The Chief Ladiga 100 returns for its fifth year on Saturday, April 11, 2026, offering a premier ultrarunning experience along the nation’s longest paved trail. Starting and finishing at the Jacksonville Community Center in Jacksonville, Alabama, this event features multiple distances: 100 miles, 50 miles, 50K, and a half marathon.
Participants will traverse the scenic Chief Ladiga Trail, experiencing wetlands, streams, forests, farmlands, and mountain vistas. The 100-mile course is an out-and-back route from Jacksonville to Nathan Dean Park in Rockmart, Georgia, and back, with a total elevation gain and loss of approximately 3,500 feet. Aid stations are strategically placed no more than 8 miles apart, and crews can access all but two of the 14 stops, making it an excellent choice for first-time 100-mile runners.
The 50-mile race starts at Germania Springs, about 3 miles from the Jacksonville Community Center, extending to the state line and returning. The 50K is a point-to-point race beginning at the state line, while the half marathon starts at the Eubanks Welcome Center in Piedmont, concluding at the Jacksonville Community Center. All races commence at 7:00 AM Central Time.
