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.
Monday, July 27, 2026
Registration
Opens
Jan 2, 2026, 9:00 AM
Registration Fee
Entry fee provided directly to invited entrants upon acceptance; Optional charity guarantee pathway available with a $7,500 donation to an official charity as directed by the organizer
Official race details:
Logistics
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.
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.
Kids
This is an invitational 135 mile ultramarathon with extreme environmental risk and highway exposure. There is no kids race and no youth participation policy beyond standard spectator guidance.
Volunteers
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.
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