The Biggest Canoe, Paddle Board, & Kayak Race in the U.S.
The Great Alabama 650 isn’t just a race—it’s the ultimate test of grit on America’s waterways. Spanning 650 miles from the Appalachian foothills to the Gulf of Mexico, this course is the longest paddle race in the United States and the crown jewel of the Alabama Scenic River Trail. Since its launch in 2019, the race has been hosted by the Alabama Scenic River Trail and has quickly earned a reputation as one of the toughest endurance paddling events in the world. With nearly a decade of leadership and race direction from Roam Projects, led by Greg Wingo, the AL650 has grown into a world-class competition that attracts elite athletes from across the globe. From whitewater rapids and winding river valleys to the vast Mobile-Tensaw Delta, this race pushes physical and mental limits, celebrating both the strength of its racers and the beauty of Alabama’s waterways.
Media inquiries should use our Contact form Here.
Want to be a sponsor of the race? Contact ASRT at [email protected]
Race Overview
Each autumn, racers have 10 days to complete the original 650-mile core section of the ASRT, which stretches from Weiss Lake in the Northeast corner of Alabama down to Fort Morgan in Mobile Bay. Whether by canoe, kayak, or paddle board, the racers’ skills will be put to the ultimate test along Alabama’s most diverse, beautiful, and challenging waterways. This event is as much a race against each individual’s strength of will as it is a race against other boaters.
Prize purses of $2,000 each are awarded across three categories: Male Solo, Female Solo, and Two-Person Tandem. Since the inaugural race of 2019, our athletes have earned worldwide recognition for their strength, endurance, and skill.
The Course
A Nonstop Race: Portage Downtimes and Cut-Offs
These downtimes are at each portage and are required for each racer. Racers will not be allowed back on the water until the completion of each time period. A racer entering the water before being given permission by a race official at each portage will be disqualified. A boat must accompany the racers from takeout to put-in but does not have to be the same boat at those two access points.
Takeout and put-in at Weiss will be monitored but racers aren’t required to stop. Checkpoints at Coosa River Adventures in Wetumpka and in Mobile Bay will not have mandatory downtime.
The total time will be subtracted at the end of the race. Since we will have a 10 AM start on the first day, we will add the 4hrs 45 min to the 10th day as buffer time. This means racers will have until 2:45 PM on the 10th day to finish.