Key dates for 2027
Everything starts with the application window in January. If you are invited, the next deadline that matters is paperwork in February, then the refund cut-off on 1 May.
- Applications open
9 a.m. Pacific, after a Facebook Live briefing.
- Applications close
5 p.m. Pacific. Applications cannot be changed once sent.
- Field announced
Live on Facebook and YouTube. Invited runners are charged that day.
- Last day for a refund
The fee less $500. There are no rollovers or credits.
- Mandatory online meeting
For runners and all crew, followed by an anti-doping webinar.
- Check-in and pre-race meeting in Lone Pine
Check-in 12:30 to 4:30 p.m., meeting 5 p.m.
- Race start
Waves at 8, 9 and 10 p.m. at Badwater Basin, at least three hours' drive from Lone Pine.
- Course closes
5, 6 and 7 p.m. for the three waves, then a party in Lone Pine.
Source: official race website, checked 19 October 2026.
How to get a place
Badwater has always been an invitational race. You apply online in January, and a committee chooses about 100 runners on the written merits of each application. Roughly two-thirds of places go to first-timers and one-third to returning runners. There is no wait list.
Strong applications show experience of heat and extreme conditions, and having crewed or paced at Badwater helps. Applications are often turned down for only just meeting the minimum, for thin detail or for no heat experience. The 2024 champion, Shaun Burke, was rejected five times before he was accepted.
Minimum standards for 2027
You must be 18 or over and meet one of these:
- An official 2026 Badwater 135 finish, plus a race of 50 miles or more since 1 January 2026.
- At least four official finishes of continuous races of 100 miles or more, with at least one since 1 January 2026.
- Badwater Salton Sea, 135 miles or more in a 24-hour race, or 32 or more yards in a backyard ultra can each count as one 100. Stage races, solo runs and very short-loop 100s do not.
Guaranteed places
- The men's and women's winners of eight "Titanium Ticket" races, including Spartathlon, Coast to Kosciuszko, Angeles Crest 100 and Brazil 135, are guaranteed entry if they meet the standard and apply.
- A very qualified applicant can offer to donate $7,500 to the Challenged Athletes Foundation or the Bald Head Island Conservancy. If the committee accepts, the entry fee is waived.
Cost and refunds
The entry fee is $1,695, charged when you are invited. You can get a refund of the fee less $500 until 1 May 2027. There are no rollovers or credits, and no refund if the race is cancelled for weather or other reasons outside the organiser's control. You also pay for your crew, vehicle, hotels and the park entrance fee.
The course
The whole race is on open roads with normal traffic. Runners stay single file on the left, facing traffic. From Badwater Basin the route crosses the floor of Death Valley to Furnace Creek and Stovepipe Wells, then climbs about 4,950 feet over 16.7 miles to Towne Pass, the high point of the road.
After dropping to Panamint Springs, the Father Crowley climb gains 2,000 feet in 8 miles, followed by long rises to the Darwin turn-off. The road then crosses the Owens Valley through Keeler to Lone Pine. The last 12 miles climb about 4,750 feet up the Whitney Portal Road to finish at 8,360 feet, where night finishers can meet temperatures close to freezing.
The heat
Death Valley holds the world record air temperature, 134°F (57°C) at Furnace Creek in 1913. Summer highs often pass 120°F (49°C), and nights stay in the 90s°F. During the 2024 race daytime highs reached 120°F with night temperatures above 100°F. Since 2015 the race has started in the evening, so the first miles are run in the dark.
Ice, wet towels, spray bottles and misters are allowed. Cooling vests, cooling hats and umbrellas or shade covers while moving are not. Any IV fluid, for any reason, means disqualification.
Checkpoints and cutoffs
There are no aid stations: your crew carries everything you need. You can buy supplies at Furnace Creek, Stovepipe Wells, Panamint Springs and Lone Pine, and nowhere after Lone Pine. Phone signal is limited to the first part of the valley and the final stretch from about mile 102.
| Aid station | Mile | Km | Cutoff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Furnace Creek | 17.7 | 28.5 | None |
| Stovepipe Wells | 42.2 | 67.9 | None |
| 2,000 ft sign, Towne Pass climb | 50.8 | 81.8 | Tue 10:00am |
| Towne Pass summit | 58.9 | 94.8 | None |
| Panamint Springs | 72.8 | 117.2 | Tue 7:00pm |
| Darwin turn-off | 90.7 | 146.0 | Wed 3:30am |
| Keeler | 108.4 | 174.5 | None |
| Lone Pine | 122.8 | 197.6 | 40 hours |
| Portal Road | 131.2 | 211.1 | None |
| Whitney Portal (finish) | 135 | 217.3 | 45 hours |
There are no aid stations: your crew supplies everything. These are the timing checkpoints from the 2026 route book, with the race's cutoffs. The 2,000-foot sign on the Towne Pass climb has a cutoff set by the National Park Service. Cutoffs at Lone Pine and the finish run from your own wave start. Source: official race website, checked 19 October 2026.
Crew and vehicle rules
A crew is mandatory: one four-wheeled vehicle and two to four people, at least two of them licensed drivers. Crews leapfrog the runner in short hops, park fully off the road with hazard lights on, and get out on the right side only. Every crew member wears high-visibility OSHA Class 3 clothing at all times.
- Vehicles can be no wider than 82 inches or higher than 84 inches. Motorhomes, large vans, Hummers and trailers are banned, and minivans are recommended.
- The race supplies a "Caution Runners" sign and bib numbers for all four sides of the car.
- Vehicles may not stop on the Harmony Curves, and on the Father Crowley climb only in eight designated zones.
- Pacers are allowed from Stovepipe Wells at mile 42, or from mile 3.5 for runners aged 65 and over. They must never run in front of the runner.
- Trekking poles are banned.
- At night, runners and pacers wear reflective vests front and back and blinking lights.
- Each crew must carry portable toilet bags. Public defecation means disqualification.
How many people finish?
Most invited runners finish: 88 of 95 in 2026, 92.6%, and 93 of 99 in 2025. The hot 2024 race saw 23 runners stop, the lowest finish rate since 2018.
Show every year as a table
| Year | Starters | Finishers | Finish rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 95 | 88 | 92.6% |
| 2025 | 99 | 93 | 93.9% |
| 2024 | 97 | 74 | 76.3% |
| 2023 | 100 | 89 | 89.0% |
| 2022 | 94 | 78 | 83.0% |
| 2021 | 84 | 68 | 81.0% |
| 2020 | Cancelled because of COVID-19 | ||
| 2019 | 95 | 79 | 83.2% |
| 2018 | 99 | 69 | 69.7% |
| 2017 | 97 | 75 | 77.3% |
| 2016 | 97 | 84 | 86.6% |
| 2015 | 97 | 79 | 81.4% |
| 2014 | 97 | 83 | 85.6% |
| 2013 | 96 | 81 | 84.4% |
| 2012 | 96 | 89 | 92.7% |
| 2011 | 94 | 81 | 86.2% |
| 2010 | 80 | 73 | 91.3% |
| 2009 | 86 | 75 | 87.2% |
| 2008 | 82 | 75 | 91.5% |
| 2007 | 84 | 78 | 92.9% |
| 2006 | 85 | 67 | 78.8% |
| 2005 | 81 | 67 | 82.7% |
| 2004 | 72 | 57 | 79.2% |
| 2003 | 73 | 46 | 63.0% |
| 2002 | 78 | 58 | 74.4% |
| 2001 | 71 | 55 | 77.5% |
| 2000 | 69 | 49 | 71.0% |
| 1999 | 42 | 33 | 78.6% |
| 1998 | 29 | 20 | 69.0% |
| 1997 | 27 | 20 | 74.1% |
| 1996 | 23 | 14 | 60.9% |
| 1995 | 24 | 16 | 66.7% |
| 1994 | 25 | 16 | 64.0% |
| 1993 | 12 | 10 | 83.3% |
| 1992 | 14 | 13 | 92.9% |
| 1991 | 14 | 14 | 100.0% |
| 1990 | 21 | 17 | 81.0% |
| 1988 | 8 | 2 | 25.0% |
| 1987 | 5 | 5 | 100.0% |
Rates calculated by Running for Good Ultra from the published starters and finishers. Source: official race website, checked 19 October 2026.
Records and results
In 2026 two first-timers broke both course records in the first race with the 45-hour limit. Max Jolliffe became the first runner under 21 hours, in 20:53:41, and Carmen Maria Perez of Spain was second overall in 21:05:32. Women have won outright three times: Pam Reed in 2002 and 2003, and Ashley Paulson in 2023.
In 2025 Bob Becker became the oldest finisher at 80, in 45:00:06.
| Year | Women | Men |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Carmen Maria Perez, 21:05:32 | Max Jolliffe, 20:53:41 |
| 2025 | Marisa Lizak, 25:07:31 | Simen Holvik, 21:47:45 |
| 2024 | Line Caliskaner, 27:36:27 | Shaun Burke, 23:29:00 |
| 2023 | Ashley Paulson, 21:44:35 | Simen Holvik, 22:28:08 |
| 2022 | Ashley Paulson, 24:09:34 | Yoshihiko Ishikawa, 23:08:20 |
| 2021 | Sally McRae, 30:48:47 | Harvey Lewis, 25:50:23 |
| Record | Runner | Time | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Men's course record | Max Jolliffe (USA) | 20:53:41 | 2026 |
| Women's course record | Carmen Maria Perez (Spain) | 21:05:32 | 2026 |
| Oldest finisher | Bob Becker, aged 80 | 45:00:06 | 2025 |
Source: official race website, checked 19 October 2026.
History
In 1977 Al Arnold became the first person to cover the route from Badwater to Mount Whitney on foot, at his third attempt. The first race followed on 31 July 1987, billed as the US against the UK, with five starters on a 146-mile course to the summit. Britain's Eleanor Adams won in 53:03. From 1990 the race finished at Whitney Portal.
Hi-Tec sponsored the race from 1988, and AdventureCORPS, led by Chris Kostman, has run it since 2000. In 2014 a pause in park permits forced a different route outside Death Valley. The race returned to Badwater Basin in 2015 with evening starts, and in 2026 the time limit came down from 48 to 45 hours.
Preparing for Badwater
Heat is the main thing to prepare for. Train in heat if you can, and practise how your crew will cool you, feed you and keep you drinking without overdoing it. Road running for many hours is hard on the legs in its own way, so include long road sessions. Your crew needs as much preparation as you do, including driving and parking safely on open roads at night.
Getting there and following the race
Las Vegas airport is about 140 miles from Furnace Creek. Check-in and the pre-race meeting are in Lone Pine, and the organiser warns not to rely on GPS navigation to reach Death Valley. Confirmed runners get booking codes for room blocks in the park and Lone Pine.
The race asks fans not to come and watch on the course. Follow the webcast, time splits from the checkpoints and the race's social channels instead. There is no GPS tracking.
Running for good at Badwater
The official charities are the Challenged Athletes Foundation and the Bald Head Island Conservancy. Runners who raise $8,000 or more for the Challenged Athletes Foundation get their entry fee refunded, and the race says more than $900,000 has been raised for it since 2002. Many runners race for a charity of their own, and every competitor gives at least $1 at check-in.
AdventureCORPS is a member of 1% for the Planet. The race runs under permits from the National Park Service and other agencies, with park rangers monitoring the course, and says it has run since 1987 without a fatality or a citation.
Questions people ask
When is the 2027 Badwater 135?
From 19 to 21 July 2027, with waves starting at 8, 9 and 10 p.m. on 19 July.
How do you get into Badwater 135?
Apply online between 2 and 20 January 2027. A committee invites about 100 runners, announced on 6 February.
What do you need to qualify for Badwater?
Usually four finishes of 100 miles or more, one since 1 January 2026, or a 2026 Badwater finish plus a 50-miler.
How much does Badwater 135 cost?
$1,695, plus the cost of your crew, vehicle and travel.
What is the Badwater time limit?
45 hours since 2026, with intermediate cutoffs including Panamint Springs by 7 p.m. on the first full day.
Do you need a crew for Badwater?
Yes. Every runner needs a support vehicle and two to four crew.
Can you have a pacer at Badwater?
Yes, from Stovepipe Wells at mile 42, or from mile 3.5 if you are 65 or over. Pacers must never run in front.
What is the Badwater 135 course record?
Max Jolliffe ran 20:53:41 and Carmen Maria Perez 21:05:32, both in 2026.
How hot is Badwater?
Death Valley summer highs often pass 120°F, and in 2024 race temperatures reached 120°F by day and stayed above 100°F at night.
Can I watch Badwater?
The race asks fans not to spectate on the course. Follow the webcast, checkpoint splits and social channels.
Sources
Race details come from badwater.com, the 2026 route book and the AdventureCORPS results database, checked on 19 October 2026. Official pages give slightly different mileages for some checkpoints, and we use the route book. Finish rates are our own calculation. Running for Good Ultra is independent and has no connection with AdventureCORPS.
- Badwater 135: race page checked 19 October 2026
- Badwater 135: 2026 pre-race press release checked 19 October 2026
- Badwater: results and history checked 19 October 2026
- AdventureCORPS: 2026 results checked 19 October 2026
- Badwater: new 45-hour time limit checked 19 October 2026
- Badwater: 2026 route book (PDF) checked 19 October 2026
- Badwater: course description checked 19 October 2026
- Badwater: Ultra Cup checked 19 October 2026
- Badwater: charities checked 19 October 2026
- Badwater: environment checked 19 October 2026
- Badwater: 1987, the year Badwater became a race checked 19 October 2026
- Badwater: will you get in? checked 19 October 2026
- National Park Service: Death Valley weather checked 19 October 2026
- Canadian Running: records fall in 2026 checked 19 October 2026
- iRunFar: Bob Becker becomes oldest finisher checked 19 October 2026
- Associated Press: the 2024 race checked 19 October 2026
- Outside: Badwater leaves Death Valley in 2014 checked 19 October 2026
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