Mountain Mist 50K 2027 Guide: Course, Cutoffs, Aid and Entry
Quick answer: Mountain Mist 50K 2027 is on Saturday, January 23, 2027, starting at 7:00 AM in front of the Monte Sano State Park Lodge in Huntsville, Alabama. The course is 31.1 miles with about 4,300 ft of climbing, and the time limit is 9 hours 30 minutes. Everyone has to be off the course by 4:30 PM under state park rules. There are three cutoffs on the way, and six aid stations. The longest gap between them is about 7 miles. Registration is open on UltraSignup, capped at 525 runners. The fee rises after October 31, 2026, and there are no refunds, transfers, deferrals or race-day entries.
Mountain Mist 50K 2027 at a glance
| Date and start | Saturday, January 23, 2027, 7:00 AM CST |
|---|---|
| Start and finish | Monte Sano State Park Lodge, Huntsville, AL |
| Distance and climb | 31.1 miles, about 4,300 ft of gain (4,383 ft on the race chart) |
| Time limit | 9:30, with the course closed at 4:30 PM |
| Aid | 6 stations on course: water, Powerade, Coke products, candy, pretzels, oranges |
| Field | 525 runners |
| Entry | $90 base fee ($106.73 with fees), rising to $110 ($131.19) after October 31; closes January 16, 2027 |
| Headphones | Strongly discouraged |
| Organizer | Huntsville Track Club (33rd running) |
Source: Mountain Mist 50K UltraSignup listing, read October 28, 2026.
The course in three parts
- Monte Sano plateau (miles 0 to 14): Rocky single-track across the state park, past O'Shaughnessy Point (mile 4.3) and Closed Bankhead (mile 11.4), to the Oak Park ball fields (mile 14).
- The Land Trust (miles 14 to 25): The course moves onto the Huntsville Land Trust trails, out to the Land Trust station (mile 20) and on to Trough Springs (mile 25). This section has the climb up the Waterline Trail, which the race says takes upper-body effort as well as legs.
- McKay Hollow (miles 25 to 31.1): The last 6 miles drop into McKay Hollow and climb back out, past Rest Shelter Hill (mile 29.5) and up to the Lodge.
Expect rocks, mud and creek crossings. A course GPX is linked on the UltraSignup page. Our guide to reading a course profile shows how to use it to plan your pace.
Cutoffs
| Mile | Location | Elapsed | Clock |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14.0 | Oak Park Ball Fields | 3:50 | 10:50 AM |
| 20.2 | Land Trust | 5:40 | 12:40 PM |
| 25.2 | Trough Springs | 7:15 | 2:15 PM |
| 31.1 | Finish, Monte Sano Lodge | 9:30 | 4:30 PM |
Runners who miss a cutoff are pulled from the course. The elapsed times are our arithmetic from the 7:00 AM start. Of the four cutoffs, Oak Park needs the fastest average pace. It gives you 14 miles in 3 hours 50 minutes, about 16:26 per mile. If you run an even pace aimed at a 9:30 finish, you'll reach Oak Park at around 4:17 elapsed and miss the cutoff by almost half an hour. Back-of-pack runners need to bank time on the first 14 miles.
Water, aid and what to carry
The race recommends carrying at least one bottle of fluid the whole way. Here are the gaps between aid stations, from the listed mileages:
- Start to O'Shaughnessy Point: 4.3 miles
- O'Shaughnessy Point to Closed Bankhead: 7.1 miles, the longest gap on the course
- Closed Bankhead to Oak Park: 2.6 miles
- Oak Park to Land Trust: about 6 miles
- Land Trust to Trough Springs: about 5 miles
- Trough Springs to Rest Shelter Hill: 4.5 miles
- Rest Shelter Hill to the finish: 1.6 miles
The 7.1-mile gap from O'Shaughnessy Point to Closed Bankhead is rocky single-track, and at 13 minutes per mile it takes about an hour and a half. Plan water by the time it takes to reach the next refill, not by mileage. Our trail water guide walks through the math. The race's list of aid station food doesn't include gels, so carry your own fuel.
- The LECAMO ROOT5 ships with two 500ml wide-mouth soft flasks (1 liter). On a cool day that should cover the 7-mile stretch, with room for gels, a phone and a light layer to take off once you warm up. Soft flasks shrink as you drink, so there is less water moving around on the Waterline climb.
- If you want to carry a full shell and gloves for a cold, wet morning, the ROOT8 gives you 8 liters and ships with the same two flasks.
Compare sizes on the trail packs page.
Cold, ice and daylight
The race warns that temperatures can range anywhere from 10°F to 70°F. The race may be cancelled for snow and ice, and that decision belongs to the Huntsville Track Club board. Layering is the key decision of the day. A typical setup is a light shell over a long-sleeve top at the start, with gloves stored in an easy-to-reach pocket. Our guides cover cold-weather layering and getting to your gloves in a vest.
By our calculation, sunrise in Huntsville on January 23 is about 6:50 AM and sunset is about 5:06 PM. That means you start in daylight and the 4:30 PM course close comes before dark, so you don't need a headlamp.
Packet pickup, entry rules and conduct
- Packet pickup: Friday, January 22, from 12:00 to 8:00 PM, at the Monte Sano Lodge. Late pickup is race morning from 5:30 to 6:30 AM at the Lodge.
- Entry: Registration opened October 1 and closes January 16, 2027, at 11:59 PM CT, or earlier if all 525 places sell out. Once it's full, you can only get in if someone withdraws. There are no refunds, transfers or deferrals, and no race-day entries.
- Endurance background: Race management can turn down runners who don't have an appropriate endurance background.
- Not allowed on course: Bicycles, animals, rollerblades, unauthorized vehicles and unentered runners.
- Medical and rescue: Local rescue teams provide medical and evacuation help on course.
Getting ready for after the race? See our finish bag checklist.
A little history
The 2027 race is the 33rd Mountain Mist. The race listing calls it one of the Southeast's oldest and largest trail runs. If it will be your first ultra, our guide to picking your first ultramarathon and our 50K training plan are good places to start.
FAQ
When is Mountain Mist 50K 2027?
Saturday, January 23, 2027, at 7:00 AM, at the Monte Sano State Park Lodge in Huntsville, Alabama.
What is the Mountain Mist time limit?
9 hours 30 minutes. The course closes at 4:30 PM.
What are the cutoffs?
The cutoffs are Oak Park Ball Fields at 10:50 AM (mile 13.97), Land Trust at 12:40 PM (mile 20.23), Trough Springs at 2:15 PM (mile 25.2) and the finish at 4:30 PM (mile 31.08).
How much does Mountain Mist cost?
$90 plus fees until October 31, 2026, then $110 plus fees. There are no refunds, transfers or deferrals.
Do I need a headlamp?
No. Sunset is about 5:06 PM, after the 4:30 PM course close.
Can I wear headphones?
The race strongly discourages them.
LECAMO is not affiliated with the Mountain Mist 50K or the Huntsville Track Club. Sunrise and sunset times are our own calculation, and the gaps between aid stations are worked out from the race's listed mileages. Source: Mountain Mist 50K UltraSignup listing. Read October 28, 2026.