74 miles of North Georgia singletrack — carry the spike or die trying
Other trail races within 173 miles
A brutal 74-mile point-to-point through the rugged mountains of North Georgia, starting at Byron Herbert Reece Farm near Vogel State Park and finishing at the base of Amicalola Falls. The first 37 miles are almost entirely technical singletrack with relentlessly steep climbs and descents, traversing Coosa Bald, the Duncan Ridge Trail, and the Benton MacKaye Trail. After a brief respite on road and dirt, the soul-crushing Nimblewill Climb arrives at mile 55, followed by a memorable finish: a 1,000 ft descent, a climb of Amicalola Falls' famous staircase, then a final 1,000 ft drop to the creek crossing at the finish line. Every runner must carry a one-pound railroad spike the entire race — finishers place it in a coffin and receive an engraved spike in return.
Experienced ultrarunners
Blairsville, GA, United StatesMarch 27, 2027
Must complete a 50K race or longer within the qualification window
Must have completed an official 50K or longer within 365 days of race day, no later than February 15th of race year. Any prior GDR finish also qualifies.
6 hours minimum of trail maintenance or trail race volunteering, completed within the year before race day. Can opt out with a $20 donation to the Benton Mackaye Trail Association and Georgia SORBA. Submit hours at the RunBum Tours website.
Qualifying period: March 28, 2026 – March 27, 2027
Moderate trail conditions with some technical sections
| Location | Mile | Elevation |
|---|---|---|
Byron Herbert Reece Farm Start | 0.0 | 2,142 ft |
White Oak Aid Station | 7.3 | 3,474 ft |
Mulky Gap Aid Station | 12.2 | 2,795 ft |
Skeenah Gap Aid Station | 20.5 | 2,395 ft |
Point Bravo Aid Station | 26.7 | 2,005 ft |
Sapling Gap Aid Station | 31.4 | 2,411 ft |
Long Creek Aid Station | 36.8 | 3,081 ft |
Winding Stair Gap Aid Station | 42.8 | 3,179 ft |
Jake Bull Aid Station | 50.2 | 1,722 ft |
Halfway House Aid Station | 56.4 | 1,998 ft |
Nimblewill Aid Station | 60.9 | 3,140 ft |
Amicalola Lodge Pre race packet pick up Aid Station | 65.7 | 2,474 ft |
Visitors Center Aid Station | 67.7 | 1,804 ft |
Finish Finish | 69.8 | 1,804 ft |
Sign in to see cutoffs, crew access, drop bags, and services for every aid station.
Late-night temperatures in the exposed Nimblewill ridgeline section regularly drop near freezing even in mild years — hypothermia rescues happen annually
March weather in North Georgia is highly unpredictable — expect any combination of heat, rain, wind, and cold within a single race day
Sustained winds on the exposed ridgelines above Nimblewill in the final 20 miles — a major factor for slower runners finishing overnight
No required gear specified
No recommended gear specified
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