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Cohutta Red EyeA Summer Solstice Overnight Bikepacking Challenge
Ride into the shortest night of the year.
Cohutta Red Eye is a self-supported, overnight bikepacking event that celebrates equal parts grit, stubbornness, beauty, and questionable decision-making. Held on Summer Solstice weekend, riders take on a rugged loop through the Cohutta backcountry—either by day, by night, or both—earning their finish under headlamp glow or blazing sun.
This is not a race.
There is no SAG.
There is no easy button.
It is an unforgettable ride through remote forest roads, long climbs, quiet darkness, tired legs, and the kind of stories you only get from doing something slightly ridiculous with good people.
Ride Options:
Choose your flavor of suffering:
🌞 Day Option
Saturday | Rollout 6:00 AM
Ride the loop clockwise.
🌙 Night Option
Saturday | Rollout 8:00 PM
Ride counter-clockwise.
💀 Double Red Eye (Optional Flex)
You can ride both day and night. Complete both within 24 hours and earn a special piece of custom artwork.
Each option is limited to 25 riders.
Route & Format:
Self-supported bikepacking loop through the Cohutta Wilderness area (based on the Cohutta Death March Route, but with some tweaks!)
No SAG or sweep
Riders must be fully prepared to navigate, repair, hydrate, and feed themselves on route
You may withdraw at any time
Pickup is available for a fee if needed (standard Mulberry Gap shuttle rates apply)
At minimum, resupply is available at Mulberry Gap when you complete the loop.
Time Limits, Patches & Prizes
No hard cutoff — everyone who completes the route earns an official finish.
12-hour challenge window:
Finish within 12 hours → earn the official Cohutta Red Eye patch (day or night version)
Finish outside 12 hours → official finish, no patch
Bonus Suffering Option
Add two fire tower climbs to your route.
Complete them and finish within 12 hours and you’ll earn:
A special custom artwork piece
Signed by Cohutta himself (yes, really)
Food Options (Optional Add-Ons)
Food is not automatically included in the event entry but is strongly encouraged because… calories.
All purchased meals at Mulberry Gap are prepaid, labeled, and held for you so you can eat whenever you stumble back in.
Important notes:
Friday overnight stays must include Friday dinner + Saturday breakfast
Saturday night riders must include Saturday dinner + Sunday breakfast
Day riders may add breakfast or dinner even if not staying overnight
Lodging Options:
Lodging is optional and limited.
Available both Friday and Saturday night individually:
Private Cabins
Private Camping
Car/Van Camping
Shared Group Bunkhouse (TNGA-style setup)
A Sunday day-time “recovery sleep” option will be available for overnight riders who want a few hours of real sleep before driving home for a fee.
Schedule Overview:
Friday:
Afternoon arrivals
6:00 PM Dinner service
Route prep, bike checks, nervous pacing
Saturday – Day Ride:
5:00 AM breakfast available to pack or scarf down
6:00 AM rollout (Day Ride Option)
Saturday Evening – Night Ride:
6:00 PM Dinner service (or it will be in the fridge for you whenever you roll through)
8:00 PM rollout (Night Ride Option)
Sunday:
8:30 AM Breakfast service (or it will be in the fridge for you whenever you roll through). It’ll be a feast since it’s also Father’s Day.
Finishers roll in
Day time recovery naps available in select cabins and campsites
Patches, bragging rights, mild hallucinations
Event Fees:
Base Event Entry: $29
Covers:
Event logistics
Patch eligibility
Custom artwork eligibility
Planning + coordination
General chaos management
Food, lodging, and parking are additional and optional.
What This Event Is (and Isn’t):
This is:
A bikepacking challenge
A personal test
A celebration of summer solstice
A very long ride with excellent vibes
This is not:
A race
Supported
Beginner-friendly
Sensible
Riders should be comfortable with long mileage, remote riding, navigation, night riding, mechanical self-sufficiency, and being alone with their thoughts for extended periods.
Registration Includes:
Official event entry
Eligibility for patches + artwork
GPX files
Pre-event rider guide
Access to food & lodging add-ons
Bragging rights forever
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
400 Mulberry Gap Rd, Ellijay, GA, United States, Georgia 30540
Tickets
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