Death Ride - Tour of the California Alps

What it is

The Death Ride is a long-running organised century held each July out of Markleeville, California, in the eastern Sierra Nevada. The full route covers five mountain passes — Monitor Pass (both sides), Ebbetts Pass (both sides), and Carson Pass — for a total of roughly 206 km and 4570 m of climbing.

Terrain

The Sierra here is high (passes top out around 2700 m) but the gradients are reasonable — most of the climbs sit at 6 to 8 percent. The route descends and re-climbs each pass, so the day is broken into five distinct climbs of 12 to 19 km each. The roads are smooth, lightly trafficked, and the views east across the Carson valley toward Nevada are some of the best riding scenery in California.

History

The Death Ride dates to 1981 and was originally run as a three-pass route. It has grown into one of the most prestigious centuries in the western United States, drawing roughly 3,000 riders. The course was modified in 2022 to drop Carson Pass and was further adjusted in following years; check the current edition before training to a specific elevation total.

Tips

Altitude matters — most of the riding is above 2000 m. Train for it if possible, or arrive 2 to 3 days early to acclimatise. The mid-July heat in Markleeville is significant; carry more water than you think you need. The five-pass structure makes for natural pacing — treat each climb as its own discipline.

Best time

The event runs in mid-July. Outside the event, the high passes are open from June through October. July and August see heavy traffic on Highway 89; September is ideal.