Great Alabama 650

The longest paddle race in the United States. Ask the finishers if it’s hard. See the racers cross the state: Sept 21 - Oct 1, 2024, Weiss Lake to Ft. Morgan ?? ?? Twenty paddlers from across the globe converge on Alabama for the 6th edition of the Alabama Scenic River Trail’s Great Alabama 650 race. Professional paddlers will face whitewater, battle tidewater currents, and traverse around nine dams in this 650-mile adventure-style race. Kicking off in Northeast Alabama at Weiss Lake on Sept 21 spectators can cheer for racers on riverbanks in Gadsden, Pell City, Wetumpka, Montgomery, Selma, Fairhope, and more. The course is the core section of the Alabama Scenic River Trail, which as an organization, has 6,300 miles of river trails across the state. The ASRT extends from Weiss Lake in North Alabama to the Gulf at Ft. Morgan. Racers have ten days to finish the 650-mile race and can use kayaks, canoes, or stand-up paddleboards interchangeably throughout the event. Spectators can also follow virtually at AL650.com, where ASRT will post a live map reporting up-to-the-minute updates on each racer's progress.