Tejas Trails (Golden Ticket race)
HOKA Bandera Endurance Trail Race 100K
Bandera, TX (Hill Country State Natural Area)
Race guide
Updated 29 June 2026
The HOKA Bandera Endurance Trail Race 100K is one of the most respected early-season ultras in North America, held in the rugged Hill Country State Natural Area just outside Bandera, Texas. As a Tejas Trails production and a Golden Ticket qualifier for Western States 100, the race draws a competitive field each January, yet the course punishes anyone who underestimates it. Over 100 km and 2,069 m of climbing — with a high point of just 609 m — Bandera is not a mountain race, but its relentless rocky limestone terrain, tight loop structure, and potential for wild Texas winter weather make it far harder than the numbers suggest. The race consists of two identical 50 km loops starting and finishing at the Lodge, meaning you will run every aid station, every descent, and every climb twice — a simple format that makes pacing strategy both straightforward and brutally unforgiving.
Course & Terrain
Bandera is run entirely within Hill Country State Natural Area on rocky limestone singletrack that is among the most technical in Texas. The surface is sharp, uneven, and ankle-taxing throughout, with exposed rock slabs, loose gravel, and cedar-lined trail that can be disorienting in the dark. Each 50 km loop takes you out through Nachos at 8.5 km, down to Chapas at 17.7 km, across to Crossroads 1 at 26.2 km and Crossroads 2 at 33.8 km, then through the Last Chance aid station at 41.8 km before returning to the Lodge at 50 km. The second loop mirrors the first exactly — same trail, same checkpoints — arriving back at the Lodge finish at 100 km. Crew access is excellent: the Lodge (start, mid, and finish), Chapas, Crossroads 1, and Crossroads 2 are all crew-accessible on both loops, giving your support team multiple opportunities to reach you.
The Decisive Climbs & Descents
Despite a modest high point of 609 m, Bandera accumulates its 2,069 m of gain through dozens of short, punchy climbs that never let you settle into a rhythm. There are no single dramatic ascents to point to; instead, the course grinds you down through relentless rollers on sharp limestone that shreds quads and demands technical footwork on every descent. The section between Last Chance (41.8 km on loop 1, 91.8 km on loop 2) and the Lodge is particularly costly late in the race — it comes after the longest gap between aid stations and arrives when fatigue has fully set in. On the second loop, the same terrain you navigated in daylight must often be managed in the dark or at dawn, when rocks look identical and the legs have little left. This is where the race is genuinely won or lost: runners who have protected their quads and maintained consistent effort through Crossroads 2 on loop 2 typically have something left for the final push; those who went out hard on loop 1 often unravel between Last Chance and the finish.
Pacing & Race Strategy
The two-loop format imposes a natural checkpoint: you must reach the Lodge at 50 km before the Saturday 20:00 cut-off, and you must finish at the Lodge by Sunday 08:30 — giving roughly 12.5 hours for the second loop once the cut-off is accounted for, depending on your start time. The key strategic principle is treating loop 1 as banked fitness rather than a time to maximize. Run the first 50 km conservatively — hike the climbs early, keep the heart rate in check through Nachos and into Chapas, and use the crew-accessible aid stations at Chapas, Crossroads 1, and Crossroads 2 efficiently to refuel and check in with your support team. Many runners blow up between Crossroads 2 and Last Chance on loop 1 by running the downhills too aggressively; protect your quads here. On loop 2, shift your focus to time management rather than pace — the cut-off at the Lodge finish (08:30 Sunday) is the real target. Walk if needed, but keep moving through Chapas and Crossroads 1 on loop 2 without lingering.
Fueling & Aid Station Approach
With crew access at multiple points on both loops, Bandera rewards runners who pre-plan their nutrition rather than relying solely on aid station fare. The gap from the Lodge to Nachos (8.5 km) is the only early stretch without a crew option, but from Chapas onward you are rarely more than 8 km from crew support. Carry enough calories and fluid to cover each inter-station gap — the Hill Country is dry, and even in January the sun and wind can create dehydration faster than expected. Use Nachos on loop 1 (8.5 km) as a checkpoint for early pacing and hydration, and make the Last Chance aid station (41.8 km and 91.8 km) a meaningful stop — it is the final station before the Lodge on each loop, and arriving there in good shape is a reliable predictor of a strong finish. On loop 2, the Last Chance stop at 91.8 km is where many runners need a mental reset and a calorie boost before the final 8.2 km home.
Conditions to Expect
Bandera runs in early January in the Texas Hill Country, and weather is genuinely unpredictable. Conditions range from mild and dry (50s°F, low humidity) to cold, wet, and windy — ice on the limestone is possible and has appeared in past years, making already-technical terrain dangerous. Prepare for temperatures that can swing dramatically between the start gun and Sunday morning: cold nights in the 30s°F are common, while daytime temperatures can climb into the 60s°F. Layering is essential, and waterproof or wind-resistant gear should be accessible at your crew points. The rocky trail drains well and rarely becomes muddy, but wet limestone is exceptionally slippery — traction-focused trail shoes with a grippy outsole are strongly preferred over maximally cushioned alternatives that sacrifice ground feel. Start the race in whatever you plan to wear through the night, and have your crew ready with a dry layer and extra socks at the Lodge halfway.
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Checkpoints & cut-offs
✓ Course data verified against the official source (2026-07-05) · official source
0 km · 504 m · —
8.1 km · 496 m · —
15.1 km · 475 m · —
26.3 km · 432 m · —
34.1 km · 449 m · —
43.5 km · 484 m · —
50.1 km · 508 m · Sat 20:00
58.2 km · 508 m · Sat 22:02
65.2 km · 490 m · Sat 23:47
76.5 km · 438 m · Sun 02:36
84.2 km · 447 m · Sun 04:32
93.6 km · 466 m · Sun 06:52
100.2 km · 481 m · Sun 08:30
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