King of the Mountain
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About the race
King of the Mountain is a trail running event held at Oak Mountain State Park, North Trailhead in Pelham, Alabama on August 14, 2027. The distance is 5K (about 3.1 miles) with approximately 1,100 feet of climbing and descending over the course.
The race begins on a short service road before entering the single-track Blue Trail. After rolling uphill runners turn left onto a steep climb called Outback Highway. Following the summit there are roughly 2.5 miles of rugged trail featuring a shorter, gentler hill, several rocky top-outs, a slippery pine-straw descent, and a walk-worthy climb to the halfway water station at King's Chair. After a quarter-mile of mostly runnable trail the course tackles a final climb to Eagles Nest, then about a half mile of technical downhill that returns to Red Road for the finish. The course surface and technical descents require careful footing.
Each participant receives a headband, sticker, finisher pin, food, beer, and a Coke. Awards are limited: King and Queen. If a female wins overall she may be both King and Queen unless another female places second, in which case first overall is listed as King and second as Queen. Men are not eligible for the Queen award. Any participant who finishes in under 40 minutes receives a knighting recognition. Packet pickup is the morning of the event at North Trailhead. Registration fee is $31; registration opens October 7, 2026 and closes August 14, 2027. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
