Below is a profile of the Cheaha Challenge course from Piedmont to Adam's Gap (51 miles into the ride). For those riding the whole 102-mile course, you ride to Adam's Gap and turn around and follow the same course back to Piedmont. All those 55 mph downhills on the way out are now steep uphill grunts on the way back. Amazingly, the vistas/scenery on the way back to Piedmont is not redundant. On the way to Adam's Gap you had your back to some jaw-dropping views in the Talladega National Forest. For those doing shorter routes, you can get an idea of out and back elevations, as well. Special thanks to club member John Hanvey for producing this elevation profile! Of course, John should know the course well. He has completed the full Cheaha Challenge route every year since it started (that's 12--going on 13)!
Start to the 51 Mile Turnaround
)
The ride begins in Piedmont, Alabama. The terrain of the Cheaha Challenge course is rolling hills for the first 21 miles. The route then follows The Talladega Scenic Drive for approximately 30 miles-all of which is in the national forest with very little traffic, no dogs, no turns, no stop signs, no houses, and no traffic lights. It is in this section that riders are treated to beautiful vistas of the mountains and valleys in this region. See the map below for more details.
- From the Start, travel .2 miles to dead end and turn left
- At approx. .7 mile dead-end and turn left on AL Hwy. 9 (South)
- At approx. 1.2 miles Hwy. 9 turns sharp left
- At approx. 12 miles is Rest Stop #1 on the left at BP station
- At approx. 22 miles, dead-end at Hwy 78 and turn left (East) and begin climbing Heflin Mountain
- At approx. 23.5 miles turn left onto Hwy 281 before overpass bridge and continue climb of Heflin Mountain
- Rest Stop # 2 is immediately on your left after this turn
- At approx. 32 miles is the first steep climb-Horseblock Mountain
- At approx. 33 miles is Rest Stop #3 on the right at the top of climb
- After fast one mile decent of Horseblock, begin one-mile ascent of next steep climb referred to by locals as..."Not Again."
- Crest Not Again at approx. mile 35 and travel rolling terrain
- At approx. mile 37 begin one-mile ascent of what we call "Oh Shift."
- At approx. mile 37 begin one-mile ascent of what we call "Oh Shift."
- At approx. mile 41 begin the 3-mile ascent to Cheaha State Park
- Rest Stop #4 is at mile 44 at the top on your left. No rider allowed past this point after 12:30pm.
- Descend Cheaha and travel fast rolling hills
- At approx. mile 49 begin ascent of Adam's Gap.
- At crest of Adam's Gap at mile 51 is Rest Stop #5 where the pavement ends.
