Southern States 200
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Event overview
The Southern States 200 is a point-to-point mountain trail race held March 18-22, 2026. The course runs from Mill Creek near Dalton, Georgia, to the summit of Mount Cheaha in Cheaha State Park, Alabama. The race distance is 203.14 miles, with 27,933 ft of elevation gain and a 100-hour time limit. The route follows the Pinhoti Trail and crosses the Chattahoochee and Talladega National Forests. Lodging is available at Bald Rock Lodge adjacent to the finish.
Course, logistics and support
Terrain on the course is primarily trail with smaller sections of road:
- Single and double-track trails: 167 miles (82.3%)
- Packed dirt and gravel roads: 10.6 miles (5.2%)
- Paved roads: 25.4 miles (12.5%)
There are 15 full aid stations plus one water-only station. Aid stations are in tents and some are heated. Twelve stations accept drop bags. All stations except John's Mountain and Lost Gulch allow crew access. Five heated sleep stations are located at miles 69, 101, 122, 158, and 183; those sites provide sleeping pads, bags, and a wake-up service. Medical personnel are on course, all runners must carry SPOT trackers, and the course is marked with flags, ribbons, and reflective tape on later sections. A training camp is scheduled February 7-8, 2026 in Oxford, limited to 30 participants and including course previews, meals, and transport. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.