Death Valley Trail Marathon & 30K

Course Details

  • AID STATIONS will be located at miles 5, 10, 15, 20 & 23 along the Marathon and at miles 7, 12 and 15 along the 30K. Aid stations will be stocked with water, Gatorade, sports bars, bananas and a variety of sweet and salty snacks. We highly recommend that you carry water and any of your preferred nutritional aids with you.
  • There is a 6-hour course wide cutoff; for marathoners, this is approximately a 13:45-per-mile pace.
  • The trail marathon starts at 3460 feet of elevation. It climbs to 4900 feet over the first nine miles then descends 500 feet before climbing to the highest point on the course at 5250 feet of elevation. The last 14 miles are DOWNHILL to the finish line at 250 feet.
  • Buses will shuttle participants from Furnace Creek Ranch to the race start (about a 30-minute drive -- See Course Map), OR participants may get a ride with friends or family.
  • Return buses will shuttle participants from the race finish back to Furnace Creek at intervals based on demand.
  • There will be no transportation back to the race start after the event. Do not leave your car parked at the race start; you won't be able to get back. Get a friend or family member to drive the car to the finish for you.
  • NO HEADPHONES! Runners wearing headphones will be disqualified.
  • NO PERSONAL SUPPORT! Your friends and family members may not drive along the course during the event - not to provide support, not to take your photo, not even to watch/cheer. We're sorry, but vehicles carrying spectators end up leap-frogging the same group of runners for the entirety of their run. No one wants to dodge cars and eat dust for 26 miles. Runners who are linked to vehicles along the route will be disqualified.

By signing up for this event, participants acknowledge the possibility of a last-minute course change and agree to run the alternate course or, if not, agree to abide by the rules set forth by the Death Valley National Park Service (i.e. if the road through Titus Canyon is posted as closed, registered participants of this event must abide by the closure as any other park visitor).

Alternate Course Description

In the event of a snow out, the event will be moved to Westside Road, a dirt jeep road that runs parallel to Badwater Road along the valley floor and crosses the wide salt pan known as Devil's Golf Course. Both distances run out-and-back along the flat course, which is entirely below sea level and surrounded by undisturbed desert wilderness. The Westside Road course boasts views of snow-capped Telescope Peak, the Panamint and Black ranges and Artist’s Palette - so-called for its rainbow colored rocks caused by the oxidation of their metals.