Century, Metric Century & Half Century Options!
Please read our registration and cancellation policies; and everything below before signing up. Our DVNP permit imposes various restrictions and requires that we enforce very strict rules. We need all participants to understand and agree to respect and abide by the rules of this event.
2025 Entry Fees*:
Until noon November 13th or event sells out: $181.20 (includes $11.20 RunSignUp processing fee).
* If you’re able to recruit an event volunteer to help at an aid station or to drive SAG, please email us before signing up and we’ll give you a coupon code to use during registration for an instant 40% off.
Entry includes three fully stocked checkpoints along the route (water and a great selection of edibles) and a water stop on the Hell’s Gate climb for the century; roving SAG support; Death Valley Century tech tee (guaranteed only if you sign up at least 3 weeks in advance AND pick up at event); per rider donation to both Death Valley Natural History Association and Life Sports Foundation. Given the very remote location, we’re unable to serve post-ride meal; but there are several options in Furnace Creek.
*Due to strict permit requirements imposed by Death Valley National Park, entry fees are higher than our standard century event pricing. In addition to expensive permit fees required by NPS and Cal Trans, Planet Ultra must hire ambulance services, CHP patrol, and also at pay hourly fees for 2 National Park Service Ranger Monitors for the duration of the event. With the 300-rider limit, the per person fixed costs are much, much greater. To make this event possible, we do have to charge more. We think it’s worth it!
Jerseys are $95 with registration. You must sign up by Sept 1st to guarantee pickup at the event. Thereafter, if we don’t have your size, we will re-order after the event and mail it to you when ready. No refunds for no-shows, unless we can resell it.
Host Hotel:
The Oasis At Death Valley.
For November 2025, our group rate is $242.02 per night (including resort fees/taxes) for a standard two queens room; and will sell out. Call (760) 786-2345 and provide the agent booking number FR112025PLA (Planet Ultra Cycling group); or use this link to reserve online. The discount expires September 29th, so please make your reservations early. For those who prefer to camp, The Ranch has a private RV Resort and campground; and there are 9 National Park Service campgrounds ranging from full hookups to primitive.
Alternative hotel locations: Stovepipe Wells (25 miles); Death Valley Junction (30 miles); Beatty, NV (40 miles); Pahrump, NV (60 miles). Drive times will be 30 minutes to an hour from these locations; and hotel pricing much less than in the National Park.
Start / Finish Location: Riders will stage from dirt lot adjacent to Hwy 190 at the South Exit of the Furnace Creek Ranch/Oasis.
Check In:
Friday night from 7:00-8:30pm at Furnace Creek Ranch/Oasis (hotel nearest Visitor Center) on grass behind building 400, facing the lawn and swimming pool area.
Start Times:
Everyone except Harder/2nd Half riders: 7am wave starts of 20 riders in increments 2 minutes (based on recommendations by Death Valley National Park staff). Absolutely no starts after 7:20am except: Faster riders (planning an average speed of 16+ mph) may start together at 7:30am. This keeps the gap from getting too large from the get-go.
2nd Half riders: 10-10:30am open start window.
Time Limit:
8.5 hours – based on the earliest start at 7am. All riders must be off the course by 3:30pm.
Strict cut-off at Furnace Creek Aid Station at mile 54 and at Mud Canyon water stop (required by DVNP permit): Century riders must leave the Furnace Creek Aid Station no later than 11:30am; and the water stop no later than 1:30pm.
Ride Description:
This epic route is both scenic and challenging, covering 100 miles with about 4,500′ climbing. The first 54 miles is an out and back to Badwater and beyond on rolling terrain. The next 46 miles include a challenging 6.5 mile, 2000′ climb up Daylight Pass (Mud Canyon) to Hells Gate and back via Beatty Road. The first half of the climb is 5-6% grades; the second half is 7-9% grades (mostly 8%).
If you prefer to do a shorter ride but wish to do the big climb, you may opt for the 2nd half only and start your day between 10am and 10:30am.
Route Sheets and GPS Files: Route sheets are available upon request and RideWithGPS files are provided with full access to all functions.
Click here to see the 100-mile route (which includes aid station locations). The two half century routes are either the first half of century, or the 2nd half which has more climbing. Click here for the Metric Century. You may download GPS files from these links; but we will send you an invite to use the functions available from our Event Director’s page.
Routing and Navigation:
There are only 7 turns on the entire route – several of which are at T-intersections where it’s obvious, and all of which are signed. If you are particularly navigationally challenged, please get a GPS and download the route!
What’s Available at Aid Stations:
At each aid station in addition to water of course, you’ll find a variety of snacks to keep you energized. Generally speaking we offer Clif bars, fruit/nut bars, fig bars and the like. We often have PBJ sandwiches at one station and trail mix or other salty snack at another. Everything is pre-packaged as required by the health department; and portable so you can eat on the go and put something in your jersey pocket for later.
SPECIAL RULES FOR DEATH VALLEY PARTICIPANTS:
In addition to the “general rules” posted for all Planet Ultra events, our DVNP permit requires that we provide the information printed in red below. National Park Service rangers will be monitoring our ride; so it’s super important for each of us to ride safely, legally, and respectfully to ensure that we’ll be welcome back for years to come.
Special events are only permitted by Death Valley National Park when there is a meaningful association between the Park and the event, and the event will contribute to visitor understanding, significance and appreciation of the Park.
All riders must carry at all times while cycling personal identification and personal emergency contact information.
Please wear a high visibility, colorful jersey. All black or mostly black cycling kits are prohibited.
All riders must obey traffic laws, including coming to a complete stop at stop signs.
All riders must wear at all times while cycling a properly fitted bicycle helmet.
All riders must wear at all times while cycling the rider number bib number provided at check-in, pinned to the back of the jersey.
All riders must attach to their bicycle a red non-blinking tail-light which must be ON at all times while cycling.
Please ride single file at all times, as far to the right as possible. Cycling side-by-side is allowed only when passing a slower rider. Only one rider may pass another ride at a time.
When stopping for any reason, please be sure your bicycle is completely off the road.
LEAVE NO TRACE: Absolutely no littering. If you inadvertently drop trash while cycling, please stop and pick it up. If you change a flat, please leave nothing on the ground. Dispose of your punctured tube at an aid station or at the finish. Please use toilets along the route or at aid stations only. No public urination please.
WE ARE HERE AS AMBASSSADORS OF CYCLING: Please show kindness and respect to your fellow cyclists and also to other visitors of the park and all park staff. We are here sharing the park, and the road, with other people who have also come to Death Valley to enjoy the beauty of the natural and historic locations within the Park. Please tread lightly when using public facilities.
In light of the above, please note that the event will not be timed. Timing an event connotes “racing,” which interferes with the purpose/goal/intention of the event, which is to enjoy and appreciate the natural beauty of the Park. Take your time. Enjoy the scenery. Stop and take photos.
Personal SAG Vehicles:
Not allowed! If you bring one, you will jeopardize the future of this event. The definition of a personal SAG is any vehicle (motor or otherwise), anywhere on the route, operated by someone other than Planet Ultra staff, that is providing any type of aid, assistance, or motivation, or taking photographs, or simply out cheering. Please understand that our permits simply don’t allow dozens of extra vehicles on the roads or at the checkpoint locations. Imagine the traffic from all those cars! If you’re bringing someone with you who wants to be out on the course, please have them contact us and join our volunteer staff.
Volunteers:
We always need volunteers! Click here for info about available positions.
Click here for photos from our 2018 event.
REGISTRATION OPENS NEW YEARS DAY.
Click the SignUp bottom to register online and pay by credit card (which includes a small service fee).
Please read our registration and cancellation policies; and everything above before signing up. Our DVNP permit imposes various restrictions and requires that we enforce very strict rules, including the time limits and cut-offs. We need all participants to understand and agree to respect and abide by the rules of this event.
We highly suggest purchasing the event cancellation insurance.
Due to the restricted rider-limit and the cost to host this event, we’re unable to accept volunteer coupons for this event. NO REGISTRATION IN DEATH VALLEY. Once registration closes, it’s closed. Sorry.