The Mid South 50 course preview
The 2026 The Mid South 50 course is 54.8 mi (88.2 km) and finishes where it starts, with 3,876 ft of climbing. RideMorrow finds 19 distinct climbs and 20 descents; the listed climbs account for 46% of the total ascent, and the rest comes from shorter rollers. The hardest climb by FIETS score starts at 3.8 mi: 0.50 mi at an average 3.4%, peaking at 5.5% over 100 m. The longest is 0.70 mi, starting at 9.2 mi. The second quarter holds the most climbing (27%).
- Distance
- 54.8 mi88.2 km
- Elevation gain
- 3,876 ft1,181 m
- Climbs
- 1920 descents
- Steepest 100 m
- 9.8%On a listed climb
- Corners
- 4018 technical
- High point
- 1,138 ftLow 852 ft
Elevation profile
Shaded: every listed climb. Numbered: the hardest.The 5 hardest climbs
Ranked by FIETS score- 1Climb 1 · from 3.8 mi0.50 mi · 90 ft up · 3.4% average, 5.5% steepest0.1
- 2Climb 2 · from 9.2 mi0.70 mi · 127 ft up · 3.4% average, 7.1% steepest0.1
- 3Climb 3 · from 10.5 mi0.38 mi · 98 ft up · 4.9% average, 8.5% steepest0.1
- 4Climb 4 · from 11.5 mi0.70 mi · 112 ft up · 3.0% average, 9.8% steepest0.1
- 5Climb 5 · from 13.5 mi0.57 mi · 88 ft up · 2.9% average, 4.4% steepest0.1
Every climb, in ride order
19 climbs · top 5 highlighted| Climb | Starts at | Length | Elevation gain | Avg grade | Steepest 100 m | FIETS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3.8 mi | 0.50 mi | 90 ft | 3.4% | 5.5% | 0.1 |
| 2 | 9.2 mi | 0.70 mi | 127 ft | 3.4% | 7.1% | 0.1 |
| 3 | 10.5 mi | 0.38 mi | 98 ft | 4.9% | 8.5% | 0.1 |
| 4 | 11.5 mi | 0.70 mi | 112 ft | 3.0% | 9.8% | 0.1 |
| 5 | 13.5 mi | 0.57 mi | 88 ft | 2.9% | 4.4% | 0.1 |
| 6 | 15.6 mi | 0.65 mi | 103 ft | 3.0% | 6.3% | 0.1 |
| 7 | 18.7 mi | 0.46 mi | 70 ft | 2.9% | 6.1% | 0.1 |
| 8 | 19.6 mi | 0.30 mi | 73 ft | 4.6% | 7.9% | 0.1 |
| 9 | 21.5 mi | 0.57 mi | 112 ft | 3.7% | 7.6% | 0.1 |
| 10 | 22.5 mi | 0.42 mi | 85 ft | 3.8% | 6.4% | 0.1 |
| 11 | 27.9 mi | 0.52 mi | 90 ft | 3.3% | 6.4% | 0.1 |
| 12 | 31.7 mi | 0.62 mi | 111 ft | 3.4% | 7.4% | 0.1 |
| 13 | 35.3 mi | 0.62 mi | 121 ft | 3.7% | 7.9% | 0.1 |
| 14 | 36.4 mi | 0.44 mi | 91 ft | 3.9% | 7.3% | 0.1 |
| 15 | 37.4 mi | 0.27 mi | 67 ft | 4.7% | 8.4% | 0.1 |
| 16 | 38.8 mi | 0.54 mi | 92 ft | 3.2% | 4.6% | 0.1 |
| 17 | 43.5 mi | 0.53 mi | 97 ft | 3.4% | 9.4% | 0.1 |
| 18 | 45.1 mi | 0.29 mi | 70 ft | 4.7% | 5.5% | 0.1 |
| 19 | 47.5 mi | 0.29 mi | 69 ft | 4.5% | 8.1% | 0.1 |
Descents
20 descents drop 1,739 ft in total. The steepest:
- Descent 17 · from 43.2 mi 0.25 mi at 6.8% average, 10.3% at its steepest
- Descent 19 · from 46.2 mi 0.53 mi at 3.6% average, 10.2% at its steepest
- Descent 8 · from 21.2 mi 0.25 mi at 5.3% average, 9.1% at its steepest
- Descent 3 · from 10.9 mi 0.37 mi at 5.1% average, 8.5% at its steepest
- Descent 15 · from 35.9 mi 0.47 mi at 4.1% average, 8.5% at its steepest
Corners
40 corners detected from the course geometry, 6 of them on a descent.
- 2 Very technical
- 16 Technical
- 19 Moderate
- 3 Gentle
Technical corners on descents
- 12.5 mi 57° right bend on a 6.9% approach · Technical
- 13.5 mi 64° right bend on a 3.1% approach · Technical
- 27.7 mi 51° right bend on a 5.3% approach · Technical
- 27.7 mi 50° left bend on a 4.8% approach · Technical
- 44.9 mi 38° right bend on a 5.2% approach · Technical
- 45.0 mi 31° left bend on a 4.2% approach · Technical
Corners describe the line on the map, not road conditions. Sightlines, grip and traffic aren't known.
The Mid South 50 course FAQ
How much climbing is in the The Mid South 50?
3,876 ft (1,181 m) over 54.8 mi, measured from the organizer's course file with the elevation smoothed and small fluctuations ignored. Other tools may show a different total because they count every small rise.
How many climbs does the The Mid South 50 have?
19 climbs of at least 300 m with 20 m of elevation change and a 2% average grade, plus shorter rollers. Together the listed climbs gain 1,765 ft.
What is the hardest climb in the The Mid South 50?
Climb 1, starting at 3.8 mi: 0.50 mi gaining 90 ft at an average 3.4%. Its FIETS score is 0.1.
What is the longest climb in the The Mid South 50?
Climb 2, 0.70 mi from 9.2 mi, averaging 3.4%.
How steep does the The Mid South 50 get?
The steepest 100 m on a listed climb averages 9.8%. Grades are measured over 100 m, so short ramps can be steeper.
Where does this course data come from?
From the course The Mid South publishes on its official site (https://www.midsouthgravel.com/routes/50mile), retrieved 2026-10-12. Organizers change courses, so check their site before the event.
Source and method
Course: Mid South 2026 50 Mile, published by The Mid South. Retrieved 2026-10-12. RideMorrow is not affiliated with the event. Organizers change courses, so check the official site before the event.
Elevation comes from the route file, resampled every 10 m and smoothed. Climbs and descents need at least 300 m of length, 20 m of elevation change and a 2% average grade. Grades are measured over 100 m. Climbs are ranked by FIETS score: height² ÷ (length × 10), both in metres, without the index's high-altitude bonus. A score of 1 is a solid climb; 5 and above is a mountain pass. Weather, surface conditions, traffic and closures are not included.
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