It’s not just dirt. It’s legacy.

Every year, before the roar of engines and the cheers of tens of thousands echo across Means Dry Lakebed, a small, dedicated team disappears into the desert with GPS, grinders, and a mission: carve out the world’s gnarliest off-road racecourse — from scratch.

Welcome to the real gauntlet. Welcome behind the boulders.

Course Building: Part Engineering, Part Art Form

Unlike a permanent racetrack, the King of the Hammers course is entirely rebuilt each year. Starting months in advance, our Race Ops and Trail Team leads begin scouting the best — or most punishing — combinations of desert whoops, high-speed lakebeds, and legendary rock trails like Backdoor, Chocolate Thunder, and Outer Limits.

Each section is chosen with intent. Some push suspensions to the limit. Others test navigation skills. And the rocks? They test your will to finish.

GPS and Gut Instincts

The first phase is digital. The team overlays satellite imagery, previous courses, and vehicle data to draft multiple route variations. But once boots are on the ground, it becomes a different beast.

“GPS will get you close,” says one course builder. “But you don’t feel a trail until you’re walking it — looking at erosion, trail scars, choke points. You have to think like a racer, a fan, and a safety officer all at once.”

Moving Rocks Is Part of the Job Description

This isn’t a course that gets cleared with bulldozers. In the Hammers, some sections require hours of work just to be barely passable. That’s the point.

From winching refrigerator-sized boulders, to hand-marking danger zones, building the racecourse is as grueling as the race itself.

Evolution Every Year

Because of BLM permitting and conservation efforts, no two KOH races are identical. The course evolves to preserve land, keep racers on their toes, and keep fans coming back. Spectator zones shift. Checkpoints change. Pit strategy resets. And with each new line through the rocks, legends are born.

Respect the Rocks, Respect the Hammers

It’s easy to take the terrain for granted when you’re watching from Hammertown with a cold one. But every mile of this race was bled for. Built by hand. Planned with safety in mind.

So whether you’re racing, spectating, or exploring, remember: this place isn’t a playground. It’s a proving ground. Stay off the marked course during race week. Stay 150 feet back. And keep the terrain as gnarly as we found it.