Badwater® 135 Race Route © AdventureCORPS, Inc. | 2016 Ed. | ||
Landmark | Distance | Elevation | Mile Marker |
NOTE: TL = Traffic Light; SS = Stop Sign; T-Int = T-Intersection: Jct. = Junction | |||
Badwater Basin: Head north | 0 | -282 | |
Crews will be held for 10 minutes after each wave begins, then released in small batches. | |||
Former location of Telescope Peak Sign on L. | 1.8 | -200 | |
Wide Shoulder on Right | 3.1 | ||
Natural Bridge turnoff on R (PACERS MAY JOIN AGE 65+ RUNNERS HERE) | 3.5 | -170 | MM 13 |
Wide Shoulder on R. | 3.9 | ||
Devil’s Golf Course on L. | 5.6 | -165 | |
Artist’s Drive entry on R. | 8 | -165 | |
West Side Road on L. | 10.6 | MM 6 | |
Artist’s Drive exit on R. | 11.7 | -70 | |
Mushroom Rock on R. | 12.1 | -170 | MM 5 |
Golden Canyon on R. (Toilet / Parking) (45 MPH) | 14.5 | -165 | |
Jct. Hwy 190 & Badwater Rd.: Go Left onto 190 north (Cell Service Begins) | 16.5 | 0 | |
Watch Speed Limit! (Don’t be like that Aussie team in 2015!) | |||
Timbisha Shoshone Reservation on L. | 17.2 | -140 | |
Furnace Creek Ranch on L.: Ice & Store close at 300am (Time Station #1) | 17.5 | -165 | |
Park in lots, not along roadway, near Time Station. | |||
Dumpsters available to dump garbage and recycling at Time Station. | |||
Furnace Creek Fuel on L. (Please do NOT dump garbage here.) | |||
Park Service Visitor’s Center on L. (Run on bike path left of roadway) | 17.7 | -165 | |
Furnace Creek Campground on L. | 17.8 | -170 | |
Harmony Borax Works on L.: Park here and let runner go ahead (45 MPH) | 18.2 | -170 | |
NO STOPPING, SLOWING, or PARKING NEXT 1 MILE! Drive beyond curves! | 19.1 | -100 | |
Parking allowed beyond curvy section, where safe. | 20.1 | ||
Cow Creek on R. | 20.8 | ||
1st Marathon | 26.2 | ||
Daylight Pass Rd. on R. (Cell Service Ends) | 28.4 | MM 99.5 | |
Salt Creek turnoff on L. | 30.8 | MM 97.5 | |
Sea Level sign on R. | 31.5 | 0 | |
Sea Level sign on L. | 32.1 | 0 | |
“Summit” / end of rolling hills section | 33.7 | 140′ | MM 94.5 |
North Hwy / Scotty’s Castle turnoff on R. | 34.9 | MM 93.5 | |
Sea Level sign on L. | 35.4 | 0 | |
MINIMAL PARKING NEXT 6 MILES! SOFT SHOULDERS. Do not get stuck in sand. | |||
Devil’s Cornfield sign on R. | 36.3 | -80 | MM 91.5 |
Parking on R. (Space for 2-3 cars) | 37.1 | ||
Camera Sign pullout on R. (Space for 4-5 cars only) | 37.5 | ||
Sand Dunes Parking Lot on R. (Toilet / Parking) (35 MPH) | 40.2 | 0 | |
Approaching Stovepipe Wells (Cell Service Begins) | 41 | 0 | |
Stovepipe Wells Village Welcome sign: Gas / Food / Store opens at 300am! | 42 | 0 | |
Time Station #2 & Medical HQ on L. by hotel courtyard & flag | 42.2 | ||
(PACERS MAY JOIN RUNNERS OF ANY AGE HERE.) | |||
It’s a long climb, and a long way, to Panamint Springs, 30 miles away! | |||
It is CRITICAL to stock up on water, ice, and snacks, plus real food for the crew! | |||
Also, take advantage of the low gas prices while you are here! | |||
Mosaic Canyon turnoff on L. | 42.4 | 5 | |
1000′ Elevation sign on R. (65 MPH) | 46.8 | 1000 | |
Short downhill | 47.2 | ||
DIP Sign on R. (Do NOT park in dips as you will be invisible!) | 48.5 | ||
2000′ Elevation sign: All racers must pass this location before 1000am | 50.7 | 2000 | MM 77.5 |
Wildrose Station (Bathroom; paved parking lot on R.) | 51.2 | 2450 | |
Please park neatly and use designated spaces. Don’t park “haphazardly.” | |||
Wildrose Turnoff on L. | 51.4 | 2500 | MM 76.5 |
2nd Marathon | 52.4 | 2800 | MM 75.5 |
3000′ Elevation sign on L. | 53.6 | 3000 | |
4000′ Elevation sign on L. | 56 | 4000 | |
DIP sign on R. (Do NOT park in dips as you will be invisible!) | 56.4 | ||
Approaching the summit of Towne Pass (30 MPH) | 57.25 | MM 70.5 | |
Brake Check area on R. | 58.9 | 4965 | |
Towne Pass Summit sign on R. | 59 | 4965 | |
“Downhill Next 9 Miles – 9% Grade” – Begin descent into Panamint Valley | 59.6 | ||
4000′ Elevation sign on R. (55 MPH) | 61.8 | 4000 | |
Vista Point (amazing Mt. Whitney view) / big gravel pullout on R. | 62 | 3500 | |
Paved pullout on L. | 62.5 | ||
Gravel pullout on L. | 63.7 | MM 64.5 | |
3000′ Elevation sign on L. | 64.1 | 3000 | |
Large Paved pullout on L. | 65.3 | ||
2000′ Elevation sign on L. (65 MPH) | 66.4 | 2000 | |
Panamint Dry Lake Bed, east edge; “Soft Shoulder” sign | 68.4 | 1640 | |
Panamint Valley Road to Trona / Ridgecrest on L. | 70.2 | 1750 | |
Panamint Springs Resort: Gas / Mini Mart / Food / Hotel (35 MPH) | 72.7 | 1970 | |
Time Station #3 on L. at resort hotel | |||
All racers must pass TS3 before 1159pm, Tuesday night | |||
Free Showers and Flush Toilets across street at campground! | |||
Get water, ice, snacks, and more at Gas Station / Mini Mart! | |||
Get REAL FOOD quuickly with “streamined Badwater Race Menu” at the Resort | |||
WARNING: Parking only allowed in designated locations for next 12.2 miles: follow odometer closely! | |||
2000′ Elevation sign on L. (55 MPH) | 73.3 | 2000 | |
Darwin Falls turnoff on L. / “Rock Slide Area” sign on R. | 73.7 | 2500 | |
Parking Allowed on R. in gravel pullout with yellow left arrow (1.8 from PSR) | 74.5 | MM 53.5 | |
Parking Allowed on R. in small gravel pullout on right (3.4 from PSR) | 76.1 | ||
3000′ Elevation sign on L. (end parking allowed zone) | 76.2 | 3000 | |
Parking Allowed on R. in large gravel shoulder on right (4.7 from PSR) | 77.4 | ||
Parking Allowed in large gravel pullout on L. before left curve (5.3 from PSR) | 78 | ||
3rd Marathon at 25 MPH sign with sharp left curve arrow | 78.6 | 3400 | MM 48.5 |
4000′ Elevation sign on L. | 80.55 | 4000 | |
Father Crowley’s Point on R. (Toilet) Parking Allowed in lot (7.9 from PSR) | 80.6 | 4000 | |
Please no sleeping on the ground in parking spaces! | |||
Parking Allowed in elevated gravel pullout via small drive on R. (8.7 from PSR) | 81.4 | ||
Parking Allowed in wide gravel pullout on R. (35 MPH) (10.5 from PSR) | 83.2 | MM 44.8 | |
Summit (no sign) Parking Allowed in large gravel pullout on R. (12.2 from PSR) | 84.9 | ||
65 MPH sign on right, just beyond parking zone | 85 | ||
Support vehicles may resume parking wherever it is safe to do so from here onwards. | |||
Death Valley National Park sign on L. (65 MPH) | 85.4 | 4200 | |
Saline Valley Rd. on R. (actual DVNP boundary) | 86.4 | 4800 | |
“Adopt a Highway” sign on R. | 88.6 | MM 39.5 | |
Darwin turnoff on L.: Time Station #4 on Left before turnoff | 90.6 | 5050 | MM 37.5 |
All racers must pass TS4 before 500am, Wednesday morning | |||
Gravesite on right (white cross) | 96.8 | 4100 | |
“Rock Slide Area” | 99.8 | ||
One hundred miles! (3′ wide gray stripe across road with culvert under road) | 100 | 4050 | MM 28* |
* MM 28 is exactly at the 100-mile mark, but is on the LEFT side of the road, facing the opposite direction. | |||
4000′ Elevation sign on R. before “Gunsite Notch” (Cell Service Begins) | 102.2 | 4000 | |
Jct. Hwy 136 & Hwy 190: Go straight / north onto Hwy 136 “Lone Pine 19mi” | 103.4 | 3935 | |
4th Marathon | 104.8 | 3800 | MM 16.5 |
“100 Sulfate Road” sign | 106.5 | ||
Keeler City sign at Cerro Gordo Rd. on R. | 108.1 | 3610 | |
Adopt-a-Highway sign on R. after solar panel array | 109.1 | 3605 | |
SOFT SHOULDERS NEXT FOUR MILES: BE CAREFUL! DO NOT GET STUCK! | |||
Dolomite Loop Road on R. | 113.2 | 3600 | |
Dolomite Loop Road on R. | 117.5 | 3510 | |
Cross Owens River: View of Whitney Portal Rd. is straight ahead! | 118.3 | 3500 | |
Jct. Hwy 136 & Hwy 395: Go Right / North | 121 | 3696 | |
Runners may run on right side of road into and through Lone Pine: stay well away from traffic lane. | |||
WARNING: SPEED LIMITS DROP TO 25mph as you pass through town! | |||
Comfort Inn on R. (45 MPH) | 121.1 | ||
Chevron / Lee’s Frontier Deli / Mini Mart (Great sandwiches!) on L. | 121.3 | ||
Best Western on R. (35 MPH) | 122 | ||
Lone Pine City Limits sign on R. (25 MPH) | 122.3 | ||
McDonald’s on L. | 122.6 | 3610 | |
Dow Villa on R.: Time Station #5 & Medical HQ | 122.7 | 3610 | |
All racers must pass within 42 hours of their individual wave start! | |||
All racers with time penalties must “check in” and serve penalty time here before continuing. | |||
Portal Road (the only traffic light in Lone Pine): Go left | 122.8 | 3610 | |
Tuttle Creek turnoff on L. | 123.3 | 3770 | |
WARNING: Park and Drive Properly! NO slow driving; NO stopping in roadway! | |||
Los Angeles Aqueduct | 123.4 | 3855 | |
Lone Pine Creek | 124.5 | 4200 | |
Movie Flat Road on R. | 125.5 | 4590 | |
WARNING: Park and Drive Properly! NO slow driving; NO stopping in roadway! | |||
Lone Pine Creek | 125.7 | 4800 | |
Horseshoe Meadow turnoff on L. | 125.9 | 5000 | |
Cuffe Ranch turnoff on R. | 127.1 | 5100 | |
WARNING: Park and Drive Properly! NO slow driving; NO stopping in roadway! | |||
Whitney Vista Drive on L | 127.4 | ||
Olivas Ranch Road on L. | 128.4 | 5300 | |
“Entering Active Bear Area” | 129.2 | ||
WARNING: Park and Drive Properly! NO slow driving; NO stopping in roadway! | |||
Lone Pine Campground on L. | 129.3 | 5700 | |
Lone Pine Creek | 129.6 | 6000 | |
“Inyo National Forest” sign on R. (Sign was missing in May, 2015) | 129.8 | 6400 | |
5th Marathon at Indian Creek Rd. on R. | 131 | 7000 | |
Time Station #6 in Large gravel pullout on R. | 131.1 | 6890 | |
Road makes a 180-degree switchback to L. | 132 | 7215 | |
Vista Point on Left at large gravel pullout | 132.8 | 7400 | |
“Campsites 39-44” and “Whitney Portal Recreation Area” signs | 133.7 | 7700 | |
WARNING: Park and Drive Properly! NO slow driving; NO stopping in roadway! | |||
Meysan Lakes trailhead on L. | 133.9 | 8035 | |
Family Campground on L.: Support vehicles should drive ahead to park! | 134 | 8100 | |
Overflow Parking Lot on L. | 134.6 | 8200 | |
Finish Line of the World’s Toughest Foot Race: Congratulations! | 134.7 | 8360 | |
Mile Markers (MM) noted are on R. side of road and within 2/10 of a mile of their stated location. For reference only. | |||
Official distance is 135.0 miles. Remember all car odometers have error. | |||
Distances above were GPS-measured and are accurate in a relative sense. | |||
© AdventureCORPS, Inc. for the exclusive use of registered Badwater 135 entrants and race staff. |
Badwater Cerro Gordo
We are excited to announce that we are making progress on the BADWATER® Cerro Gordo concept and race. We’ve had a map created and a simple race logo.
The Badwater Cerro Gordo 102-mile footrace will be based upon the Badwater 135 route used in 2014, but excluding the 33-mile out-and-back section between Keeler and Darwin. It will cover 102 miles (166km) non-stop from Lone Pine, CA to the summit of Horseshoe Meadow (elev. 10,000 feet / 3048m), then across the Owens Valley to a 5,500 foot dirt road ascent to the ghost town of Cerro Gordo, and then, after passing back through Lone Pine, a final dramatic ascent to the highest paved point on Mt. Whitney, CA. The start line is at Lone Pine, CA, and the race finishes at Mt. Whitney Portal at 8,360’ (2530m). The Badwater Cerro Gordo course covers three mountain pass ascents for a total of over 17,000’ (5,800m) of cumulative vertical ascent and 12,700’ (4450m) of cumulative descent. Whitney Portal is the trailhead to the Mt. Whitney summit, the highest point in the contiguous United States.
It will be a terrific winter counterpoint to the Badwater 135!
The first edition will be held in Winter 2015 / 2016 or 2016 / 2017. Details forthcoming on the event webpage here on the BADWATER.com site.
Badwater 135 – 2014 -Live Webcast
Badwater 135 Course Description
Badwater Basin, Death Valley (- 85m / 280ft)
The race begins here adjacent to a pool of saltwater located at the lowest place in the Western Hemisphere.
Furnace Creek Ranch (-170′), Mile 17.5 (Time Station #1)
The first oasis in our journey. A small general store, restaurant, hotel, camping, and ice are available, plus a gas station just 2/10 of a mile up the road next to the National Park Service Visitors Center. Stock up here!
Stovepipe Wells (Sea Level), Mile 42.2 (Time Station #2)
A small general store, gas station, restaurant and motel. Location of the race’s Medical HQ for most of the first 15 hours of the race. Stock up here!
Towne Pass (4956’), Mile 58.7
17-mile long ascent with 5000′ of elevation gain, then a 10-mile long descent with 3000′ feet of elevation loss into the Panamint Valley. It’s a steep and narrow road with limited opportunities to park. Support vehicles, crews, and runners must be cautious and extra aware of the traffic.
Panamint Springs Resort (2000′), Mile 72.7 (Time Station #3)
Gas station / mini-mart, plus restaurant and motel. Stock up here! Also, we rent out “The Cottage” as a way station for any and all race entrants and crews to use during the race: Bring your own towel, soap, and shampoo and make a big effort to keep the room and bathroom tidy. After passing Panamint Springs, a long, steep climb follows on a steep and narrow road with limited opportunities to park. Support vehicles, crews, and runners must be cautious and extra aware of the traffic, and ONLY park in the eight designated parking zones between Panamint Springs Resort and unmarked “Panamint Pass” at mile 84.9.
Father Crowley’s Turnout (4000′), Mile 80.65
The bathrooms and parking lot that designate this view point are not the top of this ascent, though you may hope so. Beyond here, the road continues to rise to 5000’ over rolling hills, then eventually descends into the Owen’s Valley.
Darwin Turn-Off (5050′), Mile 90.6 (Time Station #4)
Just a few miles to the south of our route is the small inhabited ghost town of Darwin, the website for which touts “NO broadcast TV; NO AM/FM radio, NO cell signal; NO stores; NO restaurants.” This is where the race usually starts to get serious for all entrants. Look for Mile Marker 28 about nine miles ahead to indicate your 100-mile mark!
Keeler (3610′), Mile 108.1
This is a small mining town with no facilities which abuts the Owens Dry Lake Bed to the left of the highway. Amazing views of Mt. Whitney and the Sierra Nevada abound. A dirt road to the right ascends to Cerro Gordo, an authentic ghost town which was featured in the 2014 Badwater 135 and will be featured again in the upcoming “Badwater® Cerro Gordo” 102-mile Ultramarathon.
Lone Pine (3610′), Mile 122.7 (Time Station #5)
Lone Pine offers the weary runner and crew all the amenities of a real town: fast food, pizza, restaurants, motels, gas stations, grocery stores, and more, not to mention our Race Headquarters at the Dow Villa. Restock here for the climb to Whitney Portal. Turn left onto the Whitney Portal Road to begin the final leg, the longest and steepest climb of the race (13 miles with 5000 feet of elevation gain). After the turn from Hwy 395, it’s 8.4 miles to Time Station #6, located at the start of the switchbacks. Temperatures will steadily decrease during the ascent (though depending on time of day). Be prepared with extra layers of clothing and rain gear the final few miles; at night it can approach freezing temperature. Be sure your support vehicle is always parked completely off of the road and that you do not block traffic, even for a moment.
Whitney Portal Road Switchbacks, (6890’), Mile 131.1 (Time Station #6)
Just before you enter the infamous “switchbacks” section of the Whitney Portal Road climb to the finish, there is a time station (checkpoint) on the right in the large pullout. From here it’s “just” a four-mile sprint to the finish line (one a road that gets increasingly steeper.)
Mt. Whitney Trailhead, (8360’), Mile 135
Congratulations! You have finished the world’s toughest foot race! A small diner/shop are open during daylight hours. There is also a stocked fishing pond and a campground (because, of course, after running 135 miles, you really want to go fishing and camping!).
For all the Badwater 135 race route details, click here.
Course Profile Breakdown
Flat Miles: |
Badwater to Stovepipe Wells 41 miles |
|
Uphill Miles: |
Stovepipe Wells to Townes 18 miles + 5,000 ft. |
|
Downhill Miles: |
Townes to Panamint Valley 8 miles – 3,400 ft. |
Pace Chart
hours | mph | min/mile |
24 | 5.62 | 10:40 |
25 | 5.40 | 11:07 |
26 | 5.19 | 11:33 |
26 | 5.14 | 11:41 |
27 | 5.00 | 12:00 |
28 | 4.82 | 12:26 |
29 | 4.65 | 12:53 |
29 | 4.63 | 12:58 |
30 | 4.50 | 13:20 |
31 | 4.35 | 13:46 |
32 | 4.21 | 14:13 |
33 | 4.09 | 14:40 |
34 | 3.97 | 15:07 |
35 | 3.85 | 15:33 |
36 | 3.75 | 16:00 |
36 | 3.71 | 16:08 |
37 | 3.64 | 16:26 |
37 | 3.64 | 16:27 |
38 | 3.55 | 16:53 |
39 | 3.46 | 17:20 |
40 | 3.37 | 17:48 |
41 | 3.29 | 18:14 |
42 | 3.21 | 18:41 |
43 | 3.14 | 19:06 |
44 | 3.07 | 19:32 |
45 | 3.00 | 20:00 |
46 | 2.93 | 20:28 |
47 | 2.87 | 20:54 |
48 | 2.81 | 21:21 |
2014 Badwater 135 Route
Behold the new and improved 2014 edition of the Badwater 135, the world’s toughest foot race!
Essential Race Route for 2014
Start in Lone Pine and run up Tuttle Creek
Run to the top of Horseshoe Meadow (23 miles uphill with 6500 feet of elevation gain)
Run back down to Lone Pine
Run southeast to Keeler on Hwy 136
Run up Yellow Grade Road to Cerro Gordo (7.5 miles uphill with 5500 feet of elevation gain)
Run back down Yellow Grade Road to Hwy 136
Run southeast on Hwy 136 / hwy 190 to the Darwin Turn-Off.
Turn around and run Hwy 190 / Hwy 136 back to Lone Pine
Finish by running from Lone Pine to Whitney Portal (13 miles uphill with 5000 feet of elevation gain)
Compared to the traditional route, the 2014 version has over 17,000’ (5,200m) of cumulative vertical ascent and 12,700’ (3900m) of cumulative descent, while the traditional Death Valley-based route has 13,000’ (3962m) of cumulative vertical ascent and 4,700’ (1433m) of cumulative descent. Though the 2014 edition does not start in Badwater and traverse Death Valley and Panamint Valley, the actual topography of the new route is significantly more challenging and very much worthy of the moniker, “world’s toughest foot race.”
Route Landmarks
2014 Badwater 135 Ultramarathon Route Landmarks
Created with GPS measurement: June 2014.
Official distance is 135.0 miles. Remember all car odometers have error. Distances above are accurate in a relative sense, but you may find variation in the overall distance, as we did when creating the above route sheet.
> Description of the major ascents by 2014 entrant Josh Spector
> Mile by Mile Images of the Horseshoe Meadows ascent from Mile 0 to Mile 23 by Ben Jones
> More Images of the Horseshoe Meadows ascent from Mile 0 to Mile 23 by Ben Jones
> Images of the Cerro Gordo ascent / descent from Mile 60 to Mile 75 by Ben Jones.
While 2014 race entrant Josh Spector and his crew trained on that stretch of the route.
Read about Cerro Gordo, the Ghost Town.
Ghost Town Explorers Wikipedia Ghost Towns Cerro Gordo
Lone Pine Map and Services Guide: a very handy reference tool for Badwater runners and crews
Lone Pine Guide [PDF]
> Lone Pine Chamber of Commerce
> Lone Pine weather
> Lone Pine historical weather trend data
> Information about the history (1977-2013) race route