Badwater Salton Sea

The BADWATER® ultra running experience returns to the Anza-Borrego Desert and Palomar Mountain when the twelfth BADWATER SALTON SEA race takes place on April 26-27, 2025.

RACE DIFFICULTY

This is an extremely difficult race held in extreme conditions: Veterans of this event routinely state that it is as hard as any of the toughest 100 milers they have done. The extreme weather changes - from 100°F / 38°C during the day, often with a sand storm, to freezing temperatures with very wet fog at night - along with the extreme challenge of the two major mountain ascents - combine to make this an extremely difficult race.

It is critical to train properly for the heat and to train effectively for the very steep desert single-track trail section of the race which is done in maximum heat and without the support crew nearby. Additionally, the single track trail is VERY steep and surprises runners every year with both its steepness, rugged terrain, and intense heat. Knowledge of maintaining proper electrolyte balance is also critical. Study the relevant articles at Badwater University closely, as well as race reports from former competitors.

Team Format

Unique to Badwater® Salton Sea is a “Team Ultra Racing” format: All race entrants must enter and race as teams of two or three runners, remaining together for the duration and sharing just one support vehicle with at least two crew members.

We encourage each runner to select teammates with compatible running style and pace, and with whom he or she would really like to share this experience!

Divisions are offered for All Male, All Female, and Mixed teams. It is very important to pick good teammates to have an ideal experience at this race, and to have the highest likelihood of the whole team finishing together, intact.

QUALIFYING REQUIREMENTS

Entry may be denied to those without sufficient endurance credentials. All applicants must have completed at least one difficult 50-mile ultramarathon in the previous 12 months prior to entry. Proof of this qualification must be included within the entry application OR by email at least 60 days prior to the race. Completing one or more tough 100-milers before this event is highly recommended, as is experience in desert heat racing.

REFUND POLICY

Generally speaking, it is our expectation that registered teams will not withdraw from this event. Instead, if one runner has to withdraw from the race, he or she will be replaced with a new teammate, at the discretion of the remaining runner(s) on the team. There are no transfers of registration, nor roll-overs to the next year. Entry fee refunds, less 25%, will be offered until 60 days prior to the event. After that, there are no refunds, nor roll-overs or credits.

ALL TEAMMATES MUST ENTER ON THE SAME WEEK: Please submit all teammates’ registrations and payments on the same day or within a few days. No runner or team is considered fully registered until ALL runners on the team are registered and paid in full. Runners who register, but don’t have a full team registered within two weeks, may be dropped from the roster and issued a refund, less 25%.

EVENT CANCELLATION

If the event is canceled due to pandemic, hurricane, community disaster, or other force majeure, neither refunds nor credits will be given.

ROUTE APPROVALS

Although we anticipate using the same or nearly the same route each year, the final, exact route is subject to approval from various government agencies and is always subject to change due to various factors beyond our control.

Visit our Badwater.com website for more information!