PACERTRIP CITY EDITIONUS / RACE GUIDE

2026 Death Valley Trail Marathon & Half Marathon

Name: Death Valley Trail Marathon
Uploaded: 2023-03-16
Description: Titus Canyon reopens after closure from flood damage, with the race held there. Construction occurs on Red Pass during winter, but the west side of the canyon remains open. Starts at the west end of

The city you want to run becomes your next trip.

Furnace Creek
US

U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Brandon Rogers · Public domainThe original uploader was Jlkramer at English Wikipedia., CC BY 2.5Tuxyso, CC BY-SA 3.0

Race date in 48 days: Dec 5, 2026 Sat
City · Distance: Furnace Creek · 42.195km · 21.1km
Entry fee: $267.50Varies by event and entry period
Status: OpenSee how to enter ↗

Official website ↗D-day as of Oct 18, 2026

About the race How to enter Course Race Prep Travel

Why you dream of this race

THE DREAM

ABOUT THE RACE

A day you'll remember,
long past the finish line.

Titus Canyon reopens after closure from flood damage, with the race held there.

Construction occurs on Red Pass during winter, but the west side of the canyon remains open.

Starts at the west end of the canyon where it meets Scotty's Castle Road and returns to the same point.

The road to your own record

Picture the course in advance
and find the pace that fits you.

When the city cheers

Streets lined with cheers, runners all around.
You'll be part of that scene.

The trip that follows the run

Take it slow with the finish still in you,
and meet the city all over again.

Stories from runners who've been there.

From the joy of finishing to the tough moments — read what runners wrote themselves.

No runner reports yet. We'll add them here as they come in.

See it on video,
feel it through their stories.

Preview the course and read what runners who went before you wrote.

Death Valley Trail Marathon

drew corrales

View on YouTube

This may be from a past edition. Check the organizer for this year's course and operations.

The way in that fits you

YOUR ENTRY

How to reach the start line —
start with what fits you.

Here are the ways to enter and what each requires.
Check the organizer's page for whether entries are open.

Marathon

Entry cost $267.50

until Oct 31, 2026 · subject to change — verify officially

Organizer's page

Registration platform Race Roster

Official race website Entry options

From the start line to the finish

RACE WEEK

Your 42.195km

Know the course and time limit, and race day comes into focus.

Runners start · local timeFrom 08:00

Time limit6h

Event	Start
Marathon42.195km	08:00
Half21.0975km	08:00

not the start line

We have not confirmed the start line coordinates yet.

START

Titus Canyon at Scotty's Castle Road, Death Valley

Start · Google Maps

FINISH

West end of Titus Canyon, at the intersection with Scotty's Castle Road

Events consist of Marathon and Half Marathon.

Start is at Death Valley, CA at 8:00 AM local time.

Field size: 200 participants
Typical race-season temperature: around 7°C (44°F): Long sleeves + a throwaway layer for the start

Participant benefits

Aid stations

Finisher medal

Event T-shirt

Finisher T-shirt

Start shuttle

To the start line,
step by step.

Pick up your bib, check your wave.
So on race morning, you can just run.

Pick up your bib at the expo

Bib pickup details have not yet been announced.
Because the race is held in Death Valley National Park, bibs are typically collected at a designated location the day before the race or at the start on race morning; check the organizer's instructions.

Stations & transport near the venue

Getting to the startNone — no train/bus/subway service.
Getting to the finishNone — finish is inside Death Valley National Park, no public transit.
Transit cardThe Death Valley Trail Marathon & Half Marathon takes place inside Death Valley National Park, a remote…

Source · checked Aug 24, 2026

More details

Getting to the start

None — no train/bus/subway service. Remote Death Valley National Park site.

Race starts on a gravel jeep road near Titus Canyon. Organizer buses shuttle runners from Furnace Creek Ranch to the start line, about a 15-minute drive; runners may also arrange their own transport.

Deep-desert National Park venue with zero public transit; nearest commercial airport is Las Vegas (~2.5-3 hr drive). Car (own or shuttle-fed) is the only practical way to reach the venue.

A shuttle bus runs from Furnace Creek Ranch to the start (about 15 minutes).

Map

Getting to the finish

None — finish is inside Death Valley National Park, no public transit.

Finish is near Furnace Creek. Parking available at The Ranch at Furnace Creek (start/finish staging area).

Map

Start shuttle

Mandatory-in-practice organizer shuttle: buses run from Furnace Creek Ranch to the start (~15 min drive) before the race, and return buses shuttle finishers from the finish back to Furnace Creek at demand-based intervals after the race.

Transit card

The Death Valley Trail Marathon & Half Marathon takes place inside Death Valley National Park, a remote desert venue with no public transit whatsoever. A rental car is essential (distances between services are large and cell coverage is limited); no transit card system applies, though the standard NPS entrance fee applies for vehicles.

Source · checked Aug 24, 2026

READY TO RUN

From race morning to after the finish.

Your start time, fuel and bag drop.
Know them ahead and the run feels easier.

December in Furnace Creek — average 7°C, so it’s chilly.

Your fingers and ears will feel the cold first, so bring gloves and a beanie.

Dress your core in several light layers that you can remove while running.

Public transportation does not reach the race venue.

In practical terms, you’ll need to drive or rent a car.

Registration is handled through the Race Roster platform.

In full marathon, the real race begins after 30 km.

It’s better to pass halfway 5–10 seconds slower than your target pace to improve your chances of holding on late,

and start taking gels early, before you feel hungry.

The start is at 08:00.

Times are local to Furnace Creek. Check the latest official information before the race.

A trip built around the race

STAY A LITTLE

MAKE IT A RUNTRIP

The race is one day,
the trip can be longer.

From a hotel that makes race morning easy,
to the meals and views you'll enjoy with the medal on.

Hotels that make race morning easyDistances are straight-line from the start.View on map Eating well is part of the tripA meal before the race, a dinner to celebrate the finish.View on map Seeing Furnace Creek with the medal onThe city you ran — this time, a little slower.View on map

TRAVEL ESSENTIALS

Trip prep too,
light and in one place.

Checklist Local eSIM · Trip.com Flight delay or cancellation compensation · AirHelp Pace calculator

Once saved, you can open this page without an internet connection

RUN TOGETHER

With runners who dream of
the same start line.

Be the first runner
Leave this room's first post

Furnace Creek runners' room

FAQ

When does 2026 Death Valley Trail Marathon & Half Marathon take place?

It takes place on Sat, December 5, 2026 in Furnace Creek, CA, United States.

How much is the 2026 Death Valley Trail Marathon & Half Marathon entry fee?

The main event costs $267.50.

What is the time limit for 2026 Death Valley Trail Marathon & Half Marathon?

6h.

What distances does 2026 Death Valley Trail Marathon & Half Marathon offer?

Marathon · Half.

What time does 2026 Death Valley Trail Marathon & Half Marathon start?

The race starts at 08:00.

Where does 2026 Death Valley Trail Marathon & Half Marathon start?

Titus Canyon at Scotty's Castle Road, Death Valley.

What is the 2026 Death Valley Trail Marathon & Half Marathon course like?

Events consist of Marathon and Half Marathon.

Start is at Death Valley, CA at 8:00 AM local time.

Where does 2026 Death Valley Trail Marathon & Half Marathon finish?

West end of Titus Canyon, at the intersection with Scotty's Castle Road.

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2026 Death Valley Trail Marathon & Half Marathon

About 2026 Death Valley Trail Marathon & Half Marathon — what makes it special

A day you'll remember,long past the finish line.

The road to your own record

When the city cheers

The trip that follows the run