Southern California’s best-kept secret! Enjoy the incredible scenery in Los Padres National Forest.
No traffic lights and only 4 stop signs! 100 miles with 8,800′ of climbing!
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2023 Entry Fees*:
Until May 20: $129.
Late entry – May 21-26: Make an online reservation and pay $140 cash only.
Registration closes at noon Friday before the event.
Entry includes a challenging and rewarding adventure in a remote area; automatic participation in King of the Mountains Century Challenge (if you completed Mulholland Challenge & Breathless Agony); route sheet and access to downloadable GPS files; chip timing with overall and age category results posted online; fully stocked checkpoints along the route with a large selection of snacks and drinks; roving SAG support; post ride refreshments; per rider donation to Life Sports Foundation.
Please read our registration and new cancellation policies.
* If you’re able to recruit an event volunteer, please email us before signing up and we’ll give you a coupon code to use during registration for an instant 30% off.
Please read the rules and our cancellation policy before registering.
Use the SignUp bottom to register online and pay by credit card (which includes a small service fee). We highly recommend that you purchase the cancellation insurance.
Start/Finish Hotel:
Holiday Inn Express, 612 Wainright Court in Lebec. (661) 248-1600. Call and ask for the Planet Ultra group rate of $119 plus taxes. This hotel will sell out so please don’t wait until the last minute! Rate expires May 12th.
There’s a Motel 6 just down the road. The next closest hotels are 12 miles away in Arvin near the Tejon Outlets. There’s a brand new Hampton Inn and a Best Western.
Check-In:
Rider check-in will be Friday night from 7pm to 8:30pm and Saturday morning from 6am-7:30am
Start Times: Self-select between 7am and 8am.
Please choose your start time based on your expected finishing time. If you leave too early, you won’t receive a start time, as our timing equipment will not be activated before 7am.The finish line opens at 12:45pm – so plan accordingly. Here are the guidelines:
Time Limit:
10 hours. All century riders must be off the course by 5pm to receive KOM credit and to be listed as an official finisher.
Ride Description:
Leaving the start line the climbing begins gently and then continues up and up towards the summit of Mt. Pinos. Take time to look around; the scenery here is truly beautiful, as the high desert gives way to alpine forests and gently sloping mountain meadows.
After reaching the first checkpoint at Apache Saddle, prepare yourself for one of the most rewarding descents in all of Southern California. You’ll roll and then descend for 20 miles along the ridge that divides the Lockwood Valley on your left from the huge Central Valley on your right. Watch for wildlife as you pass through the Los Padres National Forest and the Bitter Creek National Wildlife Refuge.
The descent continues at Highway 166. A left here and another onto Highway 33, and then you’ll be a few miles from your second checkpoint at “Santa Barbara Pistachio Co” in Ventucopa. Leaving “Santa Barbara Pistachio Co” you’ll follow the beautiful Cuyama Valley and Cuyama River to a left turn at Lockwood Valley Road. As you enter Lockwood Valley you’ll encounter a gradual climb that just keeps getting steeper. As you reach the infamous Heartbreak Hill in the afternoon sun you’ll understand how the climb got that name.
Leaving Heartbreak Hill, you’ll descend and climb your way to Frazier Park and eventually return to the start/finish in Lebec. This 100 mile event has just shy of 8,800′ of total elevation gain.
Routing and Navigation:
Planet Ultra route sheets include lots of information to help riders navigate: Stop sign (SS), traffic light (TL) or T-intersection (T-int). We know that riders prefer course markings; however, our National Forest Service permit for this event specifically forbids it. Please understand and take responsibility for navigation. Make it part of your experience.
Route Sheets and GPS Files:
Though not anticipated, last-minute routing changes may be required. GPS links below are preliminary. We will email the exact route to riders a couple of days before the ride. PLEASE make sure you have the correct route in your GPS the day before the event.
Important caveats:
Personal SAG Vehicles:
Not allowed! If you bring one, you’ll be DQ from the event without a warning. 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 don’t allow dozens of extra vehicles on the roads or at the checkpoint locations. Imagine the traffic! If you’re bringing someone 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.
Course Records:
Men – 4:34:08, Neil Shirley, 37, Newhall, CA (2015)
Men 50+ – 4:42:04, Ludevic Hilde, 51, Simi Valley, CA
Men 60+ – 5:05:29, George Tomasich, 60, Norwalk, CA
Men 70+ – 5:32:29, William Anderson, 71, Mission Viejo, CA
Women – 5:26:43, Jennie Phillips, 49, Danville, CA
Women 50+ – 5:43:21, Heidi Christensen, 54, Newbury Park, CA
Women 60+ – 6:53:00, Shari Nichols, 60, Valencia, CA
Tandem – 5:19:00, Deya Guerrero, Alex Estrada
Average Time – 7:14:00