Cades Cove Loop Lope

The Cades Cove Loop Lope is the only organized footrace held inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park, to benefit Friends of the Smokies. All funds raised benefit park projects and programs such as historic preservation, wildlife conservation, native plant and grassland restoration, and so much more.

There are two course options, a 5K or a USATF Certified 10-Mile Loop. Participation is limited to 750 total runners. This race sells out fast, so please don't wait to register!

You can pick up your race day packets and race bibs at either of the following times/locations:

• Wednesday, November 5th, 2025, from 3-6pm at River Sports Outfitters - 2918 Sutherland Ave, Knoxville, TN
• Saturday, November 8th, 2025, from 1-5pm at the Townsend Visitor Center - 7906 E Lamar, Alexander Pkwy, Townsend, TN

Carpooling is essential to maximizing participation in this race. A limited number of vehicle reservation passes for on-site access in Cades Cove will be available for purchase for an additional fee. Please note: Parking reservation passes typically sell out the day registration opens. Registrants who do not purchase a vehicle pass must either carpool with a passholder they know or utilize the group transportation option from the Townsend Visitors Center. A handicapped accessible shuttle will be available at the Townsend Visitors Center. 

2025 Race Results

All race day packets must be picked up in person at packet pick up. Family and friends may pick up packets for participants that are unable to be present. There will be no packets available for pick up on race day and no packet mailing.

You can pick up your race day packets and race bibs at either of the following times/locations:

Wednesday, November 5th, 2025, from 3-6pm at River Sports Outfitters - 2918 Sutherland Ave, Knoxville, TN

Saturday, November 8th, 2025, from 1-5pm at the Townsend Visitor Center - 7906 E Lamar, Alexander Pkwy, Townsend, TN

All registered participants will receive a finisher's medal, t-shirt, and additional surprises!

Beautiful commemorative mugs that were handcrafted and designed by Gatlinburg potter, Tommy Bullen will be sold when registration opens. A limited number will be available for $30 each at packet pick up while supplies last. 

CLICK HERE for Townsend Visitors Center Field GPS

A limited number of parking reservations for onsite access for the 2025 Cades Cove Loop Lope will be sold when registration opens. Vehicle passholders will be exempt from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park parking tag requirement during the duration of the event. Registrants who do not purchase a vehicle access pass must either carpool with a passholder they know or utilize the group transportation option from the Townsend Visitors Center. Registrants who wish to recreate in Great Smoky Mountains National Park following the event must display a valid parking tag which may be purchased in Cades Cove for $5.  

No vehicle without a vehicle reservation will be admitted past the Townsend Wye on race day until after 11:00 a.m. All reservation holders must show their site access pass at the checkpoint at the Townsend Wye in order to enter Cades Cove on race day. This means there are no drop-offs and pick-ups allowed for participants.

Non-Passholders
1) Meet at the designated parking field at the Townsend Visitors Center
2) Buses will arrive at 6:00 a.m. The first bus will leave when it is full. The last bus will leave at 6:30 a.m. Do not arrive prior to 5:30 a.m. as our volunteers will not be ready to receive you.
3) Watch for volunteers to direct you. ***A parking map with instructions and GPS link will be emailed prior to the race. 
4) It will be dark so please bring a flashlight or head lamp for your walk from the field to the bus loading area.
5) Each bus will make one trip in and one trip out. We cannot guarantee any certain departure time from Cades Cove after you finish.
6) It is unlikely you will ride in and out on the same bus so please do not leave personal items on the bus. There is a coat/bag check at the Cades Cove Amphitheater.

Vehicle Reservation Passholders: 
1) If you purchased a parking reservation access pass, you will pick it up with your packet at packet pick up. Please have it handy when you approach the Townsend Wye intersection so that you can show it to the Park Ranger who will be at the checkpoint.
2) Do not arrive before 6:15 a.m., as volunteers and Park Rangers may not be in place to assist you before that time.
3) When you get to the entrance of Cades Cove there will be a park employee or park volunteer to direct you to the parking area. Please be courteous to them; we could not do this race without them. 
4) You may be asked to park on uneven terrain. If your vehicle has low clearance, be aware of your surroundings.
5) It will be dark so please bring a flashlight or headlamp for your walk from the parking area to Coat Check (Cades Cove Amphitheater) or the Start Line.
6) There is approximately a 0.5 mile walk from the parking area to the coat check station. There is approximately a 0.5 mile walk from the parking area to the start line. They are in opposite directions from one another. 

For 2025 results, click HERE.

• LIMITED VEHICLE RESERVATION ACCESS PASSES FOR THE 2026 CADES COVE LOOP LOPE WILL BE AVAILABLE WHEN REGISTRATION OPENS. All other participants must shuttle from the Townsend Visitors Center the morning of the race. A handicapped accessible shuttle will be available. 

• Leave No Trace: Because this race happens inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park, it is essential that all of us (staff, volunteers, and runners) do our best to Leave No Trace on race day. If you wish to discard clothing, like gloves, or any type of food or beverage waste (like goo packets) even if they are biodegradable, please hold onto those items until you come to a water station or the finish line.
• Awards: Trophies will be presented to the overall (male and female) 1st place finishers for both the 5K and 10-Mile courses. There will be 1st place awards for age categories. Awards for the 5K will be available for pickup at 8:30 am. Awards for the 10-mile will be available for pickup at 9:30 am.
• Course Sweeps: After 1.5 hours on the 5K course and after 2.5 hours on the 10 Mile course, members of the Smokies’ all-volunteer Cades Cove Bicycle Patrol will ride along the routes to notify participants that the Cades Cove Loop Road will open to vehicle traffic. A shuttle vehicle for any participants remaining on the 10 Mile course will drive the course at 10:20 a.m. when the race officially ends.  If you choose not to board the shuttle vehicle sweep at that time, you must proceed cautiously to avoid vehicles and arrange my own transportation. The final shuttle to Townsend departs at approximately 10:30 a.m. and will not wait for remaining participants.
• All participants must be capable of completing the full race distance, start line to finish line, under their own power. Participants outside of the 10:20 a.m. time limit may not be recorded or published as official finishers, receive on-course support from aid stations and traffic safety personnel. 
• BE AWARE: It will be dark in Cades Cove when you arrive, so consider bringing a headlamp or small flashlight.
• Water Crossing (5K Course):There is a low water point on the 5K course. A creek crosses the road near the beginning of Sparks Lane and you will have to run through it. The water level depends on the weather during and around that time. There will be a volunteer stationed on the other side of the water with towels for you to dry your feet!
• Strollers are allowed on courses, however, please be aware of the water crossing (mentioned above) and you will be responsible for transporting the stroller on the shuttle bus if you do not obtain a parking pass or ride with a passholder. Parking passes usually sell out the first day registration opens.
• Participant Transfers: Since we will likely have a waiting list for this event, we are unable to transfer a registration from one participant to another.
• Event Transfers: If you signed up for either the 10-Mile or the 5K and decide you'd like to switch to the other distance, this is allowed and can be accomplished through your profile page. The deadline to make a transfer is October 10th, 2025. If you experience troubles making this change, please let us know either by contacting amy@friendsofthesmokies.org so that we can make this change for you.