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Mount Cheaha 50K race photo

Mount Cheaha 50K

The city you want to run becomes your next trip.

Mount Cheaha 50K race photo
Mount Cheaha 50K race photo
Delta
US
pocketwiley · flickr (CC BY)Melissa Johnson, CC BY 2.0Melissa Johnson, CC BY 2.0
Race date in 137 days
Feb 20, 2027 Sat
City · Distance
Delta · 50km
Entry fee
$115Varies by event and entry period
Status
SoonTBD ~ Mon, February 15, 2027See how to enter ↗
Official website ↗D-day as of Oct 6, 2026
Mount Cheaha 50K race photo
pocketwiley · flickr (CC BY)
Mount Cheaha 50K race photo
Melissa Johnson, CC BY 2.0
Mount Cheaha 50K race photo
Melissa Johnson, CC BY 2.0
About the raceRunner storiesHow to enterCourseRace PrepTravel
Why you dream of this race

THE DREAM

About Mount Cheaha 50K — what makes it special

ABOUT THE RACE

A day you'll remember,
long past the finish line.

A point-to-point 50K finishing at Cheaha State Park, on the summit of Cheaha Mountain, Alabama’s highest point at 2,407 feet above sea level.

The course passes overlooks, streams, lakes, and waterfalls as it winds through hardwood and pine forests.

The road to your own record

Picture the course in advance
and find the pace that fits you.

When the city cheers

Streets lined with cheers, runners all around.
You'll be part of that scene.

The trip that follows the run

Take it slow with the finish still in you,
and meet the city all over again.

Mount Cheaha 50K runner reviews and race reports

Stories from those who ran it first.

From the joy of finishing to the tough moments — read what runners wrote themselves.

Race reports: 2
Darren ThomasRan in 2016 · Finish time 4:18:39
“I stayed consistent, strong, relaxed, never really pushed that hard.”

Darren Thomas maintained a comfortable rhythm through a large creek and the steep final climb at the 2016 Mount Cheaha 50km. Winning overall in 4 hours, 18 minutes, 39 seconds confirmed the payoff from training.

Read the original on Darren Thomas
This Running LifeRan in 2013 · Finish time 7:28
“Unlike my first marathon, I never doubted that I could finish the race.”

Taking on a first ultra at the 2013 Mount Cheaha 50km, this runner negotiated wet rocks, creeks, and a steep final climb. Crossing finish alongside a fellow runner in 7 hours, 28 minutes sparked a love of trails and ultramarathons.

Read the original on This Running Life

We translated a short line from each public race report and summarized the experience. Finish times are as stated by the author, and past editions may differ from this year's weather and operations.

See it on video,
feel it through their stories.

Preview the course and read what runners who went before you wrote.

MOUNT CHEAHA 50K | The Race To The Top Of Alabama

Ultra Kraut Running

View on YouTube

This may be from a past edition. Check the organizer for this year's course and operations.

The way in that fits you

YOUR ENTRY

How to enter Mount Cheaha 50K — registration routes

How to reach the start line —
start with what fits you.

Here are the ways to enter and what each requires.
Check the organizer's page for whether entries are open.

Official race websiteEntry options
From the start line to the finish

RACE WEEK

Mount Cheaha 50K course map and elevation

The 50km I'll run

Know the course and time limit, and race day comes into focus.

Runners start · local timeFrom 07:30
Time limit9 hours and 30 minutes
START

Porters Gap Trailhead

Start · Google Maps
FINISH

Summit of Cheaha State Park, 2,407 feet above sea level

Alabama’s highest point

Finish · Google Maps
Show more

Mount Cheaha 50K is a point-to-point course along the Pinhoti Trail, Skyway Trail, and Silent Trail in Talladega National Forest, Alabama.

Its greatest feature is that finish is located at Cheaha State Park, at the summit of Cheaha Mountain, Alabama’s highest peak at 2,407 feet.

About 80% of course consists of singletrack, with approximately 6,000 feet of elevation gain,

giving the finish the symbolic meaning of reaching “the roof of Alabama.”

This race was the event that launched the Pinhoti Trail Series.

After runners from the Anniston Runners Club ran the Pinhoti Trail together in 2005, they held the first Mount Cheaha 50K the following year,

in 2006, to introduce the trail to more people.

The series later expanded, and the 2027 edition is understood to be its 22nd running.

Course features overlooks, creek crossings, lakes, waterfalls, and alternating stands of hardwoods and conifers,

making it one of the most scenic course among Alabama trail races.

Complete all three races in the series—Oak Mountain 50K, Rockin Choccolocco 50K,

and this event—and you can receive a separate Grand Slam buckle, so some participants follow all three races throughout the season.

Typical race-season temperature: around 7°C (45°F)
Long sleeves + a throwaway layer for the start
Elevation gain
Approximately 6,000 feet
Series
Pinhoti Trail Series — Grand Slam buckle for completing this race along with Oak Mountain 50K and Rockin Choccolocco 50K
First held
2006 (the first race in the Pinhoti Trail Series)

Participant benefits

Not yet confirmed in the official race guide

Where and when to collect your Mount Cheaha 50K race bib

To the start line,
step by step.

Pick up your bib, check your wave.
So on race morning, you can just run.

Pick up your bib at the expo

Packet pickup information has not yet been announced.
For small trail races, race-morning on-site pickup is common; check the registration page announcement for details.

Stations & transport near the venue

Getting to the start

Porters Gap Trailhead, Talladega National Forest, near Delta, AL — no public transit, car access only

Point-to-point race starting at Porters Gap Trailhead;

race-morning packet pickup also occurs there.

Bus transportation to the start can be purchased for a fee, and parking at the start is described as limited.

Crew passes for Cheaha State Park entrance are required and must be prepaid.

No public transit exists to either trailhead;

car/shuttle access only.

Getting to the finish

Cheaha State Park, summit of Cheaha Mountain (2,407 ft, Alabama's highest point), Delta, AL

Point-to-point finish inside Cheaha State Park at the mountain summit;

the course runs the Pinhoti, Skyway, and Silent trails through Talladega National Forest to get there.

Road closures

Paid shuttle bus departs at 06:05 from Cheaha State Park temporary parking lot ($15/person)

More details

Yes — paid bus shuttle to the start line is offered.

Stations & transport near the venue

Cheaha State Park near Delta, Alabama is in a remote part of the Talladega National Forest with no public transit or transit card system.

A car is the only way to reach the venue.

Source · checked Aug 24, 2026
READY TO RUN

From race morning to after the finish.

Your start time, fuel and bag drop.
Know them ahead and the run feels easier.

Entry fee uses a tiered pricing system that increases over time.

The price starts at $115 and rises to $135 as the race approaches.

The payment processing fee ($18.32) is additional.

Public transportation does not reach the venue.

A private car or rental car is the only practical option.

Times are local to Delta. Check the latest official information before the race.

A trip built around the race

STAY A LITTLE

MAKE IT A RUNTRIP

The race is one day,
the trip can be longer.

From a hotel that makes race morning easy,
to the meals and views you'll enjoy with the medal on.

Hotels near the Mount Cheaha 50K start line in Delta

Hotels that make race morning easy

1 places

Distances are straight-line from the start/finish area.
Check real travel times and booking terms with each hotel.

The start and finish are in the same place
We picked stays around that one spot.

Swipe sideways to see more hotels.

View on map →

Time for you, before and after the finish

14 experiences

Rest a little, wander a little.
Pick what suits you and whoever you're with.

Atlanta 5 Hour City Tour By Air Conditioned Bus

5-hour air-conditioned bus city tour · $73

View on GetYourGuide

Atlanta: Martin Luther King Historical Park Walking Tour

Martin Luther King Historical Park Walking Tour · $42

View on GetYourGuide

Atlanta: Black History & Civil Rights City Bus Tour

Black History & Civil Rights Bus Tour · $72

View on GetYourGuide
Eating well is part of the tripA meal before the race, a dinner to celebrate the finish.View on mapSeeing Delta with the medal onThe city you ran — this time, a little slower.View on map

Hotel distances are straight-line from the start. Distances and ratings for food and sights come from the place provider, and experiences are travel products in Delta.

Total cost and budget for Mount Cheaha 50K

TRAVEL ESSENTIALS

Trip prep too,
light and in one place.

ChecklistLocal eSIM · YesimFlight delay or cancellation compensation · AirHelpPace calculator

Once saved, you can open this page without an internet connection

Runner stories and questions about Mount Cheaha 50K

RUN TOGETHER

With runners who dream of
the same start line.

Be the first runner
Leave this room's first post

Delta runners' room

Frequently asked questions about Mount Cheaha 50K

FAQ
When does Mount Cheaha 50K 2027 take place?

It takes place on Sat, February 20, 2027 in Delta, AL, United States.

How much is the Mount Cheaha 50K 2027 entry fee?

The main event costs $115.

What is the time limit for Mount Cheaha 50K 2027?

9 hours and 30 minutes.

What distances does Mount Cheaha 50K 2027 offer?

Ultra.

What time does Mount Cheaha 50K 2027 start?

The race starts at 07:30.

Where does Mount Cheaha 50K 2027 start?

Porters Gap Trailhead.

Where does Mount Cheaha 50K 2027 finish?

Summit of Cheaha State Park, 2,407 feet above sea level (Alabama’s highest point).

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