Badwater Salton Sea

Event overview

Badwater Salton Sea is a team ultra running event held April 18-19, 2026 in Borrego Springs, California. Entrants compete as teams of two or three runners who must remain together for the entire race and share a single support vehicle with at least two crew members. Divisions are All Male, All Female, and Mixed. Entry is limited to about 100 runners. Applicants must have completed at least one difficult 50-mile ultramarathon in the prior 12 months and provide proof at least 60 days before the race.

Course, rules and logistics

The route is a mix of road and trail and covers 81 miles (130 km) with a total elevation gain of over 9000 ft (2740 m). Key course facts:

• 81 miles (130 km) from Salton City to Palomar Mountain
• 8 miles on single-track trail through Anza-Borrego State Park
• Start elevation near 234 ft / 71 m below sea level
• Finish elevation about 5500 ft (1676 m)

The race enforces intermediate cutoffs at mile 35.23 and mile 40.6 and has a 28-hour course time limit. Weather can vary widely, from daytime heat of 100+ F / 38+ C to freezing, wet fog at night. For the trail section, runners must carry a specified set of safety and survival gear, including a rain jacket, reflective gear, front and rear blinking lights, headlamp plus spare batteries, emergency blanket, whistle, a charged cell phone, minimum hydration for six hours (1.5L / 50 ounces), and at least 1000 calories of nutrition. Support crews must follow vehicle and safety rules. Finishers who complete the full route within race rules receive a finisher buckle; only intact teams are ranked. The Borrego Springs Resort serves as race check-in and a primary race hub. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.