Check out who runners voted the Best Marathon in each State. READ MORE...

Best Boston Marathon Qualifiers for 2026

Best Boston Marathon Qualifiers

It's here! Our annual list of the year's
best marathons to help you qualify for the Boston Marathon.

2026 IS HERE!


Marathon Pace Bands

Marathon Pace Bands

Run the Right Pace in Your Next Marathon

Nearly 500 marathon courses.
Ships same or Next Day


Revel Big Bear Marathon

Redlands, CA
Saturday, November 7, 2026


  4.1 Stars from 8 Reviews

Course Description
The REVEL Big Bear marathon course offers the best of the San Bernardino Mountains, including breathtaking views of the cliffs and valleys of the San Bernardino National Forest. The course is entirely downhill on paved roadway and is a Boston Marathon qualifier.

The marathon begins at the Greyback Amphitheater near the base of Sugarloaf Mountain, directly south of the famous Big Bear Mountain Ski Resort. The course begins with rolling hills for the first four miles as runners make their way down historic CA 38 towards Redlands with the rising sun at their backs.

Upon reaching the mountain community of Angelus Oaks at mile nine, runners will enjoy a net elevation drop of 4,223 ft in the last 17 miles of the race, an average of a 4.7% downhill grade. Along the way runners will enjoy stunning views of Constance Peak to the west and Anderson Peak to the east.

The course gradually turns southeast in the direction of San Gorgonio Mountain, the tallest peak in Southern California, before heading west through the Mountain Home Village community. After passing the half marathon point, runners are treated to a second half elevation drop of 3,171 feet and only 10 feet of elevation gain!

The final miles take runners through the streets of Redlands, all the while continuing a strong downhill slope to the finish line at the Redlands Sports Park. Runners will get an extra boost from the 443-foot net loss in elevation in the last 3 miles.

*Weather data is from the finish line. Temperatures will be much cooler (20-30° F cooler) at the start and gets warmer as runners travel down the mountain.

November Other Marathons in November Other Marathons in California Marathons near Redlands, CA



Marathon Pace Bands

Want to run your best Revel Big Bear Marathon?

Don't waste months of training only to run the wrong pace.


Revel Big Bear Marathon Pace Bands are adjusted for the specific terrain of the course, your goal time and pacing strategies.



Only $9.99




Race Information

Race Dates

2026: Saturday, November 7, 2026
2025: Cancelled

Course Information

Profile: Downhill
Type: Point to Point
Surface: Road/Pavement

Boston Qualifier?: Yes
World Marathon Major Qualifier?: No

Race Day Weather

Mean Temp.: 65°F (18°C)
Average High: 78°F (25°C)
Average Low: 51° F (10°C)




PR Score & Course Score

PR Score: 106.02
Course Score: 106.82

Race Size

2025: No Results
2024: No Results
2023: 1,837 Finishers
2022: 1,603 Finishers
2021: 1,270 Finishers
2020: No Results

BQ Percentages

2025: N/A
2024: N/A
2023: 40.5%
2022: 38.7%
2021: 37.6%
2020: N/A

Miscellaneous Information

Pace Groups?: Yes

Weather Averages for Last 5 Years


Race Day Temperatures

High: 75°F  (24°C)
Low: 54°F  (12°C)

Race Start Conditions

58°F  (14°C)
Humidity: 48%

Clear
ESE 4 mph

PR Score

104.16

Course Score

104.7






How does the Revel Big Bear Marathon Rank?

The race was cancelled in 2025 and 2024.

Its Course Score of 106.82 ranks it as the 3rd fastest marathon course in the U.S. and the 1st fastest course in California.

The typical race time temperature and humidity levels are slightly above the ideal range for optimal marathon performance. This, coupled with the Course Score, gives the Revel Big Bear Marathon a PR Score of 106.02. This PR Score ranks it as the 2nd fastest marathon in the U.S. and the 1st fastest in California.

Learn more about PR Scores and Course Scores on the FAQ page.



Elevation Chart


Max Elevation: 6630 feet (2021m)
Min Elevation: 1545 feet (471m)

Elevation Gain: 332 feet (101m)
Elevation Loss: 5413 feet (1650m)


Revel

Course updated 05/13/2025




Hotel & VRBO Accommodations for the Revel Big Bear Marathon

View available accomodations around the Revel Big Bear Marathon Finish Line and Course. Book your Reservation now before the best places are sold out.

For a better mobile or desktop experience:






Compare the Revel Big Bear Marathon to other Marathons

Use tools below to compare races and convert times across courses.

Do you want to see how the Revel Big Bear Marathon stacks up against other marathons?

Compare the details of the Revel Big Bear Marathon side-by-side with other marathons with our Comparison Tool.


Comparison Tool

If you ran the Revel Big Bear Marathon in 4:04:00, what would your time in other marathons be?

See how your finish time would compare on other marathon courses with our Time Conversion Tool.


Time Converter Tool

Race Reviews


4.1
Based on 8 reviews
Write Your Own Review
images/empty_white_star.pngimages/empty_white_star.pngimages/empty_white_star.pngimages/empty_white_star.pngimages/empty_white_star.png

Canceled with minimal prior communication

Full Review:

Would have loved to run this race but it was cancelled via text message at 2:34 AM when I woke up to get ready for the bus to the start line. To say this was disappointing doesn't even begin to cover it. it is incomprehensible that organizers gave zero notice and said nothing prior to that if you are clearly watching for inclement weather and shows a huge disregard to runners who have travelled from all over, spent 100s of dollars, not to mention months of training.

Editor's Note: The 2024 Revel Big Bear Marathon was cancelled due to "unsafe and undrivable road conditions at the higher elevations of the course. The half marathon was held and marathoners were invited to run the half marathon and also received a race credit for a future Brooksee event.
Reviewed by NN About 2024

PR city

Full Review:

Lived up to the hype of being fast and beautiful! Be patient the first 9miles then let the gravity take you home! Race converter predicted i run 2:51:34 i ran 2:51:29 a 5min 32sec PR. REVEL races has nice small details like giving you armbands, gloves, foil blanket, post race bag tags and results card and free beer at the finish! Definately want to run another REVEL race.
Reviewed by mikeaubz About 2023

PR buster!!

Full Review:

This race was tremendously run and an absolute pleasure to run. My previous best was a 3:17 and I have been training for a sub 3:00 for a few years now but failed miserably in the heat and humidity of Chicago 2021 so I needed redemption. I ran an almost perfect marathon, for me, here in this race and ran a 2:54. The review that said to warm up the first 3 miles, go easy on the rollers and let the decline do the work for you was perfect. I slowed my pace a bit the last 3 miles so I still have work to do but this race was amazing!!

Race Tips:

I had almost no preparation for this but optimally gym work to strengthen your quads would help a lot.

Travel/Logistics Tips:

I stayed at a cheap hotel near the course which was gross, save your money a little and go to the Hilton!!!
Reviewed by Bob About 2021

LOVE this course!`

Full Review:

I love Revel races but this is definitely my favorite. The views are gorgeous and the course is FAST! Tons of water stops along the way, but could've maybe used 1 or 2 more at the end because it got pretty hot at the finish. Love getting the finish info printout at the end and lots of food and drinks to choose from. I will be back next year to tackle the half marathon.

Race Tips:

Definitely take the first 9 miles or so on the easy side, and then let it rip! I held back slightly under race pace and went easier on the rolling hills in the beginning, and then I was able to really pick up speed after that. Even with a warm finish, I was able to negative split the course, get a 13+ minute PR and my first BQ ever!

Travel/Logistics Tips:

Stay at a hotel close to bus pickup so you can just walk over there in the morning. The buses take you from the finish to the pickup spot.
Reviewed by Kerry About 2021

Great Course!

Full Review:

Like all Revel races it was very well planned out. Plenty of support and not too big.

Race Tips:

Race starts out with rolling hills for the first 8.5 miles but still is net downhill for this section. Legs feel especially heavy in a couple of the hills since you are running at altitude. DO NOT LET THIS WORRY YOU!! You can make up the difference on the steady decline which starts just before mile 9. Try to save a little for the last couple miles since it has some flat sections- Need to have a good finish stride. Overall, I recommend this course for a PR. But.. Be carefull on the downhill, my advice is to increase your cadence so you are not running your typical stride. The downhill will feel great but many runners I saw pass me with long strides were slower after mile 22. Brag section.. My previous PR was a 3:07. Here yesterday with great conditions I was able to get a 2:53 and change. Very pleased by this course!! I will be there again next year for sure.

Travel/Logistics Tips:

Revel has it all planned out perfectly. Just follow their advice in the emails and it will be a good race.
Reviewed by Andy R About 2018

Boston Here I Come!

Full Review:

Fantastic super-downhill course + the usual Revel excellence in race support, admin, and features = a great race experience and my best race ever (it was my 15th marathon, this one became my new PR, and a solid BQ!). Great communication and logistics, great support stations on the course plus mile markers every mile. We got perfect weather (canyon shade for first hour, then mostly cool & cloudy). Not quite as pretty as the old Revel Canyon City course that this one replaces but still plenty scenic and a much better elevation profile. BUT it did rain the day before, so could have easily rained the day of, that would have made it a very different day.

In the Revel swag bag you get some thowaway gloves and a space blanket to use while waiting at the top. (Was in the low 40s while we were waiting for the start.) I also brought some disposable hand warmers to stick in the gloves, those are great. I saw some folks shivering hard. Revel runs an excellent bag check, so I wore a down jacket to wait in, and stuffed it in the bag close to start time. Lots of portapotties at the top but always still a wait of course. You might want to bring some TP just in case you get the lucky one that ran out.

Race Tips:

Starts with a couple of fast downhill miles, then some mild rolling and climbing, just take it easy. Miles 9 - 21 are fantastically downhill, this is where the magic happens. Last 5 are milder downhills plus a bit of flats and tiny bit of climbing. Last 0.7 mile is a straight downhill shot with the finish line visible all the way. The only very slight problem was traffic along miles 24-25 or so, it's a pretty main road there and they couldn't keep the vehicles single laned, so sometimes they crowded us a bit.

Plenty of water, gatorade, gu, and portapotties on the course.

Had nice coach buses to bring us up to the top, comfy enough for a little snooze (it's like an hour ride).

Travel/Logistics Tips:

Easy to fly into Ontario then drive about 45 min. to Redlands. We stayed in an Airbnb house in Yucapia, which worked out well. University of Redlands looks very lovely, I wish we had made time to visit. We did drive all the way up to Big Bear Lake (1h+ drive), which was beautiful.
Reviewed by Russel Y. About 2018

Train for Downhill or Die

Full Review:

Revel always puts on a wonderful race. It rained so the outdoor Bib P/U was a bit of a letdown. All the workers were great and very positive. Race day is well planned. I agree with the other comment about Canyon City much more scenic but the course was definitely more downhill. I finished pretty late at 5 hours and 15 minutes ( augh) so the finish line was rather uninspiring. You can't beat the medal, free photos and the boiler plate video with your personal pictures mixed in is really nice. This years shirt was pretty sharp as well. I really hope the new venue builds a bit bigger field... although the smalle field does lend itself to faster times.

Race Tips:

I made a big mistake and didn't train very much for this race..... so I died. The comment about training and getting used to a faster cadence is really important. I want to go back and run this while being in shape next year because I know there is a killer time waiting. This year I wish I would have called UBER around mile 21. The downhill is endless and speed is there for the taking if you train for it.

Travel/Logistics Tips:

I stayed at a hotel 7 miles away and it took 10 minutes to get there and get dropped off. The instructions given by Revel are very good.
Reviewed by DH About 2018

Organizers Failed to Transport us to the Start Up in the Hill in Time

Full Review:

The course is undulating, in the first half, downhill in the next 15 km, then flat for the last 6 km or so. The organizers did not communicate to the bus drivers where the full-marathon start was. Two buses, including the one I was on, went to the half-marathon start and were asked to wait there for more than 20 minutes, causing late arrival at the marathon start and a panic situation, with the national anthem playing, when we got down The organizers did not have an explanation as to what happened and could not contact the bus drivers, And when asked the same question in a weekly Facebook presentation later, the question was repeatedly avoided. The bag to drop off clothes tore off from the chord and fell to the ground, as I was walking to a bus. I had to get a new bag. The sad thing was that because of the bus delay, I put my Smartphone in the wrong bag in the darkness of the bus; lost important photos from other races and valuable stored data.

Race Tips:

Advices would be to take the earlier buses and to hold onto your bag, while carrying it, by the belly or the neck and not by the chords. Check with the bus driver if he or she is going to the half- or the full-marathon. Ask it twice. In weekly FB presentations, keep on asking as to what steps the Revel is taking to transport runners to the start area in time. Let them understand that it is their "priority one" to transport you there. The revel is run by a few young people who are there to look after their own interests, not that of the runners. They also tend to ignore feedback.

Travel/Logistics Tips:

Marriott Residence Inn worked out for me. It is about 7 minutes walk to the bus pick-up. Most of the hotels are in that area.
Reviewed by TC About 2018