Yonah Mountain Vertical Challenge
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Yonah Mountain Vertical Challenge (February 21-22, 2026)
The Yonah Mountain Vertical Challenge is a weekend trail race held at the Yonah Mountain Trailhead in Cleveland, GA. The event offers multiple ways to participate:
- 5,000 ft of climbing - roughly 25 km
- 10,000 ft of climbing - roughly 50 km
- Double Up - both events, roughly 15,000 ft and 75 km
- Tag Team - two-person relay for the 10,000 ft / 50 km option
This is presented as the third annual running of the event. The race format uses repeated out-and-back summit laps to achieve the advertised distance and vertical gain.
Course, logistics and rules
The course follows the Yonah Mountain hiking trail to the summit and an overlook. Trail surfaces include dirt/gravel double-track near the summit, rocky and rooty sections, and a few places that require scrambling over boulders. The race begins with a short out-and-back on a gravel road to thin the field before entering the trail. Participants may encounter hikers on the course.
A full aid station is provided at the main trailhead and will be passed after each repeat, roughly every five miles; a partial aid or water/safety check may be available near the summit. The event is cup-less; participants must carry a bottle, bladder, or collapsible cup and a waterproof shell or jacket. Hiking poles are allowed. Start/finish are in the main gravel parking lot at Mt Yonah; parking space is limited and volunteers will direct parking. Personal pop-up tents or tables are not allowed at the trailhead, and no pacers or crew are permitted on the trail. An after-party is hosted at NoFo Brew Co, about two miles from the trailhead. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
