Badwater Salton Sea
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Event overview
Badwater Salton Sea is an 81-mile (130 km) team ultra from Salton City to Palomar Mountain, held April 18-19, 2026 with race headquarters in Borrego Springs, CA. The route begins below sea level (about -71 m) and finishes near Palomar Mountain (about 1,676 m), with total elevation gain of over 9,000 feet (2,740 m). The course is a mix of road and trail; about eight miles run on single-track through Anza-Borrego State Park between Borrego Springs and Ranchita. The field is limited to roughly 100 runners.
Format, qualifications and rules
All entrants must race as a team of two or three runners and remain together for the entire course. Divisions are All Male, All Female, and Mixed. Each team must use one support vehicle and have at least two crew members. Support vehicle rules include maximum width and height limits (80" wide, 84" high), clear team identification on all sides, and specific parking and driving protocols. Racer Check-In and the Pre-Race Meeting are held at Borrego Springs Resort.
Applicants must have completed at least one difficult 50-mile ultramarathon within the prior 12 months; proof must be provided at least 60 days before the race. There are mandatory intermediate cut-offs and a 28-hour course limit. The trail section requires specific equipment (rain jacket, beanie, gloves, emergency blanket, whistle, reflective gear, front and rear blinking lights, headlamp plus spare batteries, charged cell phone, minimum 1.5 L hydration and ~1000 kcal nutrition). I.V. fluids during the race are prohibited and will result in disqualification. Entry refunds, less 25%, are offered only until 60 days before the event; after that there are no refunds. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.