The course itself, which has changed distance, route, and elevation many times since its inaugural run, currently consists of an approximate unmarked loop with no aid stations except water at two points along the route. The loop begins and ends at the yellow road gate where the runners' and supporters' parked cars stay. Runners of the 100-mile version run this loop five times, taking a counterclockwise direction for loops three and four, followed by each runner alternating direction on loop five, after the first-placed runner's choice. Depending on the start of the first loop, either the second and fourth loops are run at night, or the first, third, and fifth loops are run at night. This adds further difficulty to an almost impossible race. Runners of the 60-mile "fun run" complete three circuits of the loop.