REVEL Mt Charleston Marathon
The Lowdown
The REVEL Mt Charleston Marathon is part of the REVEL Race Series of point-to-point downhill races, known across the running community for delivering fast finishing times paired with striking mountain scenery. The Mt Charleston edition starts at roughly 7,600 feet near the historic Mt Charleston Lodge on Kyle Canyon Road, in the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest northwest of Las Vegas, Nevada. From there, the course drops almost continuously toward the valley floor, losing close to 5,100 feet of elevation on a USATF-certified, Boston Marathon-qualifying route -- one reason REVEL bills it as the fastest marathon in Nevada. In 2025, 38.7% of Mt Charleston finishers posted a BQ time, among the highest qualifying rates of any U.S. marathon. The route meanders past Cathedral Rock in its opening miles before settling into a steady, nearly 4% downhill grade along Kyle Canyon Road, with sweeping high-desert and mountain views. The final five miles wind through the palm-lined streets of the Centennial Hills neighborhood before finishing near the Viper Lacrosse Fields Family Sports Complex. Temperatures typically start 25 to 30 degrees cooler at the mountain start than in the Las Vegas valley, so runners face a chilly, high-altitude sunrise before warming into a mild Las Vegas morning. Race weekend includes an expo and packet pickup at the Rio Convention Center, shuttle buses from the Strip and finish-area parking to the point-to-point start lines, and a finish-line festival. Entry includes a finisher medal, technical shirt, free race-day photos, and a personalized highlight video, with sponsors including doTERRA and Canyon Lake Chiropractic and Physical Therapy supporting the event.
Race Day
Weather Forecast
Elevation
Terrain Profile
Relatively flat course
Participants
Field Size
Medium-sized race
Crowd Rating
Spectator Support
Moderate spectator support
Boston Qualifier
This race is a certified Boston Marathon qualifying event. Achieve your qualifying standard here on a verified course.
Mt Charleston Lodge and Kyle Canyon -- marathon start point at ~7,600 feet in the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest
Cathedral Rock -- landmark rock formation the course passes in its opening miles
Centennial Hills -- palm-lined Las Vegas neighborhood the course runs through in the final 5 miles
Viper Lacrosse Fields Family Sports Complex -- race finish venue in Las Vegas
Other distances available during the event weekend:
Las Vegas, NV, United States
US
Average rate for 3-star accommodations near the start line
Eligibility
- Must be registered for the 2027 REVEL Mt Charleston Marathon
- Recommended minimum age per REVEL Race Series policy is 18 (verify on the official FAQ, not stated per-race)
Required Documents
- Photo ID (government-issued) required for packet pickup
- Written authorization plus a copy of the runner's ID if someone else picks up your packet
Entry Methods
- Online registration
- Race transfer between REVEL races or to another runner (transfer policy applies)
Cancellation & Refund Policy
Withdrawal policy allows a full refund minus a small transaction fee
Transfer policy allows transferring between REVEL races or to another registered individual
USATF-certified, Boston Marathon-qualifying downhill course; 38.7% of 2025 Mt Charleston finishers qualified for Boston.
Half marathon starts near the Twilight Zone recreation area, about 8 miles up Kyle Canyon, and shares the same net-downhill grade and finish as the marathon.
Shuttle buses run from the Strip (Rio Las Vegas Convention Center) and from 6605 Grand Montecito Parkway to the point-to-point start lines; return buses run from the finish every 30 minutes.
Start-line temperatures at Mt Charleston are typically 25-30 degrees Fahrenheit cooler than the Las Vegas valley, so runners should dress in layers for a cold high-altitude start.
Community
Stories, tips, and race-day snapshots from runners who have tackled this course.
Community Reviews
Learn from fellow runners and share insights that will help the next person toe the line.

