Arabia Mountain Super Bowl (Championship) Hike

This event is organized in partnership with DeKalb County – Arabia Mountain Nature Preserve. To register, please visit the Arabia Mountain events page: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/arabia-mountain-super-bowl-championship-hike-tickets-1978306866091.

The Arabia Mountain Championship Hike is a 20-mile guided endurance trek across the full soft-trail system of Arabia Mountain Nature Preserve.. one of Georgia’s most iconic landscapes. With a total ascent and descent of 2000 ft, this hike is designed for outdoor enthusiasts seeking an intense and rewarding challenge. Participants will experience the preserve’s full diversity, from granite outcrops, to meadows, and even wetlands. This year’s hike is offered in collaboration with Georgia Conservancy, an organization whose early conservation work (supporting local community and environmental partners) helped lay the foundation for Arabia Mountain becoming the protected landscape it is today.

Hiking Route:

Our carefully planned route eliminates backtracking, ensuring every step takes us in a new direction. The hike is divided into four segments (between 4-6 miles), each looping back to our starting location (Wilburn Farm). This structure provides participants with three opportunities to exit the hike early without needing assistance to return to their vehicle.

Pace:

We will maintain an average 2.5 mph hiking pace throughout this experience. Hikers who fall significantly behind pace (typically below 2.2 mph) will be asked to conclude the guided portion of the hike at designated rest points due to safety.

How Should Participants Prepare?

Clothing:

• Wear moisture-wicking, weather-appropriate layers.
• Comfortable, broken-in hiking boots are essential.
• Bring a hat and gloves if it’s cold
• Extras as preferred: sunglasses & sunscreen

Gear

• Pack Only Essentials! We want to travel light
• Water (we will have water coolers to refill bottles at rest stops)
• High-Energy Snacks
• A packed lunch may be preferred in addition to snacks (we will only have 20 minutes for lunch)

Optional:

• A hiking stick/pole will be helpful. We have wood sticks available to lend (first come first serve).

Health and Safety:

• Preparation starts 7 days before the hike. Make sure to hydrate well throughout the week and take daily walks (of at least 2-3 miles) leading up to the event. 1-2 days prior to the event can be rest days, but continue to hydrate and eat well. Stretch daily (hips, hamstrings, calves, and ankles).\
• On the morning of the event, do some more stretch exercises and eat a hearty breakfast to fuel your energy.
• Let guides know if you have any medical conditions or concerns.

Mindset:

This is a challenging hike; listen to your body and communicate with the hiking guide if you have any concerns. Focus on the experience, enjoy the stunning views, unique habitats, and hiking community! 

Why Arabia Mountain?

Arabia Mountain is one of Georgia’s most ecologically unique preserves, home to rare granite outcrop ecosystems found in only a handful of places worldwide. In late winter hikers may encounter Diamorpha smallii (elf orpine), an iconic plant species that turns the rock outcrops a deep crimson, a reminder of how life adapts to extreme environments. Participants will experience the preserve’s full ecological diversity, including granite outcrops, forested trails, meadows, wetlands, and historic corridors, all while moving through a landscape shaped by both natural processes and human history.

The protection of this landscape was made possible in part through early advocacy and coalition-led conservation efforts by Georgia Conservancy, helping ensure Arabia Mountain remains a place where people can experience, learn from, and care for Georgia’s natural heritage.