Reputation: Regional SC event.
[01]
Course Overview
The hardest course in the Southeast Gravel series — Winding Stairs and the Chattooga.
72 mi
Distance
7,300 ft
Elevation
Walhalla, South Carolina
Location
April 24 (Saturday pattern; 2026 ran Apr 25), 2027
Date
~200
Field Size
$85
Entry Cost
MORE IN SOUTH CAROLINA: Gravel Battle of Sumter Forest · Hellhole Gravel Grind Stage Race · Swamp Fox Gravel Fondo
Facts & History
[03]
The Course
Photo: YouTube / Alex Runge
Photo: YouTube / Alex RungeSoutheast Gravel's hardest course: Long 72mi/~7,300ft (RideWithGPS official route 73.0mi/+7,231ft), Short 48mi/4,700ft, Fun 20mi. Start/finish on Walhalla Main St (~1,025ft), traffic-free gravel, signature ~30-minute climb up Winding Stairs Rd from Lake Cherokee, scenic Chattooga River stretch. Staggered starts by distance (Long 9:00). Aid at mile 19.3. PRIOR PROFILE 65mi/5,500ft matched no real option — corrected 2026-07-13.
Signature challenge: Winding Stairs: a roughly 30-minute climb up steep gravel from Lake Cherokee, in the early miles of the course.
19.3
MILE
Aid Station 1
First aid stop; the Winding Stairs climb from Lake Cherokee (~30 min, steep gravel) comes in the early miles of the course, before this stop.
57.5
MILE
Aid Station 2
Second and final aid stop. The Chattooga River stretch and the remaining escarpment grades sit between here and the Main Street finish in Walhalla.
RIDERS REPORT
Winding Stair Climb
A roughly four-mile climb that takes over 20 minutes and is the pivotal moment that breaks up the race. Riders say this is where winners rise to the top. The climb starts with a left turn across a bridge where the action kicks off and power immediately goes up as people try to break away.
[04]
From the Field
This is the winding stair climb which is the part of the race I was most excited about. It is roughly four miles and it took a little over 20 minutes to complete and I knew that this was really going to be the moment that broke up this race and the winners would kind of rise to the top.
Zebulon Ramsbotham · 1.5K views
Unfortunately this guy I think his name was barry on the right right there you can see him swing out and he just rode away and by all accounts from talking to people after the race his speed on the climb was pretty ridiculous. I'm really glad I didn't stick with it here I was monitoring my power I was looking at my heart rate I knew if I went any deeper chances are I wouldn't be able to recover well.
Zebulon Ramsbotham · 1.5K views
I paced myself really well on this climb. In the past I found that I tend to try and stick with the leaders but this time I was more realistic. I know that I'm not as strong as guys like Dylan Johnson but I knew that if I just ride at my own pace over the course of this climb hopefully I'll end up in a group fighting it out for a place on the podium and that is essentially what happened.
Zebulon Ramsbotham · 1.5K views
RACER
Racer Reviews
Raced Race to Valhalla? Be the first to rate it.
[07]
Training
April 24, 2027 RACE TO VALHALLA
[08]
Train for Race to Valhalla
RACE DEMAND PROFILE
Durability
2
Climbing
7
VO2 Power
4
Threshold
6
Technical
6
Heat
1
Altitude
2
Race Specificity
6
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[09]
Race Logistics
Airport
Greenville (GSP) 45 minutes or Atlanta (ATL) 1.5 hours
Lodging
Walhalla has limited lodging options.
Food
Small town with limited dining. Stock nutrition.
Packet Pickup
Day before typically
Parking
At start/finish
RIDERS REPORT
Don't try to stick with the leaders on the Winding Stair climb if you're not at that level - pace yourself realistically and ride at your own pace. You can catch and pass people who went out too hard by maintaining steady power and not blowing up early.
[10]
Tire Picks
42mmMIXED
1
IRC Boken Double Cross
Underrated mixed-terrain tire. Fast center with confident shoulder grip.
2
Specialized Pathfinder Pro
Fast center, grippy edges. The modern all-rounder benchmark.
3
Panaracer GravelKing SK
Affordable all-rounder. Light knobs add grip without killing speed.
FRONT/REAR SPLIT Panaracer GravelKing TLC 43mm / IRC Boken Double Cross 42mmFaster front for reduced rolling resistance on straights, grippier rear for traction on loose climbs and corners
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Similar Races
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the climate like at Race to Valhalla?
Late April timing hits "the best time to ride in the Carolinas" with "temps cool to start and won't be too hot yet." But spring weather in the mountains means anything from perfect conditions to cold rain with zero predictability. More weather exposure than Belgian Waffle Ride San Diego.[1]
How are the logistics for Race to Valhalla?
Registration stays open until 9 AM race morning, which edistoed calls "incredibly welcoming" but screams last-minute scramble. The course includes private Coppermine Road that you can't pre-ride, with organizers warning "DO NOT ride Coppermine road" until race day.[1]
How adventurous is Race to Valhalla?
Private roads like Coppermine that you can only access on race day, plus 30-minute climbs on Winding Stairs Road deliver the suffer-fest most gravel races promise. Long gravel roads "with no traffic" along the Chattooga River create exploration opportunities.[1]
How prestigious is Race to Valhalla?
Part of the Southeast Gravel Series with 267 total finishers in 2025, but lacks the elite field depth of major events. One participant notes it's "a real test" with "scenery and no traffic," though it remains regional in scope.[4]
Should I race Race to Valhalla?
If you're in South Carolina and want a mountain event—yes, it's solid. If you're from out of state—there are better options.
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Sources & Citations
Research sources used to build this race profile. Always verify details with official race sources before making travel or registration decisions.
- Route Maps RideWithGPS: Official SEG The Race to Valhalla long courseridewithgps.com/routes/36682023
- Other Sources Southeastgravelwww.southeastgravel.com/race-to-valhalla
- Community webscorer.com: Racewww.webscorer.com/race?raceid=387568&groupid=385552
- Community webscorer.com: Resultswww.webscorer.com/results?raceid=387568&cycle=1