Badwater Salton Sea
Borrego Springs, United States • 18-19 Apr 2026
Badwater Salton Sea - Borrego Springs, CA (April 18-19, 2026)
Badwater Salton Sea is a team ultramarathon held in Southern California. The course is 81 miles (130 km) from Salton City (about 234 ft / 71 m below sea level) to Palomar Mountain (finish elevation about 5,500 ft / 1,676 m). The route combines road and trail, with a total elevation gain of over 9,000 ft (2,740 m). Approximately eight miles of the course follow single-track trail through Anza-Borrego State Park from Borrego Springs toward Ranchita. Entry is limited to roughly 100 runners.
Format, entry and key rules
All entrants must race as teams of two or three runners who remain together for the full distance and share a single support vehicle with at least two crew members. Divisions are All Male, All Female, and Mixed. To qualify, applicants must have completed at least one difficult 50-mile ultramarathon in the previous 12 months; proof of qualification is required or may be requested 60 days before the race. Teams must complete the entire course together to be ranked.
The race enforces intermediate cut-offs and an overall course time limit (28 hours). The trail section requires each runner to carry specific emergency equipment and minimum supplies, including a rain jacket, hat, gloves, emergency blanket, whistle, reflective gear, front and rear blinking lights, a headlamp plus spare batteries or second light, a charged cell phone, at least 1.5 L of hydration for six hours, and at least 1,000 calories of nutrition for six hours. Support vehicles must meet size and insurance rules and display clear team identification. Medical and anti-doping rules apply. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.