Death Valley, California · Road
Official site ↗Badwater 135
135 miles of road from Badwater Basin in Death Valley, the lowest point in North America, to Whitney Portal, run in the heat of July.
Completed July 27, 2026
women
- 1. Carmen Maria Perez (CR)21:05:32
- 2. Ashley Paulson24:59:36
- 3. Micah Morgan26:32:45
men
- 1. Max Jolliffe (CR)20:53:41
- 2. Tamás Bódis21:34:47
- 3. Iván Penalba Lopez21:57:44
Next edition: Monday, July 19, 2027
Distances
- Distance
- 135 mi (217 km)
- Vert gain
- 14,600 ft (4,500 m)
- Cutoff
- 45 hr
Waves at 8pm, 9pm, and 10pm Monday; 45 hours from each start
| Distance | Vert gain | Cutoff | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 135 mi (217 km) | 14,600 ft (4,500 m) | 45 hr | Waves at 8pm, 9pm, and 10pm Monday; 45 hours from each start |
Course records: Carmen Maria Perez 21:05:32 (2026) · Max Jolliffe 20:53:41 (2026)
About
The Badwater 135 starts at Badwater Basin, 282 feet below sea level, and follows paved roads through Death Valley and up three mountain ranges to Whitney Portal at 8,360 feet, the trailhead to the highest peak in the contiguous United States. It is run in late July, when Death Valley temperatures regularly pass 115 degrees, and the organizers bill it as the world's toughest foot race.
Runners start at night in three waves and bring their own support crews, who leapfrog them by van for the entire 135 miles. The cutoff is 45 hours, lowered from 48 starting with the 2026 race.
Course
Road the whole way: Badwater Basin through Furnace Creek, Stovepipe Wells, and Panamint Springs, over Towne Pass and Father Crowley, through Lone Pine, and up the switchbacks to Whitney Portal. About 14,600 feet of cumulative climbing, most of it in the second half.
How to register
Entry is by application and invitation, capped near 100 runners. Applications are accepted for about three weeks in early January and ask for a substantial ultra resume; most invitees have finished multiple 100-milers and often a previous Badwater event. The selected field is announced in February, and entry fees are charged that day. Every runner must bring a support crew and vehicle.