The Southern States 200 Alabama Course Description
By Aid Station
The Course - Alabama, Section by Section
The Southern States 200 has 16 aid stations. The last 7 aid stations are in Alabama. We describe each of the Alabama sections on this page. We will provide runners with a detailed description of each trail section of the course, by aid stations. We will include feet of ascent and descent, type of trial and trail surfaces along each section, as well as a turn-by-urn description. This section may be updated from time to time. We will note the date of the latest updates
Please Remember, to avoid any confusion, all aid station times shown are Eastern Time. When you cross the Alabama State Line after Old Jackson Chapel aid station, you enter the Central Standard Time Zone.
Aid Station Crew Access and Drop Bag Locations
Aid Station Distance and Elevation
Detailed Description of Each Section
Aid Station to Aid Station - Alabama
Updated 3/5/2024
Section 9 - Jackson Chapel to High Point , AL Aid & Sleep Station - Mile 105.51 to Mile 118.31
Runners will leave the Jackson Chapel Aid Station going due west. The next 12.80 miles will be on single-track trails. Almost as soon as you leave the aid station you start the 1,136 ft. climb to the top Flag Mountain. You will be back in the mountains for the next 45 miles.
Distance Between: Old Jackson Chapel and High Point Talladega (Alabama) - 12.80 Miles, Cumulative Miles - 118.31
Elevation Gain: 2,586 Ft
Elevation Loss: 2,620 Ft
Single-track Trails: Total - 12.80 miles
Section 10 - High Point Talladega to Low Point at CR94 - Mile 118.31 to Mile 126.14
Right out of the aid station runners will start a 4.3 mile climb to the top of Agusta Mine Ridge. Then you will descend 1.5 mile to CR 70. Cross the road and start a ½ mile, 270 foot climb over another ridge before drop down to County Road 94 and the Low Point Aid Station. This section is all single-track trails. The aid station will be located in the right-of-way along CR 94 about 100 yards before reaching the Chief Ladiga Trail.
Distance Between: High Point Talladega and Low Point, CR 94 - 7.83 Miles, Cumulative Miles – 126.14
Elevation Change: Ascent – 1,454 ft., Descent – 1,454 ft.
Single-track Trails: Total – 7.83 miles
Section 11 - Low Point to Hill Top Blue Trail Aid Station - Mile 126.14 to Mile 139.64
Runners will leave the Low Point Aid Station heading south. After about 100 yards go right on the Chief Ladiga Trail. The Chief Ladiga is a paved Rail-Trail. Follow Ladiga southeast for 0.5 miles. The Pinhoti Trail turns off to the left, leaving the paved trail. The next 8.0 miles should be single-track trails. At mile 130 runners reach County Rd 500, a hard-packed gravel and dirt road. At the road, turn left and follow 500 for 5.5 miles to the Hill Top/Blue Trail Aid Station. There is another race on the Chief Ladiga trail on the SS200 race weekend. The race is an out/back race and you may encounter runners going in either direction. Carefully follow the SS200 Signs along this section.
NOTE: Be sure your crew understands they my NOT drive on CR500 between Hwy 55 (Rabbit Town Rd) and the Coleman Lake Aid Station. If they do, you will be disqualified. Your crew is required to reach Coleman Lake from the Georgia Side of the Pinhoti. Use the button below to see a map from High Point, Alabama to Coleman Lake.
Distance Between: Low Point, CR 94 to Hill Top Blue Trail at CR500 – 13.50 Miles, Cumulative Miles – 139.64
Elevation Change: Ascent – 2,699 ft., Descent – 2,232ft.
Hard Packed Dirt/Gravel Roads – 5.6 miles
Single-track Trails: Total – 8.5 miles
Section 12 - Hill Top Blue Trail to Coleman Lake Aid & Sleep Station - Mile 139.64 to Mile 154.24
Leave the aid station heading up the Blue Trail to the north. This is a hardpacked dirt road for about 100 yards. The Hill Top Blue single-track trail continues straight ahead. Stay on the trail for about 7.3 miles and turn right on Rabbit Road. Follow the dirt road for 1.5 miles to where it connects Back into the Pinhoti Trail. Follow the Pinhoti Trail for 4.9 miles. The Pinhoti intersects the Coleman Lake Trail. Here you will go left across the bridge over the lake. Stay on the trail about a mile along lake short. At the paved road FR 553D, go left for about 100 yards, then right to the aid station. Follow signs to the Aid Station in the pavilion.
Crew members may not drive on FR 500 to reach the Coleman Lake aid station. If your crew intends to go to Coleman Lake, they must come in from the east (Georgia) side. See the map link below for directions.
Distance Between: Hill Top Blue Trail to Coleman Lake Aid & Sleep Station – 14.60 Miles, Cumulative Miles 154.24
Elevation Change: Ascent – 1,843 ft., Descent – 1,922ft.
Hard Packed Dirt/Gravel Roads – 2.3 miles
Single-track Trails: Total – 12.3 miles
Section 13 - Coleman Lake to Highrock-FR 531 Aid Station - Mile 154.24 to Mile 168.72
Leave the aid station, head back to FR 553D and turn left for 100 yards. Enter the Coleman Lake Loop Trail to the Left. Cross the dam and circle around the south end of the lake. The lake will be on your right. The trail connects back into the Pinhoti Trail. Runners will continue on single-track trails all the way to Highrock Aid Station at mile 168.72 on FS Road 531.
Distance Between: Coleman Lake to Highrock Aid Station – 14.48 Miles, Cumulative Miles 168.72
Elevation Change: Ascent – 630 ft., Descent – 858 ft.
Hard Packed Dirt/Gravel Roads – 0.1 miles
Single-track Trails: Total – 14.38 miles
Section 14 - Highrock to Fay’s Blowdown Aid & Sleep Station - Mile 168.72 to Mile 180.26
The section between Highrock and Fay’s Blowdown is all on single-track trails except for about 200 yards on a gravel road and 200 yards on pavement at Pine Glen Ranger Station and Trailhead. Immediately past Pine Glen Trailhead runners will cross railroad tracks. Be careful here. Trains come through he at high speed. Follow the gravel road for 200 yards then turn left on Hwy 281 (Skiway Mountainway) for about 200 yards. Immediately after crossing over Hwy 78, runners climb over the guardrail to continue on the Pinhoti Trail.
Distance Between: Highrock to Fay’s Blowdown Aid & Sleep – 11.54 Miles, Cumulative Miles – 180.26
Elevation Change: Ascent – 1,751 ft., Descent – 1,759 ft.
Single-track Trails: Total – 11.28 miles
Section 15 - Fay’s Blowdown to Lost Gulch Aid Station - Mile 180.26 to Mile 191.99
Leave Fay’s Blowdown Aid Station heading south on Hwy 281. Cross over Interstate-20 and continue for 200 yards and follow signs directing you back onto the single-track trail on your right. After 4.1 miles, the Pinhoti crosses US Hwy 431. This is a busy road with cars traveling 40 to 50 MPH as they pass the trail crossing. The crossing is also between two curves in the road. BE CAREFUL. Cross 431 and go to your right, continuing along the paved road for perhaps 100 feet, then turn left up to the trailhead on a dirt road for about 200 yards. The trail continues straight ahead.
After about 5 miles, the trail crosses County Rd 24. This road also crosses between two sharp turns on a downhill grade. This is a tricky area for drivers. They are focused on the road not hikers or runners. Be cautious here. At CR 24, go left about 50 ft. then back right into the woods on the Pinhoti Trail. After 1.9 miles, follow signs directing you to the left 450 yards to the Lost Gulch Aid Station.
Distance Between: Fay’s Blowdown to Lost Gulch Aid Station – 11.73 Miles, Cumulative Miles – 191.99
Elevation Change: Ascent – 2,149 ft., Descent – 2,327 ft.
Single-track Trails: Total – 11.23 miles
Section 16 - Lost Gulch to the FINISH at Bald Rock Lodge, Cheaha State Park - Mile 191.99 to Mile 201.03
Follow the old abandoned road for single-track trail back the way you came for 450 yards to the Pinhoti Trail. Go left for 7.55 miles to a trail split. This is where the Bald Rock Trail leaves the Pinhoti Trail. The Bald Rock Trail is 0.5 Miles long and climbs 320 feet. It ends at the 1,500 foot long Bald Rock Boardwalk. Go under the boardwalk and climb the stairs to the boardwalk. When you reach Bald Rock, take a moment to look around. The view off to the west is amazing. The banner photo we use for the Southern States 200 was taken from Bald Rock.
Follow the boardwalk to the southwest to where it ends at the Bald Rock Lodge on your left, bathrooms are on your right. The finish is at the Bald Rock Lodge.
Distance Between: Shoal Creek to Morgan Lake Aid Station – 9.04 Miles, Cumulative Miles – 201.03
Elevation Change: Ascent – 2,837 ft., Descent – 1,435 ft.
Boardwalk: 1,500 ft.
Pavement: 1 Mile
Single-track Trails: Total – 9.04 miles