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Oak Mountain 50K race photo

Oak Mountain 50K

The city you want to run becomes your next trip.

USApr 3, 202750km
Oast House Archive · CC BY-SA 2.0
Race date in 179 days
Apr 3, 2027 Sat
City · Distance
Pelham · 50km
Entry fee
$115Varies by event and entry period
Status
SoonTBD ~ Mon, March 29, 2027See how to enter ↗
Official website ↗D-day as of Oct 6, 2026
Oak Mountain 50K race photo
Oast House Archive · CC BY-SA 2.0
About the raceRunner storiesHow to enterCourseRace PrepTravel
Why you dream of this race

THE DREAM

About Oak Mountain 50K — what makes it special

ABOUT THE RACE

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

The Oak Mountain 50K, now in its 26th year.

It is the second-oldest 50K in Alabama.

The course runs mostly through singletrack forest trails, climbing to the summit of Double Oak Mountain twice —

about 600 feet each time — for a total cumulative elevation gain of 3,900 feet.

The same section is not repeated twice.

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.

Oak Mountain 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
Redundant ContradictionsRan in 2013 · Finish time 7:20
“I had finished in 7:20 -- well under what I thought I could accomplish.”

In the first ultra, the runner walked the climbs, managed fueling and hydration, endured a low point in the second half, and finished in 7 hours 20 minutes.

Read the original on Redundant Contradictions
Jonathan HiottFinish time 7:13
“This race was the hardest endurance effort I have ever done from a physical and from especially a mental aspect.”

Jonathan Hiott walked the steep climbs of his first Oak Mountain 50K, passing waterfalls and ridgelines. Rocky trails, isolation, and a malfunctioning watch wore him down late in the race, but encouragement from his family helped him finish in 7 hours, 13 minutes.

Read the original on Mountain Bikes, Bass Guitar, and other stuff I like

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.

Finisher vlog

Ultra Kraut Running · Finisher vlog

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 Oak Mountain 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.

10K

Entry cost $55

6 Miler · subject to change — verify officially

Organizer's page
Official race websiteEntry options
From the start line to the finish

RACE WEEK

Oak Mountain 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 limit9h30m
START

Pelham, AL

Start · Google Maps
FINISH

Terrace Dr

Finish · Google Maps

Cut-off
9h30m

Show more

The event includes 50K, 25K, and 6 Miler distances.

Start line is located in Pelham, AL, and the start time is 7:30 AM local time.

Course is a loop course that returns to the starting point.

Typical race-season temperature: around 17°C (62°F)
Short sleeves — hydrate for the warmth
Aid stations
mile 4, mile 8 (Peavine Falls), mile 17

Participant benefits

Water stations

Aid stations

Finisher medal

Where and when to collect your Oak Mountain 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.

Stations & transport near the venue

Getting to the start

Dogwood Pavilion Picnic Area, Oak Mountain State Park, Pelham, AL — no public transit, car access only

50K starts on the road next to Dogwood Pavilion at 7:30 AM CST.

Packet pickup and parking are also at Dogwood Pavilion;

restrooms available there.

No public transit to the state park;

car access only.

com and UltraSignup did=137987.

Getting to the finish

Same as start — Dogwood Pavilion Picnic Area, Oak Mountain State Park, Pelham, AL

Loop course returning to the Dogwood Pavilion start/finish area.

Stations & transport near the venue

Oak Mountain State Park in Pelham sits just south of Birmingham,

where MAX Transit runs local buses for about $1.50/ride (exact change onboard, or the MAX Connect app), but MAX routes do not reach the state park itself.

Runners should plan on driving or renting a car for the actual 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.

The Oak Mountain 50K is a trail race held inside Oak Mountain State Park.

Registration is available only online through UltraSignup, and race-day registration is not offered.

Based on the previous year, Entry fee was $85 for early registration before January 10 and $105 at the regular rate.

A separate $5 state park admission fee was also payable on-site.

The race starts at 7:30 AM, and time limit is 9 hours 30 minutes.

Course includes four staffed aid stations at the 4-mile, 8-mile (Peavine Falls parking area), and 17-mile points, among others.

The event also states that refunds, transfers, and deferrals are not permitted, so participants should finalize their plans before registering.

Times are local to Pelham. 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 Oak Mountain 50K start line in Pelham

Hotels that make race morning easy

7 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.

Homewood Suites By Hilton Birmingham-Sw-Riverchase-Galleria

Hotel · 4.7km

8.7/10(162)
View on Booking.com

Holiday Inn Express & Suites Birmingham South - Pelham, An Ihg Hotel

Hotel · 3.6km

8.6/10(189)
View on Booking.com

La Quinta Inn & Suites By Wyndham Birmingham Hoover

Hotel · 4.6km

8.4/10(677)
View on Booking.com

Extended Stay America Select Suites - Birmingham - Pelham

Hotel · 2.9km

4.7/10(99)
View on Booking.com

Swipe sideways to see more hotels.

View on map →

Time for you, before and after the finish

2 experiences

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

Pelham car rental (EconomyBookings)

Compare rates from various rental car companies, self-drive (price confirmed at time of reservation) · Make reservation after checking price

View on EconomyBookings

Pelham car rental (Qeeq)

Compare budget-friendly rental cars with a free-cancellation option (check the price when booking) · Check price and book

View on Qeeq
Eating well is part of the tripA meal before the race, a dinner to celebrate the finish.View on mapSeeing Pelham 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 Pelham.

Total cost and budget for Oak Mountain 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 Oak Mountain 50K

RUN TOGETHER

With runners who dream of
the same start line.

Be the first runner
Leave this room's first post

Pelham runners' room

Frequently asked questions about Oak Mountain 50K

FAQ
When does Oak Mountain 50K 2027 take place?

It takes place on Sat, April 3, 2027 in Pelham, AL, United States.

How much is the Oak Mountain 50K 2027 entry fee?

The main event costs $115.

What is the time limit for Oak Mountain 50K 2027?

9h30m.

What distances does Oak Mountain 50K 2027 offer?

Ultra.

What time does Oak Mountain 50K 2027 start?

The race starts at 07:30.

Where does Oak Mountain 50K 2027 start?

Pelham, AL.

What are the Oak Mountain 50K 2027 cut-off times?

9h30m.

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