Face the desert, climb the mountains, and chase glory in the world’s toughest foot race
Overview
Badwater 135 is ultrarunning’s mythic pilgrimage. You begin at Badwater Basin in Death Valley, the lowest point in North America, and you finish at Whitney Portal high in the Sierra Nevada. The road between those two points is a gauntlet of heat, wind, and three mountain ranges that will test every system you have.
This is more than a race. It is a conversation with the desert where you trade fear for focus, and excuses for execution. Crews battle the elements right alongside athletes. Landmarks like Furnace Creek, Stovepipe Wells, Panamint Springs, and Lone Pine become chapters in a story you will tell for the rest of your life.
Course
A 135 mile point to point road ultramarathon from Badwater Basin in Death Valley to Whitney Portal. The course starts at 280ft below sea level and climbs to 8,360ft at the finish. Expect extreme heat in the valley, long exposed straightaways, canyon crosswinds, and sustained mountain climbs. Key waypoints include Furnace Creek, Stovepipe Wells, Panamint Springs, Darwin, Keeler, Lone Pine, and the switchbacks to Whitney Portal. The profile includes three major ascents totaling 14,600ft of climbing and 6,100ft of descent. This route is a study in contrasts, from salt flats shimmering with heat to granite walls of the High Sierra.
Stages & Notable Segments
Start to Furnace Creek is hot and radiant with minimal shade and reflective heat from the road
Stovepipe Wells to Townes Pass is a sustained nighttime or early morning climb that rewards steady pacing
Panamint Valley crossing can bring headwinds and heat rebound from the valley floor
Portal Road climb begins in Lone Pine and finishes with steep switchbacks to the line at 8,360ft
Cutoff Details
Start Time
Wave 1 at 8:00PM
Wave 2 at 9:00PM
Wave 3 at 10:00PM
Cutoff Time
135M, 48HR overall
Mile 50.5 cutoff at July 28, 2026 10:00AM
Mile 72 cutoff at July 28, 2026 8:00PM
Mile 90 cutoff at July 29, 2026 5:00AM
Mile 122 cutoff within 42HR elapsed time
Course Closure
Course closes for first wave July 29, 2026 8:00PM
Course closes for second wave July 29, 2026 9:00PM
Course closes for third wave July 29, 2026 10:00PM
Aid Stations
This is a crewed ultramarathon. Official time stations and community hubs at Furnace Creek, Stovepipe Wells, Panamint Springs, Darwin, Lone Pine, and Whitney Portal provide timing, limited services, and occasional retail access during specific hours. Crews are responsible for athlete support throughout the route, including hydration, cooling, nutrition, and safety. Time checkpoints include Mile 50.5 with a mandatory cutoff, Mile 72 at Panamint Springs with a mandatory cutoff, Mile 90 at Darwin with a mandatory cutoff, and Mile 122 at Lone Pine with a time-since-start cutoff. Drop bags are not used because support is crew vehicle based.
Logistics
Schedule
Sunday
9:00AM-10:00AM | Online pre-race meeting for all competitors and crew
12:30PM-4:30PM | Competitor check-in and Badwater gear retail at Lone Pine High School
5:00PM-6:30PM | Mandatory pre-race meeting for competitors and crew chiefs at Lone Pine High School
6:30PM | Group photo for competitors
Monday
All day | Rest, vehicle preparation, supplies and ice
11:00AM-12:00PM | Badwater gear retail at Lone Pine High School
11:00AM-12:00PM | Optional rules review and crew best practices Q&A at Lone Pine High School
11:00AM-12:00PM | Media check-in and briefing at Lone Pine High School
8:00PM | Wave 1 start at Badwater Basin
9:00PM | Wave 2 start at Badwater Basin
10:00PM | Wave 3 start at Badwater Basin
Tuesday
2:00AM | Furnace Creek General Store closes after extended hours
3:00AM | Stovepipe Wells General Store and Gas Station opens
10:00AM | Mile 50.5 cutoff for all athletes
8:00PM | Mile 72 cutoff for all athletes
9:00PM | Approximate time first finisher arrives at Whitney Portal
Wednesday
5:00AM | Mile 90 cutoff for all athletes
Afternoon | Mile 122 within 42HR since individual start
8:00PM | Course closes for Wave 1
9:00PM | Course closes for Wave 2
10:00PM | Course closes for Wave 3
8:00PM-10:00PM | Post-race get-together and pizza party at Lone Pine High School
Bib Pickup
Mandatory in-person check-in for each competitor with the designated crew chief on Sunday, July 26 at Lone Pine High School. Bring all required forms completed and signed for the competitor and all crew members. Late crew arrivals should complete waivers in advance and provide them at check-in. Location is 538 S Main St, Lone Pine, California.
Drop Bags
This is a crew-supported race. The organizer does not manage drop bags. All nutrition, ice, and gear are crew-vehicle based. There is no organizer-run drop bag transport or retrieval. Plan for your crew to manage all equipment and ensure nothing is left behind at the finish.
Crew & Pacers
Crew support is mandatory. Pacers are allowed per official rules and must follow all safety, visibility, and vehicle regulations. All visitors, crew, and pacers must respect National Park Service, Inyo National Forest, California Department of Transportation, and California Highway Patrol requirements, including parking protocols, litter-free conduct, and night visibility standards.
Volunteers
Swag & Medals
All starters receive an event t-shirt, hat, magazine, and goodie bag. Official finishers within 48 hours receive a finisher’s t-shirt and the Badwater 135 belt buckle known as the Holy Grail of Ultrarunning.
Getting There
Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas is approximately 140 miles from Furnace Creek in Death Valley and commonly used by crews and athletes Los Angeles International Airport is approximately 250 miles from Furnace Creek and approximately 210 miles from Lone Pine Lone Pine to Las Vegas is approximately 240 miles by road
Driving Directions
Race start is Badwater Basin, Death Valley, California. Race finish is Whitney Portal near Lone Pine, California at approximately 8,360 ft.
Parking
The event operates under special use permits from Death Valley National Park, Inyo National Forest, California Department of Transportation, and the County of Inyo. Participants and crews must comply with all permit conditions at all times while on course.
Crew vehicles must follow organizer and agency parking instructions at all times including shoulder use, pullouts, and designated areas at Furnace Creek, Stovepipe Wells, Panamint Springs, Lone Pine, and Whitney Portal. Obey posted signage and race staff at time stations and the finish. Avoid blocking travel lanes and respect all quiet hours near residential and lodging areas.
Lodging
Lodging is available in Furnace Creek and Stovepipe Wells within Death Valley and in Lone Pine near the finish. The organizer reserves room blocks for confirmed entrants, crew, and media with booking instructions provided directly after acceptance. Make reservations early due to high seasonal demand in both Death Valley and Lone Pine.
Requirements
This is an invitational race with strict qualifying standards and application review. Athletes must submit a complete application during the published window, meet experience requirements, and demonstrate an ability to race safely with a qualified crew in extreme heat and mountainous terrain.
Qualifying Races
Applicants must meet organizer-published performance and experience standards to be considered for invitation. Acceptance is determined by the Race Committee following application review and communication of results on the posted announcement date.
Trail Work
No organizer-mandated trail work requirement is specified for this road ultramarathon.
Mandatory Gear
The organizer enforces safety and visibility requirements, including night visibility and vehicle safety protocols. Crews are responsible for carrying sufficient hydration, cooling supplies, and nutrition for the athlete. Review the official rules for the current mandatory safety items and any nighttime visibility standards.
Policies
Cancelations & Deferrals
If an Act of God, Act of Terrorism, or Community Disaster impacts the event, the organizer will modify, shorten, or cancel the race with safety first. There are no refunds and no free entries to future events because event costs are incurred regardless of outcome. Affected athletes will receive first right to sign up for the following year’s edition within a set window.
Race Policies
Charity & Beneficiary
Official charities include Challenged Athletes Foundation and Bald Head Island Conservancy. The organizer is a member of 1% for the Planet and the Conservation Alliance, and supports the Death Valley Natural History Association. Fundraising pathways are available for entrants, including a donation route that can guarantee acceptance when offered by the organizer.
Land Acknowledgement
Badwater 135 takes place on the homelands of Indigenous peoples, including the Timbisha Shoshone in Tüpippüh, known today as Death Valley, and the Paiute and Shoshone peoples of the Owens Valley and Sierra Nevada foothills. We honor their stewardship of these lands and waters and encourage athletes and crews to respect cultural sites, stay on established corridors, and leave no trace from start to finish.
About Chris Kostman
Race produced by Chris Kostman.
View all Chris Kostman races on Kåduka →
Disclaimer
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