Law enforcement teams from across Riverside County are gearing up for a grueling desert relay this weekend, as officers and staff prepare to take on the annual Baker to Vegas Challenge Cup.
The race — a 120-mile, multi-leg relay stretching from the Mojave Desert to Las Vegas — is expected to draw more than 3,000 participants from agencies across California, other states and federal departments. This year, 276 teams are signed up, including a strong showing from the Inland Empire.
Local departments set to participate include Banning, Corona, Hemet, Menifee, Murrieta and Riverside police, along with personnel from several Riverside County Sheriff’s divisions, the District Attorney’s Office and the Department of Probation. According to race information posted at bakervegas.net, roughly a dozen teams from Riverside County are on the roster.
For some agencies, the race has become a yearly tradition. Menifee Police, for example, have consistently taken part and train throughout the year to prepare for the physical and mental demands of the course. The department even shared highlights from last year’s race, capturing the intensity and camaraderie of the event.
Corona Police also confirmed its team will be competing in the 2026 relay, continuing its involvement in one of the most recognized law enforcement races in the country.
The 20-leg course begins around 7 a.m. Saturday along State Route 127, about 24 miles north of Baker. From there, runners rotate through segments that wind across desert highways, including Highway 178, before crossing into Nevada through Pahrump. The final legs push into Las Vegas, finishing near the Rio Hotel & Casino.
The event is organized by the Los Angeles Police Revolver and Athletic Club, which describes the race as a test of endurance, teamwork and resilience. Participants face long miles of open road, shifting temperatures and the challenge of running both in daylight heat and overnight conditions.
“It feels like a lot of pressure — you want to give it everything you’ve got,” Officer Heriberto Gutierrez said ahead of last year’s race, where he ran the final leg. “We train all year for this. It’s always on our minds.”
Forecasts for Saturday show relatively mild conditions early on, with temperatures in the mid-50s at the start. By afternoon, desert heat is expected to climb into the upper 80s, while Las Vegas could see highs around 95 degrees before cooling into the evening — when many teams are likely to cross the finish line.
Teams will start in staggered groups, known as flights, with faster teams typically leaving later in the day.
Since its start in 1985, the Baker to Vegas relay has grown into a cornerstone event for law enforcement agencies nationwide. The race was paused during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021 but has otherwise continued each year.
Last year’s top team, a California Highway Patrol elite unit, completed the course in 12 hours, 31 minutes and 55 seconds. Riverside County’s fastest team — from the Sheriff’s Office — finished in the top 10 with a time of 14:31:38, the best showing locally.
This year’s competition will again include teams traveling from across the country, including Oklahoma, Texas, New York and the Navajo Nation Department of Public Safety.
For those taking part, the race is about more than the finish time. It’s a demanding test of endurance and teamwork — one that continues to bring agencies together year after year.
