REVEL Mt Charleston
Las Vegas, NV
- Marathon, Half Marathon
- Road (Paved)
- Official race website
This incredibly fast and remarkably beautiful road race takes runners from the forests of Kyle Canyon on Mt Charleston to Las Vegas, Nevada. Featuring a smooth downhill slope and spectacular scenery in the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, this race will be sure to help you set your PR and finally hit … MORE
Local Historical Weather (Apr 03):
| 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |
| H (°F) | 71 | 62 | 80 | 64 | 80 |
| L (°F) | 53 | 44 | 54 | 45 | 63 |
Find Nearby Lodging (hotel, rental, etc.):
Good Easy Race
Revel races are all well run. The most challenging part is waiting for the race to start. Typically you are dropped off at the start line and lave to wait … MORE
Revel races are all well run. The most challenging part is waiting for the race to start. Typically you are dropped off at the start line and lave to wait an hour or more before the start. This time is was not that cold so it went well. For me personally, it was tougher than it should have been. Just a case on not being prepared. This is the fourth Revel race I have participated in. I liked this one the least. The down hill grade was much more gradual than other races, and the scenery was not as good.
Downhill is harder than expected
Was slightly disappointed by the change of Las Vegas strip pick up location a month before the race. Race expo was nicely done. Disappointed that my race swag had the … MORE
Was slightly disappointed by the change of Las Vegas strip pick up location a month before the race.
Race expo was nicely done.
Disappointed that my race swag had the wrong year on the t-shirt.
Other race logistics were top notch.
The race is downhill for the first 8 miles and then it flattens out. I should have trained better for this transition.
Winter Last Weekend. Summer This Weekend
I'm not really sure why I decided to fly all the way to Vegas this weekend but I wanted to try a different options than my usual races and thought … MORE
I’m not really sure why I decided to fly all the way to Vegas this weekend but I wanted to try a different options than my usual races and thought a fast race time would be a good confidence builder. It ended up being a milestone race for a few running friends so I was very glad I went. I knew I was going to have to fly in Friday night so I can’t comment on the expo as I had my packet shipped. It’s a bit expensive to get it shipped but they send the whole packet with all the small swag items along with shirt and bib. The shirt was a nice teal color and quality. I liked the little desert tortoise design. The other swag is nutrition and recovery items plus a silver thermal blanket and gloves as the start of the race can be cold. I flew into Vegas Friday night. I initially booked an early evening flight but it got rescheduled to later in the evening so I didn’t get to Vegas until past midnight. By the time I got to my rental car and hotel it was 1:30 AM. Pre race communication was mostly good. I have one critique that I’m not sure how much they could have planned this but when I signed up it said the host hotel was the Tuscany Suites & Casino and you could purchase a bus from the strip. I almost always stay IHG so booked the Holiday Inn Vacations Club which was right by the Tuscany and the bus from the strip so I wouldn’t have to drive to the race but they changed the host hotel to the Rio which was 2 miles away and I had to drive. It was still an easier drive from where I was staying to the Rio than the free parking location but I’m not sure I would have paid for the strip bus if I knew I wouldn’t be able to walk. I also might have stayed in a Holiday Inn Express more in the suburbs or at the airport. They probably should just write host hotel TBD until they are 100% sure where it will be. However the Holiday Inn Vacations Club is a great place to stay if you want to be near the strip but not in a smoky casino. To be honest we had to catch the shuttle bright and early so I only got about an hour of sleep so maybe driving 5 minutes to the Rio was better than 25 minutes to the free parking. Parking and getting the shuttle bus at the Rio was really easy. Ran into a running friend and rode with her. The start is on a mountain and can be really cold. However unfortunately Vegas was in the middle of a heat wave so it was comfortable temp. While it was pleasant waiting for the race to start, I knew this meant it would be hot and I likely couldn’t make the time goals I set for the race. The start area has a lot of porta potties and water and electrolytes. The start didn’t have waves or corrals but had pacers. It is quite dark at the start. There are about 1500 runners for the half so it is a nice sized race. I stood behind the 2:30 pacer as my dream goal was to break 2:30 but I didn’t think I could do not in the heat. I wasn’t even sure I would do my more realistic goal of 2:40 and would probably have to settle for aiming under 2:45. I did decide to see what happened with the 2:30 pacers. The first 8 miles of this race are amazing. They are very downhill and really fast. I managed to stay with the 2:30 pacer for 2 miles. While I could’ve stayed longer I started to feel a bit hot at mile 2 and knew I needed to slow down a bit to maintain my pace. I still had an excellent pace the first 8 miles and was on track to finish under 2:40. The first 8 miles also have really pretty desert scenery. The beginning is gorgeous with the sunset and once the sun rises the desert is beautiful. It did get hot by the halfway point but this section was never crazy hot. Production was very good and traffic flow was interesting. They had half the street closed off for runners so plenty of space with an interesting system of alternating allowing cars up and down the mountain roads. I felt really good but everything came to a halt around mile 8. At mile 8 you go off the mountain road and while the last 5 miles are technically net downhill they are just a gradual downhill and one of the hills was a slight include. It also got super hot and was on black tar. I went from around 11 minute miles to averaging 14 minute miles here. The roads were either closed off or half closed off. I actually got a bit of heat exhaustion and had to walk from mile 10-11. I knew I couldn’t safely finish under 2:40 but I got to the 11 mile marker at a bit over 2:15 and knew with a stronger finish I could break 2:45. I was able to run more of the next 2 miles and did end up under 2:45. Not quite the time goals I had in mind before I saw the weather but I was happy with my pace for a heat wave. I was also happy I had a good finishing time in both extremes wind and hail last weekend and heat wave this weekend. I thought the race was quite well produced. It was very easy to follow. There were clear mile markers. There were a lot of aid stations with water, electrolytes, some with fruit and gels and none ran out. I do wish there were more in the really, hot later miles. They said they added some but I’m not sure there were quite enough. There was enough though where I didn’t completely fall apart like I did in the heat in Key West. There are not a ton of spectators on course with how it is set up though most are at the end when we needed them the most. Revel does put up funny and encouraging signs to entertain you without as much spectators. Post race area is nice. At the finish you get your medal. The medal is nice and spins and I like the orange color. However the middle has a big Revel logo with a tiny tortoise at the bottom of the medal. I’d prefer a big tortoise in the middle and a small logo. But it’s a nice quality and nice size medal. You also get a bag of treats and a cookie. There were some food trucks and a beer garden with alcohol beer and non-alcoholic beer. I was happy they had athletic brewing company. It was clearly marked where to get the shuttle and there was no wait so I was back to my hotel and ready for a nap. Overall this is a fun, well-produced and fast course. I would have loved for the weather to be nice as you could have such as fast race but even in the heat wave I had one of my fastest recent half marathon times. Of note though if you push yourself your quads will be in pain for day. I don’t think I felt fully recovered until Thursday and I usually feel recovered 1-2 days after a half marathon. I would definitely recommend this for Nevada and look forward to doing a couple more Revel races this year.
TOUGH AND HOT
This was my second Revel race, so I knew it would be tough on my quads since the race is 99% downhill! We had to get on one of the … MORE
This was my second Revel race, so I knew it would be tough on my quads since the race is 99% downhill!
We had to get on one of the buses to the top of the mountain to start (between 3:15-4:15). Usually the top is freezing, so I packed a bunch of clothes just in case. But it was very warm (60s). The rest of the race was tough and hot since the weather was in the 90s and the sun blasted us in the eyes the entire time.
The course itself is gorgeous since we were running in the desert surrounded by the Red Rocks. Since the area is outside of Las Vegas, there were next-to-no spectators. Even towards the last miles of the race, there were hardly any spectators to cheer us on, which made me kinda lonely.
I love that the race made spectators not use confetti and not had them on the course when we are finishing (I hate when races casually allow non-runners “run-in” with their friends/family). I loved the finish line area since we had lots of snacks, a beer ticket, massages, and food truck options.
Overall this was a good race despite the weather! I could see myself do another Revel race
Fun run downhill
Really enjoyed this race. Great weather for the first half. Then, heat and sun for the second half. Thankfully there was a breeze or it would have been terrible. Pretty … MORE
Really enjoyed this race. Great weather for the first half. Then, heat and sun for the second half. Thankfully there was a breeze or it would have been terrible. Pretty running down the mountain, then desert scenery, then edge of the city running.
Excellent race
Well organized in all aspects. Bib pickup at The Rio, free parking, short walk into convention center. Nice tech shirt, bag included Mylar blanket and gloves. Thankful Vegas was having … MORE
Well organized in all aspects.
Bib pickup at The Rio, free parking, short walk into convention center. Nice tech shirt, bag included Mylar blanket and gloves. Thankful Vegas was having above average temps making for mild temps on Mt. Charleston.
Parking for buses up the mountain was easy and once up at the start line, plenty of portable toilets and about an hour wait before start.
Walk about 2/10th mile to start line, the sun was barely starting to rise so the first few miles of the race we were blessed with the most beautiful sunrise! Easy running downhill till mile 8 where your back in the city and pretty much flat road to finish line. Saw a few people cheering but you won’t see many until the finish line.
Aid stations were great!
Finish line was great, well organized and you can even get a print out of your results after getting your medal. Buses were available to parking. Volunteers were all so great!
Overall such a great, very well organized race! Would definitely do again!
It's a quad buster
I’m going to speak candidly: practice and train for hills. This course is a quad and calf buster and you will be sore for a few days afterward. Beginning in … MORE
I’m going to speak candidly: practice and train for hills. This course is a quad and calf buster and you will be sore for a few days afterward. Beginning in 2020, organizers moved the race up the calendar to the first Saturday in April as a way to mitigate the heat-related effects experienced in 2019. But, this is the desert and anything can happen.
Race organizers cone off about a third of the road dedicated for the runners. On the traffic side, Nevada Highway Patrol escorts all vehicular traffic up and down the canyon at well-controlled speeds and organization. Not once did I ever feel unsafe. Running lanes are wide enough making for comfortable running, passing and aid station stops.
Twenty-three miles of the course route is either in a mountainous or desert area, so do not expect many spectators to show up. The only spectators are the wonderful aid station volunteers. Without them, this race wouldn’t be possible. However, many spectators line the course for the final three miles and at a time when runners need inspiration and cheer the most. The energy they bring gives strength to runners needed to push through some difficult miles.
Mt. Charleston doesn’t feel like a large event, but more like a runner’s race. The hospitality is great and you really feel like the organizers want you to enjoy yourself whether or not you run a PR or earn that BQ. Runners have a great time – even with the pain, soreness, being barely able walk and all that comes with REVEL races.
Beautiful, but your quads will feel it!
I knew going in this was going to be a difficult downhill race on my quads based on past reviews. It was!! But, after several, both my calfs and quads … MORE
I knew going in this was going to be a difficult downhill race on my quads based on past reviews. It was!! But, after several, both my calfs and quads came back, so it was really no big deal.
The race was very well organized. Revel knows what they are doing.
The expo was a bit smaller than I expected with not many vendors. I thought there would be more tables from Las Vegas businesses. It was very easy and organized to pick up your bib. I should note parking was not free.
I stayed at the Tuscany Inn and Suites, which is where the strip start busses pick you up and bring you back to. It was very convienent and easy to do. I should note that the busses were the motor coach type, not school busses. So they were heated and had a bathroom. It was about a 1 hour bus ride to the start area. I got to the start location around 5:00am. It was cold waiting in the open area for the race to start, so bring plenty of clothing to layer on. The race started on time and was exceptionally well managed. Numerous volunteers throughout the entire race. The first 6 miles has the steepest downhill, although my legs did not start hurting until later in the race. Plenty of port a pots and water stops just about every 2 miles after mile 5. The entire race is on asphalt and the road condition was excellent.
If you like natural peaceful environments, this is your kind of race. No music, spectators or housing developments to see during the race. It was scenic and watching the sun rise over the mountain range was awesome. I will note that you will face the sun for most of the race, so wear sunglasses and sunscreen.
The finish area was festive and again well organized. It was easy to get my dry bag, food and back to the bus. You could also get a nice print out post card of your results. Race pictures are free and mile split times are provided.
The shirt and medal were both nice. They also gave you cheap gloves and a heat shield.
I did this race to get Nevada for my 50 state quest. Overall it was enjoyable and I would recommend it. To celebrate I saw the Eagles perform at the Sphere, which is short walk from the Tuscany Inn. That was an unbelievable experience and highly recommended no matter who is playing there!
Fast Downhill Race
Revel puts on a well organized race. From the ease of packet pickup, the nice race swag (included gloves and a heat sheet for the cold morning start), the efficiency … MORE
Revel puts on a well organized race. From the ease of packet pickup, the nice race swag (included gloves and a heat sheet for the cold morning start), the efficiency of the shuttles to the startling, to the finish. It was a fun race all around. Each water station was fully stocked with plenty of great volunteers. Definitely felt the downhill course in the quads after the race. Be prepared to be cold at the start and warm up closer you get to the finish.
Fast Course
Extremely fast course, I had more porta potty stops than my last 6 marathons combined and still ended up with a nearly 20 minute PR. Volunteers were great. Aide stations … MORE
Extremely fast course, I had more porta potty stops than my last 6 marathons combined and still ended up with a nearly 20 minute PR. Volunteers were great. Aide stations were at every two miles.
The only negative is it is not the more spectator friendly course, though you do not need them with the views and the extended down hill nature of the course. The small up hill at elevation at the start was probably the hardest portion of the course for me.
The need to prepare for large temperature change from the start to the finish and follow the tips for down hill running are the two biggest tips for future runners.
If you prepare, is one of the best !
It is a mid-size race with over 1500 runners for the half and about the same for the full marathon. Expo is only one day, but is well located in … MORE
It is a mid-size race with over 1500 runners for the half and about the same for the full marathon. Expo is only one day, but is well located in downtown Las Vegas (not the Strip) with plenty of last minutes items like gels, clothing, gadgets and running shoes.
Busing to the start is mandatory for all, as the road is closed to traffic (technically half the road, but open only to emergency vehicles and locals). Plenty of parking at bus station. Despite excellent instructions of where to take the bus (half and full in different areas), lots of runners seem confused of where to go for their correct bus. Be prepared, check out the bus station maps the night before.
Starting place was cold and windy. It looks like that’s the norm as per repeat local runners. Revel gives you Mylar blankets and gloves, but is NOT enough. Be prepared and bring layers. They have a gear check truck. However, you have to drop your bag about 15 minutes before the start time. Many runners didn’t realize this and missed the truck because couldn’t hear the announcements. Thankfully, Revel was very understanding and took all those missed gear bags to the finish line later. Plenty of portal-potties at the drop-off area. About 5 minutes prior to start time, everybody walk about 2/10 mile to the actual start line.
The route is quite scenic but not what you expect by watching Revel’s website. Those beautiful scenic “running thru the canyon” pictures are from the marathon’s first half. The actual half starts just as the canyon opens up into the desert valley. This is not to take away from the beauty of the place and the Sun rising over the valley. Temperature is perfect for running but you are running in an open road, without shade and the Sun in your face. So again, be prepared. I highly suggest sunscreen and sunglasses.
The route is almost entirely downhill. You feel it mostly in the first 8 miles. There is a mild but long(ish) climb for 2/3 mile after mile 10. Because you were going so fast earlier, it feels harder than it really is. If you have a vehicle, do yourself a favor and drive thru the route the day before. It gives you a great sense of the “drop”, plus is fantastic scenery. Revel’s website has a great course review. Did I say, be prepared? Read it, is very helpful.
Course support is excellent with water/electrolyte stations every 2 miles. There is gel in a few of them. Revel’s website has a great description of what to expect at every station.
Finish area has the usual snacks, bananas, water and chocolate milk (!, any finish area with chocolate milk gets an A+ in my book 😉 ). By the way, they have beer as well.
In summary, this is a very well organized race. This is my first Revel event, so kudos to them. I’m looking forward to their other events, and hope they can add more. If your looking for a race in Nevada for your 50 states bucket list. I say this is the one. I know there is RnR Vegas running thru the strip. I got it, that’s super cool. But if a fast course, nature and scenery is your cup of tea, you can’t beat Mt. Charleston.
Run REVEL
If you’re a 50-stater and only experience one Nevada race, I recommend this one. From registration to completion, it’s a well run race. There’s adequate information share prior to, during, … MORE
If you’re a 50-stater and only experience one Nevada race, I recommend this one. From registration to completion, it’s a well run race. There’s adequate information share prior to, during, and post-race. One of the highlights is the REVEL app. No need to click as you cross the start. Click “I’m at the Start” any time prior to the start. During the run, the app lets you know pace and estimated finish time every mile. You receive a voice notification 0.25 mi before every stop regarding aid station accommodations, such as bathrooms water Gatorade Gu orange slices doTerra Deep Blue cream in the order they’re arranged. There are notifications regarding local history, race stats, when turns are approaching, and safety cues advising what side of the cones you should be on to avoid oncoming traffic. Race expo has all the things a runner may need, but not excessive (my preference). It’s quick and easy. Be prepared for the cold prior to the start of the race. Wear many layers and shed them as you descend. Bring a mylar heat blanket to stay cozy until race start. I’m not sure if they hand these out; I brought my own. There are adequate bathrooms prior to and during the race. I liked that there was a sign posted when bathrooms or photographers were ahead. The race medal is excellent, and they give free quality race photos! Post race you can receive a printed postcard with your race stats and another if you qualify for Boston. My only complaint (or more so disappointment) is the volume of trash along the course due to runners dumping clothes etc. Pre-race information kindly asked runners to dispose trash in trash bins at water stops only. Even in the final mile I witnessed clothes and other trash. Overall, the race ranks at the top!
Good group of folks
2500 Marathoners, all ages and a bunch of good runners. 30 degree start, 65 degree finish. snow at the top. Fast course for half but slow down at the bottom. … MORE
2500 Marathoners, all ages and a bunch of good runners. 30 degree start, 65 degree finish. snow at the top. Fast course for half but slow down at the bottom. I do believe if you are a first timer you will really like the course.
REVEL - beautifully fast, indeed
Not trained for downhill, but this was a beautiful course that started in freezing temps and ended in 70ish deg downtown LV. Free photos, live tracking, awesome swag, and expo … MORE
Not trained for downhill, but this was a beautiful course that started in freezing temps and ended in 70ish deg downtown LV. Free photos, live tracking, awesome swag, and expo course run-down by Coach Paul makes this a fan favorite.
This is a real dowhill marathon
Get ready to go fast for the first 20 miles. The last 6 miles are a bit of a grind but you made up so much time before that you … MORE
Get ready to go fast for the first 20 miles. The last 6 miles are a bit of a grind but you made up so much time before that you are in PR contention already. Be ready for a lot of steady downhill running – train for it
All downhill is not as easy as it sounds
Revel race production was very smooth from start to finish. Excellent communications throughout the process. If you enter a Revel race thinking all downhill is easy-peasy, your body will let … MORE
Revel race production was very smooth from start to finish. Excellent communications throughout the process.
If you enter a Revel race thinking all downhill is easy-peasy, your body will let you know this is not the case. The muscles used for downhill are not accustomed to steady use for any length of time.
If another Revel race fits what I’m looking for, I would do it. So very well run!
Epic Views and Lightning Fast!
This was an amazing race. The 2,000 ft elevation decline definitely helped me score a new PR by over 5 minutes! Production and swag were pretty good, the other critique … MORE
This was an amazing race. The 2,000 ft elevation decline definitely helped me score a new PR by over 5 minutes! Production and swag were pretty good, the other critique I have is that it was really, really cold at the start and you basically just stand around on the side of the road in the desert for a hour, minimum. I’m not sure if there is anything else they could do at the start (like a tent or some heaters) but that was the only downside to the race for me. The course was so fast, before I knew it I was at mile 8 where the course flattens out (still downhill but not nearly at the same level as the first 8 miles). That made the last 5 miles feel longer and harder. The scenery was beautiful, but if you’re looking for lots of crowd support this is not your race, as there are no spectators along the course until the last mile or less.
Overall, highly recommend especially if you are looking to post a PR!
Amazing scenery!
This was my second Revel race, i ran Big Bear in 2023. The Revel company really knows how t run an event. The logistics of moving every one to the … MORE
This was my second Revel race, i ran Big Bear in 2023. The Revel company really knows how t run an event. The logistics of moving every one to the full start, went flawlessly. Plenty of water stops along the route, gels offered too. The race start temp at the top of Mt Charleston was 22 degrees, they had propane heaters to keep us warm as we waited to start. The Expo was fun, plenty of running related vendors. The finish festival had vendors offering massages, etc. This is an event you can truly PR, unfortunately for me i was nursing a sore hamstring that killed my time.
Great Great run
The only downside to this run is waiting for it to begin. It's very cold up in the mountain. But once the race starts you better hold on it's beautiful … MORE
The only downside to this run is waiting for it to begin. It’s very cold up in the mountain. But once the race starts you better hold on it’s beautiful and fast. The views are amazing and the people who put this race on are top notch. The finish line after party is one of the best. Tons of food and drink vendors to choose from.
Last but certainly not least the video and pictures from the race are great!
PR Baby!
I love REVEL races, and this one is no exception! The course is incredibly fast, offering all the downhill your legs can handle. While it’s not the most scenic—Vegas isn’t … MORE
I love REVEL races, and this one is no exception! The course is incredibly fast, offering all the downhill your legs can handle. While it’s not the most scenic—Vegas isn’t known for its natural beauty—the race itself is well-organized and delivers an exceptional experience. The swag is top-notch, with a high-quality shirt and medal that make the effort even more rewarding. A must-run for anyone chasing a PR!