AdventureCORPS to host the Mount to Coast Badwater 135 Ultramarathon on July 27-29, 2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Read an extended version of this press release online

Lone Pine, CA: On July 27-29, 2026, AdventureCORPS, Inc. – now in their 43rd year producing world-class events – will host its legendary Mount to Coast BADWATER® 135 Ultramarathon, the 135-Mile World Championship. In its 39th year, this world-renowned event pits up to 100 of the world’s toughest athletes against one another and the elements in a crucible like no other. From below sea level in scorching temperatures to altitudes as high as 8,360 feet (2548m), 98 endurance athletes representing 21 nations plus 24 American states will face off in a grueling 135-mile non-stop running race from Death Valley to Mt. Whitney, CA. Widely recognized as “the world’s toughest foot race,” the invitational Mount to Coast Badwater 135 is the most demanding and extreme running race on the planet.

New for 2026, as these amazing athletes continue to explore the frontiers of human potential, the overall time limit for the race has been lowered from 48 to 45 hours.

The start line is at Badwater Basin in Death Valley National Park, which marks the lowest elevation in North America at 280’ (85m) below sea level. The race finishes at Whitney Portal at 8,360’ (2530m). The course covers three mountain ranges for a total of 14,600’ (4450m) of cumulative vertical ascent and 6,100’ (1859m) of cumulative descent. Whitney Portal is the trailhead to the Mt. Whitney summit, the highest point in the contiguous United States. Competitors travel through places with names like Mushroom Rock, Furnace Creek, Salt Creek, Devil’s Cornfield, Devil’s Golf Course, Stovepipe Wells, Panamint Springs, Darwin, Keeler, Alabama Hills, and Lone Pine.

The Badwater 135 Ultramarathon is held under permits from – and in close collaboration with – Death Valley National Park, California Department of Transportation, United States Forest Service, and the County of Inyo. We thank them for their support and salute them for all they do to steward this majestic landscape year-round.

While runners began running the course in the 1970s, the race itself has been part of the fabric of life in Inyo County since 1987. A recent study indicated an annual economic impact of 1.2 million dollars, half of it spent in Death Valley National Park and surrounding gateway communities such as Lone Pine, CA. The race is supported by the Inyo County Board of Supervisors, the Lone Pine Chamber of Commerce, and a wide panorama of businesses and charities which are positively impacted.

THE 2026 RACE FIELD

The ultimate “challenge of the champions,” the 2026 Mount to Coast Badwater 135 features 33 Badwater previous finishers and 65 rookies: world-class ultra-runners who have the necessary running credentials to not only apply for, but be selected, to compete in the race.

As always, the race will boast a very impressive, very international field. The 98 athletes (28 women and 70 men) in the 2026 Badwater 135 represent twenty-one nations: Australia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic, Ecuador, France, Hungary, India, Iran, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, Philippines, Poland, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom, and United States of America. See the full roster here.

OFFICIAL SPONSORS AND CHARITIES

Now in its twenty-seventh year producing this race, AdventureCORPS is pleased to recognize Mount to Coast – the first performance shoe brand to specialize in ultra running and long-distance pursuits – as the Title Sponsor of the Badwater 135 and the Presenting Sponsor of all other AdventureCORS / Badwater races in 2026. Mount to Coast is also recognized as the Official Shoe of Badwater and is releasing a special Badwater® edition C135 model in conjunction with this year’s race.

AdventureCORPS also recognizes RoadID, Fenixlight, Hyk Energy, and Runner Bar as Official Sponsors. We also thank the Oasis at Death Valley, Stovepipe Wells Resort, Panamint Springs Resort, and Dow Villa of Lone Pine, the community of Lone Pine, CA, the County of Inyo, the Lone Pine Chamber of Commerce, and other generous companies and individuals who support Badwater 135 each year. More info about our sponsors.

Official Charities of Badwater include the Challenged Athletes Foundation.  As one of the very few charities that provides grants directly to athletes with a physical disability, the Challenged Athletes Foundation has raised over 200 million dollars and directly assisted more than 60,000 challenged athletes in all 50 states and 70 countries world-wide. Since 2002, together with our athletes who fundraise, we have raised over $900,000 for Challenged Athletes Foundation.

AdventureCORPS also supports the Bald Head Island Conservancy, Death Valley Natural History Association, and One Percent For The Planet. One of the goals of the Badwater 135 is to raise funds for, and awareness of, these organizations. More info. Additionally, many of the race entrants are competing on behalf of a charity of their choice, and these are noted and linked from the race roster.

FOLLOWING THE BADWATER 135 ONLINE

For the duration of the 2026 race, fans can follow the race through a “live” webcast at this link (which will remain archived at that link.)

Follow the 2026 time splits and results at this link.

Follow the AdventureCORPS staff’s live photostream on Instagram @BadwaterHQ

Follow the AdventureCORPS race staff’s photostream archive on Flickr

Follow our Facebook @Badwater135 page and the #Badwater135 Facebook conversation

Follow the AdventureCORPS YouTube Channel

Download the July 2026 issue of BADWATER Magazine at this link.

News Staff