Buffalo Stampede Festival

Dates: March 28–30, 2025
Location: Bright, Victoria

The Buffalo Stampede, nestled in Victoria’s stunning High Country, is the ultimate Skyrunning experience. Known for its rugged trails, breathtaking landscapes, and relentless elevation, this three-day festival offers events for every level of trail enthusiast. From short and sharp sprints to a grueling 100km ultra-marathon, it’s a celebration of endurance, grit, and mountain spirit.

Signature Events

Buffalo Stampede Ultra (101.6km)

Date: Saturday, March 29, 2025
Start Time: 6:00 AM
Elevation: 5,131m ascent/descent
Cut-Off: 28 hours

Embark on an unforgettable journey from the alpine town of Bright to the Horn, Mount Buffalo’s highest point, and back. The course features steep climbs like Emily’s Spur and Dingo Ridge, a 10km ascent known as “The Big Walk,” and remote trails on the Buffalo Plateau, home to unique flora and sweeping alpine views.

Highlights:

• Epic climbs with over 5,000m elevation gain.
• Summit the Horn at 1,723m for panoramic views of the National Park.
• Western States qualifier with a 23-hour cut-off incentive.

SkyMarathon (42km)

Date: Sunday, March 30, 2025
Start Time: 7:15 AM
Elevation: 1,542m ascent / 2,554m descent
Cut-Off: 10 hours, 45 minutes

Starting atop Mount Buffalo, this downhill marathon combines alpine beauty with technical descents. Highlights include Lake Catani, the Monolith Track, and the infamous Big Walk descent, finishing with a final climb over Dingo Ridge to Bright.

Highlights:

• Run through Victoria’s High Country wilderness.
• Technical descents balanced by runnable sections.
• Fast finish with thrilling single tracks into Bright.

SkyRun (20km)

Date: Saturday, March 29, 2025
Start Time: 7:30 AM
Elevation: 1,260m ascent/descent
Cut-Off: 6 hours

A condensed Skyrunning adventure, the SkyRun packs a punch with challenging climbs up Emily’s Spur and Dingo Ridge. Ideal for those seeking a shorter but intense trail experience.

Highlights:

• Perfect introduction to Skyrunning with a gnarly 1,000m climb in the first 10km.
• Sweeping views from Clearspot Aid Station.
• Fast and thrilling downhill sections into Bright.

Twilight SkySprint (10km)

Date: Friday, March 28, 2025
Start Time: 6:00 PM
Elevation: 523m ascent/descent
Cut-Off: 3 hours

Kick off the festival with an exhilarating twilight climb up Emily’s Spur, followed by technical mountain bike trails and a celebratory finish under the stars in Bright.

Highlights:

• Enjoy views of Bright in twilight from Mystic summit.
• Descend via technical MTB trails for an exciting challenge.
• Perfect prelude to the weekend’s bigger events.

Bright Ultra Grand Slam (152km)

Dates: March 28–30, 2025

For those seeking the ultimate test, the Grand Slam combines three races—10km, 100km, and 42km—into one epic stage race. With back-to-back challenges, participants will cover 152km and 7,196m of ascent over three days, testing endurance and recovery like never before.

Additional Events

• 100km Team Relay: Gather your crew to conquer the Ultra course in sections. Share the load and the glory.
• Grand Slam 72km: A scaled-down version of the Grand Slam with 10km, 20km, and 42km races across three days.

Why Choose Buffalo Stampede?

• Breathtaking Scenery: From the alpine vistas of Mount Buffalo to the rugged trails of Bright, every step is a visual feast.
• Challenging Courses: Conquer iconic climbs, technical descents, and awe-inspiring ridge runs.
• International Prestige: As part of the SkyRunning series, the Buffalo Stampede attracts elite athletes and trail enthusiasts worldwide.

Whether you’re chasing glory, a new personal best, or simply an adventure in one of Australia’s most beautiful regions, the Buffalo Stampede delivers an experience that will test and transform you.

Register now to secure your spot!