Badwater 135.
The Badwater 135 starts more than 80 metres below sea level in Death Valley and ends 217 kilometres of road later, above 2,500 metres, near Lone Pine. Preparing for it means preparing for more than the distance: there are three long climbs, and the biggest does not begin until just before kilometre 200.
Badwater 135 2027: Course, Elevation & Route Profile
The course is a single line across the desert: start at Badwater Basin, finish near Lone Pine, with Furnace Creek and later Panamint Springs along the way. You run on the highway and on mountain roads, with no loop and no way back. The first 70 kilometres are almost flat, and about 50 of them lie below sea level.
At kilometre 71 that flat stretch ends abruptly. The road climbs in two steps to around 1,500 metres, the second step running for just over 18 kilometres at an average of 6.6 percent. The highway then gives back around 1,000 metres in one go before rising again: from kilometre 118, twelve kilometres add almost 700 metres of climbing.
Beyond that the course settles down. The road edges up to nearly 1,600 metres by about kilometre 145, then drops gently to around 1,100 metres and stays close to level until nearly kilometre 200. The finale changes everything once more, because the last climb is the longest and steepest of the race: almost 19 kilometres at an average of 7.4 percent. Nearly 1,400 metres of it stand between you and a finish more than 2,600 metres above the start.
| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 50.6 | 2.5 km | 3 % | 3.4 % | +76 m | — |
| km 71.3 | 4.7 km | 5.2 % | 7.5 % | +242 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 76.2 | 18.4 km | 6.6 % | 10.6 % | +1,206 m | HC |
| km 115.2 | 2.4 km | 3.6 % | 6.1 % | +85 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 117.8 | 12.3 km | 5.6 % | 9.5 % | +696 m | Cat. 1 |
| km 131.6 | 2.1 km | 4.1 % | 7 % | +83 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 134.8 | 1.8 km | 3.9 % | 7.5 % | +69 m | — |
| km 198.3 | 18.7 km | 7.4 % | 15.1 % | +1,392 m | HC |
Climb categories follow the road-cycling convention and rate the terrain itself (length and gradient) regardless of sport: Cat. 4 marks the easiest rated climbs, Cat. 1 the hardest, and HC (hors catégorie, “beyond categorization”) is reserved for the most brutal ascents. Short climbs below the Cat. 4 threshold stay unrated.
How to pace Badwater 135.
Start under control
Think of the race in four parts rather than in kilometres: the flat opening, the two climbs with the descent between them, the long middle section, and the finale. The opening 70 kilometres should feel too easy. Nowhere else do fresh legs make steady running seem free, which is exactly why so many overspend here before a single metre of climbing has counted.
Hold your rhythm
On the two big climbs, settle early into a rhythm of brisk walking, with short running spells where the road eases. Six to seven percent can be run at first, but not for 18 kilometres with more than 120 still to come. The biggest trap is the descent in between: 1,000 metres down on a hard road invites you to let go, and it charges the quads you will need later.
Spend what is left
Time is won on the nearly level 50 kilometres before the finale, because anyone still running there has rationed everything correctly. The race itself is decided on the final climb from kilometre 198. Treat it as a steady march, and expect no speed from it, only uninterrupted forward movement.
Training plan for Badwater 135: 12-week build
Build the base
Expect roughly 30 to 48 hours depending on your level; the event window runs from Monday to Wednesday, which for most starters means at least one night on course. The effort is almost entirely aerobic and very low in intensity. Anaerobic spikes do not matter here, whereas your ability to keep alternating walking and running does.
Train race pace
Two places decide what you train. The descent around kilometre 100 needs quads that can absorb 1,000 metres of road without ruining the second half. The final climb needs the capacity to march hard uphill for almost 19 kilometres after more than 200 already covered.
Rehearse the course
Your priorities follow from those two. Long sessions belong on the road, because a hard surface loads joints and muscles differently from a trail. Build in weekends with two long days back to back and put the gradient at the end: long walking blocks on a hill or a treadmill at six to eight percent, on tired legs where you can. Add regular downhill running on tarmac so your quads know what the descent will ask of them.
Arrive fresh
Your training peak falls ahead of the July date, so in early summer. Rehearse running through a night and eating on the move at least once, since neither can be improvised over this duration. With the last kilometres above 2,000 metres, time at altitude before the race is also worthwhile, particularly if you live at low elevation.
Courses
Download the Badwater 135 course as a GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
Let YOUB adapt your plan for Badwater 135 dynamically
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Everything about Badwater 135.
How long is Badwater 135?
Badwater 135 is 217 km long. That distance shapes how much aerobic endurance, pace durability, and race-specific work belong in the training plan.
How much elevation gain does Badwater 135 have?
Badwater 135 has around 4,646 m of elevation gain over 217 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
What is the route profile of Badwater 135?
Badwater 135 is classified as Mountainous, averaging 21.4 vertical metres per kilometre. 36% of the route is flat, 36% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 5% is steeper than 6%.
What climbs does Badwater 135 have?
The hardest climb of Badwater 135 starts at kilometre 198.3, runs for 18.7 km at an average of 7.4% and gains 1,392 metres. Cycling-convention rating: HC. 8 climbs are mapped in total.
Is Badwater 135 a loop course?
No, Badwater 135 is a point-to-point course: start and finish are in different places.
Is there a GPX file for the Badwater 135 course?
Yes. The Badwater 135 course is on this page as a free GPX download — ready to import into Garmin, Wahoo, Komoot, Strava or any other app that reads GPX.
How should I prepare for Badwater 135?
Preparation for Badwater 135 should account for 217 km, 4,646 m of elevation gain, current training load, and available training time. An adaptive plan helps place key sessions without ignoring recovery and real life.
What pacing strategy works for Badwater 135?
The pacing strategy for Badwater 135 should reflect 217 km, 4,646 m of elevation gain, and your current fitness. Start controlled and keep margin for sections where the profile or fatigue makes target pace harder.
When does Badwater 135 2027 take place?
Badwater 135 2027 takes place on July 19, 2027.
Where does Badwater 135 2027 take place?
Badwater 135 2027 takes place in Badwater Basin / Lone Pine, United States.
How do I register for Badwater 135?
Registration runs through the organiser: badwater.com. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.
