Deep in the Chattahoochee National Forest of the North Georgia mountains, the Cruel Jewel piles 33,000 feet of gain onto 33,000 feet of loss across the Dragon’s Spine and back — one of the toughest, most technical 100-milers in the Southeast, and a dual Western States and Hardrock qualifier.
Quick facts
- Location: Camp Morganton, Blue Ridge, GA (start/finish)
- Date: Mid-May annually (2027 edition: May 14–16), 12:00 PM Friday start
- Distance: 104 miles — 92 miles of trail, 12 miles of mountain road; 48-hour cutoff
- Website: dumassevents.com/cruel-jewel-100
- Contact: Via contact form at dumassevents.com — organized by Dumass Events (Dahlonega Ultra-Marathon Association)
- Registration: Via UltraSignup. Any completed 100-mile trail run qualifies you to enter, or a sub-20-hour Cruel Jewel 50, sub-18-hour Georgia Death Race, or H9 Phat 50 finish. A qualifying race for both the Western States and Hardrock 100 lotteries.
Course description
A there-and-back journey from Blue Ridge to Blairsville and back, deep within the Chattahoochee National Forest of the North Georgia mountains. The route mixes tough, often technical singletrack with sections of ferns and old-growth poplar forest, steep ascents met by even steeper descents, and a crossing of the historic steel truss bridge spanning the Toccoa River. The signature feature is the Dragon’s Spine, a punishing ridgeline traverse runners cross on both the outbound and return legs — lush green hardwood forest, rocks, roots, and constant elevation change define nearly the entire course.
Elevation change
33,000 feet of cumulative gain and 33,000 feet of loss — an elevation rating of “mountainous,” with more vertical gain packed into 100 miles than almost any other race on this list outside the true high-mountain West.
Aid stations
20 aid stations along the course with strict cutoff times at each, enforced for runner safety on a route with limited road access in places. Full aid station locations, cutoffs, and crew access details are published in the race’s info packet ahead of each running.
Special conditions & average temps
Mid-May in the North Georgia mountains can swing widely — runners should prepare for the possibility of rain, with temperatures typically ranging from 50°F to 75°F, cooler at higher elevations and overnight. The technical, root- and rock-strewn trail becomes significantly more treacherous when wet, and the Dragon’s Spine section in particular demands respect in poor visibility or slick conditions.
Recent results — top 3, men & women
2026
- Men: 1. Brian Kallhof 25:04:28 · 2. Kevin Tiffany 25:16:06 · 3. Jamal Diboun 26:03:08
- Women: 1. Rachel Doxey 27:45:53 · 2. Catie Markesich 30:48:37 · 3. Christina Ramirez 31:52:20
2025
- Men: 1. Matt Pruitt 27:31:11 · 2. Mark Sharp 28:42:29 · 3. Stan Fleming 28:45:37
- Women: 1. Shannon Wheeler Deboef 28:22:43 (2nd overall) · 2. Lee Conner 33:27:10 · 3. Iuliia Maslo 34:40:28
2024
- Men: 1. Ben Quatromoni 21:41:31 (course record) · 2. Peter Mortimer 24:12:12 · 3. Michael Manganello 24:13:46
- Women: 1. Sarah Ostaszewski 24:50:52 (course record) · 2. Madalyn Nones 27:43:00 · 3. Rachel Corrigan 28:37:54
Registration deadline & how to get in
Registration is handled through UltraSignup and is limited to 250 participants. Any completed 100-mile trail run makes a runner eligible to enter, or a qualifying 50-mile finish (Cruel Jewel 50 under 20 hours, Georgia Death Race under 18 hours, or an H9 Phat 50 finish). Cruel Jewel itself is a qualifying race for both the Western States 100 and Hardrock 100 lotteries — a rare double for a Southeast race.
Traveling to this race? Find lodging near the venue via Hotels.com.