 46.2 km (1,478 m) for the first pass, then loops to the official turnaround at 53.4 km (1,486 m). The high point of 1,714 m sits somewhere in this alpine section. Underfoot, expect fire road, singletrack and rocky alpine trail — surfaces change with altitude, and above the Chalet the terrain becomes more technical and exposed.
The Decisive Climbs & Descents
The race is won and lost on two climbs. The first is the ascent to Clearspot in the opening 9 km — it's steep enough to blow out your legs early if you run it rather than power-hike, and the descent into Buckland Valley that follows demands controlled quad management. The second, and far more consequential, is the long grind from Eurobin Creek (318 m) to Mt Buffalo Chalet (1,344 m) and onward to Cresta Valley — over 1,150 m of climbing across roughly 20 km on increasingly rugged alpine terrain. This section carries the race's longest cut-off gaps and is where positions are made and broken. On the return leg, the descent from Mt Buffalo Chalet back to Eurobin Creek (75.8 km) is a quad-shredding 1,000+ m drop that arrives when legs are already deep in fatigue — typically in the early hours between midnight and 02:00. The final re-ascent to Clearspot at 91.6 km (1,012 m) is a brutal late-race sting: nearly 700 m of climbing at the 91 km mark will test any runner whose energy reserves aren't well managed. Many runners find this closing climb, not the alpine section, to be their mental and physical low point.
Pacing & Fuelling Strategy
Start conservatively. The cut-off to Clearspot on the outbound leg (08:30 for 9 km) gives roughly 2.5 hours from a 06:00 start, which sounds generous but the climb is steep — use it to warm up, not to bank time. Running the Clearspot climb hard early is the most common mistake. From Buckland Valley through to Eurobin Creek the terrain flattens enough to pick up rhythm, but resist the urge to push — the big climb starts at 26.5 km. Fuel aggressively from the Eurobin Creek checkpoint onward. The 10.4 km to the Chalet is the longest climb on course and should be hiked efficiently rather than run. Arrive at Mt Buffalo Chalet (36.9 km, cut-off 15:10) with full calories and fluids, because the next section to Cresta Valley and the turnaround spans another 16.5 km of alpine plateau. Use every crew point — there are twelve across the course — to top up food, swap layers and check in with your crew. Given the overnight return (Eurobin Creek return cut-off is 01:40), carry lighting from the Chalet return at minimum, and plan your calorie intake to cover the night hours when appetite tends to drop. The final push from Buckland Valley (84 km) back over Clearspot (91.6 km) and home to Bright should be fuelled at Buckland Valley as if it were a fresh race segment.
Conditions to Expect
Mt Buffalo National Park sits in the Victorian Alps and the weather on the plateau is genuinely alpine — do not underestimate it regardless of what Bright looks like at the start line. Bright itself at 325 m can be warm and sunny while the plateau above 1,400 m is cold, windy and potentially wet. Temperature differentials of 10–15°C between valley and plateau are routine. Runners will pass through the Chalet and Cresta Valley checkpoints twice, and both passes — particularly the evening return — may require full waterproofs, insulation layers and gloves. The race runs from morning into the following morning, meaning most finishers navigate the Mt Buffalo descent and the Eurobin-to-Buckland return leg entirely in the dark. Night running gear — headlamp with spare batteries and a backup torch — is essential kit, not optional. Early in the season, snow on the plateau is possible; even in warmer conditions the exposed ridgeline above the Chalet is subject to sudden wind and rain. Plan your pack around the worst conditions you might encounter above 1,300 m, and adjust at crew points as the day and night progress.
Race Buffalo Stampede 100km with Crux
Get the strategy, fuelling and crew plan dialled for this exact course — built from the real route, climbs and cut-offs. Your first race is free.
Plan this race — freeCourse profile
Checkpoints & cut-offs
✓ Course data verified against the official source (2026-07-05) · official source
0 km · 325 m · —
9 km · 978 m · Sat 08:30
18.3 km · 290 m · Sat 10:30
26.5 km · 318 m · Sat 12:10
36.9 km · 1344 m · Sat 15:10
46.2 km · 1478 m · Sat 17:30
53.4 km · 1486 m · Sat 19:30
65.4 km · 1336 m · Sat 22:50
75.8 km · 322 m · Sun 01:40
84 km · 299 m · Sun 04:40
91.6 km · 1012 m · Sun 07:30
100.1 km · 325 m · Sun 10:00
More races
More in Australia
Similar distance (100 km–100 miles)
Racing Buffalo Stampede 100km?
Get a complete race strategy — pacing, fuelling, crew plan and the crux moments — built on this exact course.
Plan your race in Crux →Strava is your training. Crux is your races.