Badwater 135

A Race Born in Death Valley

Globally recognised as the world's toughest foot race, the Badwater 135 Ultramarathon – hosted by AdventureCORPS and presented by Mount to Coast – is a pure athletic challenge of athlete, shoes, and support crew versus a brutal 135-mile / 217km stretch of highway and a forty-five hour time limit. From the start line in Death Valley to the finish line high on Mt. Whitney, this one-of-a-kind foot race offers the promise of a supremely personal achievement along with international accolades for those who rise to the occasion.

Covering 135 miles (217km) non-stop from Death Valley* to Mt. Whitney, CA, the Badwater® 135 is the most demanding and extreme running race offered anywhere on the planet, as well as the 135-Mile World Championship. The start line is at Badwater Basin, Death Valley, which marks the lowest elevation in North America at 280' (85m) below sea level. The race finishes at Whitney Portal at 8,300' (2530m), which is the trailhead to the Mt. Whitney summit, the highest point in the contiguous United States. The Badwater 135 course covers three mountain ranges for a total of 14,600' (4450m) of cumulative vertical ascent and 6,100' (1859m) of cumulative descent. Competitors travel through places or landmarks with names like Mushroom Rock, Furnace Creek, Salt Creek, Devil's Cornfield, Devil's Golf Course, Stovepipe Wells, Panamint Springs, Darwin, Keeler, Lone Pine, Alabama Hills, and the Sierra Nevada.

** AdventureCORPS® will host the 49th anniversary of "the world's toughest foot race" on Monday-Wednesday, July 27-29, 2026   **

Into the Furnace by Cory Reece

Into The Furnace explores the inner workings of bravery, hope, and passion. These themes are framed against the backdrop of the Badwater Ultramarathon - a 135-mile race across the hottest place on the planet, Death Valley. Cory Reese has walked into the furnace. He has faced adversity, both in running and in life. His book captures the essence of what it means to suffer, what it means to persevere, and ultimately, what it means to create a life of clarity and purpose.

Into The Furnace is available in all good book stores

©2018 Cory Reese (P)2018 Cory Reese 

The Badwater 135 Movie

A feature‑length documentary titled The Badwater 135 was released in 2025, capturing the intensity, suffering, and spirit of ten ultrarunners taking on one of the world's toughest footraces in Death Valley. In the scorching heat of Death Valley, California, 10 ultramarathon runners from around the world converge to tackle the infamous Badwater 135 ultramarathon, starting in Death Valley and finishing at Mt.Whitney. 

The documentary showcases extreme heat, sleep deprivation, crew dynamics, and the psychological battle that defines the race. Featuring well‑known ultra-runners including Debbie Martin‑Consani, Harvey Lewis, Sally McRae, and others.

Directed by David Polaczek