Southern States 200
March 19th thru 23rd, 2025
aka THE PINHOTI 200
The Southern States 200 takes place on National Forest Lands. The run will cross through the Chattahoochee and Talladega National Forests.
The Southern States 200 will end in Cheaha State Park, the “Top of Alabama.” Lodging is available at the Bald Rock Inn, steps from the finish.
Pete Schreiner’s awesome photos from the 2024 Southern States 200 Mile Endurance Run
Race Date -March 19 - 23, 2025
THE SOUTHERN STATES 200 is the only known POINT-TO-POINT, 200-MILE MOUNTAIN TRIAL RACE east of the Rockies. The run will follow the Legendary Pinhoti Trail from Georgia to Alabama.
The run will be 203.14 miles begins at Mill Creek, near Dalton, Georgia and ends on top of Mt. Cheaha, the highest point in Alabama. The Southern States 200 is the only 200 Mile, point-to-point Mountain Trail Run East of the Rockies. Total elevation gain will be 27,933 feet. The course will be fully marked with prismatic reflective flags, ribbons, and signs. Runners will have 96 hours to complete the journey. We will provide 15 full aid stations and one minimal or water only aid station. Each with cooked-to-order, hot food, day and night. Five of the full aid stations are also Sleep Stations. Each sleep station will have crew access. We will also have sleeping pads and sleeping bags at each aid station after High Point, GA. Just in case some runners “need to sleep” doesn’t match the sleep stations. We will have medical personnel at most aid stations. Twelve of the aid stations will allow dropbags. All aid stations except John’s Mountain and Lost Gulch, may be crew accessible.
THE SOUTHERN STATES 200 TRAINING CAMP
We have exciting news! On January 11th and 12th, 2025, we will host a Southern States 200 (and 100!) training camp at Cheaha State Park in Alabama, the finish location of the SS200.
The training camp will be in three segments that give you two previews of the course (including the final climb to the highest point in Alabama!) and an afternoon full of successful 200 mile finishers who will tell you everything you need to know to finish the 200. Sunday morning, we will preview a second section of the course.
Registration fee: $150.00 - We will provide transportation to both course preview runs, lunch Saturday, happy hour and dinner Saturday evening, donuts and coffee Saturday and Sunday morning, (Some call it a “continental” breakfast.) and SWAG including a Southern States drybag, a “Training for the Southern States 200” shirt, and more. The course will be limited to 30 participants.
We strongly recommend that all first-time 200 milers attend this camp. We also encourage anyone that is thinking about running the 200 to attend. The course is open to all. Not just registered runners.
The Southern States 200 is an Endurance Adventure
The Southern States 200 is not a race. We want to emphasize that this is an awe-inspiring journey where the focus is on personal challenge, camaraderie, and self-discovery, rather than a traditional race with a competitive spirit. As you venture through the scenic and rugged landscapes, we encourage you to savor every moment, taking in the beauty of nature, pushing your limits, and supporting your fellow runners along the way. It's about testing your endurance, mental strength, and perseverance rather than striving for victory or rankings. Embrace the joy of running, embrace the journey, and remember that it's not about who finishes first, but rather the shared passion for exploration and the bond that forms between runners as they tackle this incredible adventure together. Let the trail guide you to new heights and may the memories you create on this trail run last a lifetime.
About the Southern States 200
The Southern States 200 was designed to ensure your success. No 200 mile run is easy. The Southern States 200 will certainly be difficult. BUT, Consider this. The 2024 SS200 had an 86% finish rate. I know of no hundred mile race with such a high finish rate. But in a 200 mile race!!! And every finisher was hours ahead of cutoff.
The run starts in the mountains of north Georgia and has some significant climbs. Virtually the entire Alabama section is on single or double track trails. The mid-section of the run will be more forgiving. The section after the High Point Chattahoochee (Georgia) Aid Station to Huffaker Rd is all on rail-trails with no paved sections. The section from Coosa to Cave Spring is on back roads. A couple of miles past Cave Spring, it’s back to mountain trails.
We have placed aid stations at strategic locations along the course. Each aid station will be serving an amazing selection of made-to-order food along with all the standard aid station fare. We will serve real Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner at all aid stations with Veggie and Vegan options. All night, hot food will be available. We will have heated Sleep Stations at five of the Aid Station locations, mile 69, 101, 122, 158 and 183. Each sleep station will have a covered sleeping area with sleeping pads and sleeping bags. As you enter, tell the volunteer how long you want to sleep, and they will send you on your way at the designated hour. We will also have a few sleeping bags and pads at non sleep stations beyond the first sleep station at High Point, Georgia.
Our goal is your success. We promise to do everything in our power to help you accomplish your goal. We pledge to make your 200 mile run an experience you will never forget. We hope your run will be Fun! However, all those beautiful hills become steeper and longer with each successive mile. Those gentle rails-to-trails paths will become endless. That final climb to Cheaha may feel like you are climbing Everest. If you have put in enough training hours and miles, if you have mentally prepared yourself for the demand this run will put on your body, you can do it.
We will encourage you, push you, help you, and even yell at you if necessary, to get you to the end. We might even let you rest occasionally. If you are ready, you can do it. For experienced 100 mile runners, the Southern States 200 is no “Walk in the Park.” Just think about the last 100 you ran. Now imagine turning around at the end and running back to the start. That’s exactly what you are doing!
Here are a few course statistics:
Single or Double Track Trails - The Southern States 200 course in about 84% single track trails or double track trails with little or no vehicle access. Many of the double track trails were double track at some point in the past but are now single track.
Paved Road Sections - The run starts on a two mile paved road section. The next actual road section is at East Armuchee after Dry Creek Aid Station. Runners will be on East Armuchee Rd. for about two hundred yards before turning right on Manning Mill Rd for one mile. At West Armuchee Rd, you will turn left on Armuchee road for two hundred yards then go right onto the Narrows Road for 2 miles. So far there have been on 5 miles of pavement in 50.12 miles. There are no more road sections until mile 81.8 where runners reach Huffaker Rd.
Huffaker Rd is at the end of the Simms Mountain Rail-Trail. Runners will be on paved roads for 2.5 miles to the Huffaker Aid Station. Now come the long road section from Huffaker to Cave Spring. This section is 17.12 miles. We will have a water station on Black’s Bluff Rd about 9.5 miles past Huffaker Aid Station. After Cave Spring, runners are on Old Cave Spring Rd. 2.11 Miles. There are no more road sections in the SS200. That is a total of 26.7 miles or 13.1% of the run that is on pavement.
Packed Dirt or Gravel Roads - After the start, runners will be on a gravel road about 1/2 mile before starting up the double track (old abandoned forest road) to join the Pinhoti Trail. On the way to John’s Mountain you will be on a gravel road for 1/2 mile to Keown Falls Parking lot. After leaving the John’s Mountain Aid Station you will be on a gravel road 0.51 mile. Total, 1.51 miles on gravel.
After crossing over West Armuchee you will be on a section of gravel road and several sections of double track to Mack White Gap Aid Station. I would guess about a mile of dirt/gravel roads. After Mack White you are on gravel roads for a mile or so, then double track or shingle track all the way to High Point. Total 2.51 miles of gravel road.
There are no more gravel roads until you reach CR 500, 8.03 miles past Low Point Aid Station at mile 137.83. From there, runners will be on a packed gravel road for 5.32 miles to the Hill Top Blue Aid Station at mile. After leaving Hilltop Blue, runners are on doubletrack trails for 3.27 miles. They will be back on a gravel road for 2.57 more miles. There are no more gravel road sections. Total Packed Dirt or Gravel Roads: 10.40 Miles.
In Summation:
Single or Double Track Trails - 166.00 Miles or 81.73%
Packed Dirt or Gravel Roads - 10.40 Miles or 5.12%
Paved Roads - 26.70 Miles or 13.15%
2025 Southern States Distance and Elevation
Dropbag Aid Stations and Crew Accessible Aid Stations
Pinhoti Outdoor Center
Southern States 200 Podcasts
A message from Ashlie Ithurburn, 1st Place Female in the Southern States 200, Finish time - 67:25:00
Apr 19, 2024, 10:34 AM
David and Mary Jo,
I just wanted to take a moment to thank you for all the hard work you put into this last weekend. It was truly incredible and I am still struggling to find the words to explain it all.
For what it's worth, so many aspects of this race far exceeded my expectations. It was the most beautiful collaboration of so many in the trail community of Georgia and Alabama. Wherever I went I felt like I was with family - even if I didn't recognize a single face.
Aid Stations were incredible. I felt so spoiled and undeservingly pampered from AS 1 to the very last. The responsiveness, eagerness to help fill a water bladder of flask, encouragement and creativity with getting food in my system and sending me off with a smile. I cried on more than one occasion leaving those stations.
I know it was a much smaller field, but I find there to be no comparison in help, aid and support from “----- 200.” Y'all win - and as we know, those “western race companies” have so many resources. It's a testament to y'all and to the trail community here. People stepped up and saved the day, in the most selfless ways.
I also wanted to comment that the course was breathtaking. I knew it would be, but good golly the little details and diligence to make sure that we as runners got to see every viewpoint and vista the course had to offer. I was blown away.
Another huge accolade is for the photographers! I have messaged and thanked Pete already, but sheesh. He was incredible. He was so kind and enthusiastic every time we saw him. He even pulled off on the side of the road section where Naji and I were running to grab a few pictures of the moment. The kindest and most talented soul.
I could go on and on and I'm sure I'll remember more things I was impressed by, but didn't want to close out the week without thanking the two of you. Your love and passion for the sport is contagious and while I'm sure you are still recovering yourselves, I hope you feel so much joy and contentment in a job well done. I for one am so grateful for the blood, sweat and tears you poured into every detail.
See you both on the trails soon!
Peace,
Ashlie Ithurburn
10,548 views Apr 28, 2024
The inaugural Southern States 200 is one of only a couple of point to point 200 mile endurance runs in the entire United States. The Southern States 200 starts just outside Dalton, Georgia and runs in a southerly direction along the Pinhoti Trail, a National Recreation Trail, until it reaches the finish line at the top of Mount Cheaha, the highest point in Alabama. Over the course of the race, runners cover a total of nearly 30,000 feet of elevation gain. The course consists of a variety of single track trail, jeep roads, forest service roads and some paved roads.
This event will quickly become a classic 200 miler in the US. In fact, I would not be surprised if they will have to move to a lottery system within just a couple of years. The race organizers did an excellent job. All aid stations provided ample food and drink choices, medical staff was on hand to assist with any issues that arose. In fact, I was in need of such assistance at one point during the race and the medic did an excellent job taking care of my feet and keeping me going all the way to the finish.
This was my fifth race of 200 miles or longer and it did not disappoint in any way. I love adventure runs or journey runs and this one definitely qualifies. No multiple loops, no contrived course, just 200 miles from point A to point B along a beautiful course with both challenging as well as quite runnable sections. Please feel free to ask any questions you may have about this race in the comments below the video. I hope you enjoy! Huge Shoutout to Pete Schreiner @Schreiner Trail Photography for the amazing on course photos he took of runners all week. Some of them are featured in my video.
Martin Schneekloth
We have again reserved the beautiful Bald Rock Lodge located at the finish of the Southern States 200
The lodge is located at the finish of the SS200, just steps from the finishing arch. Immediately after they finish, runners that reserve a room, can enter the lodge through the patio and go straight to their room for a shower and a little well earned sleep. We are working on a way to have rooms available for finishing runners that can be reserved for one night after finishing. Rooms may also be reserved in advance. Details to come.
The Bald Rock Lodge
BALD ROCK LODGE ROOMS WILL BE AVAILABLE SOON
Here is a good video about Cheaha State Park, the finish location of the Southern States 200. This video is by Bradley Gann, owner of EagleFilm. Click on the image below to see the YouTube Video.
