Fall Creek Falls 50K and Half Marathon Trail Runs

Come enjoy the beauty of Tennessee's most popular state park. Cooler temps shaded run course, and the highest free-falling waterfall east of the Rocky Mountains are just a few of the attractions of the Fall Creek Falls 50K & Half Marathon Trail Runs. Post-race meal and music for all participants. Centrally located between Nashville, Chattanooga, and Knoxville. Race start time is 8:00 AM Central Time for 50K & 9 AM Central for Half Marathon. 

2026 Courses will be the original course that has been altered the past several years due to the suspension bridge repair.  It is now completed. Maps will be updated soon to reflect the course we will be using.  As always, keep in mind that since this is a trail run, we have had to alter the courses due to weather issues and downed trees the past few years as well.

• Click Here for Half Marathon Map - The Half Marathon will be one loop and finish at the pavilion at Betty Dunn Nature Center.

• Click Here for the 50k Map - The 50k will at the pavilion and continue 1 full lap of the course back to the Start/Finish for refueling and restrooms.  50k will then return back out to do lap 2. On the 2nd lap, once you come out of the trail at 284 and Fire Tower Rd, you will turn around and head back to the previous trail head, then turn back around and head to the finish line.  Instructions and questions will be given at the event meeting.

Site Map with Water/Aid Stations

The Lodge block rooms are now available.  There is a limited number of rooms, so please reserve as soon as possible to get your group rate.  The rate is good through February 28th.  Visit the Lodge page to make your reservation.  Lodge at Fall Creek Falls reservation page

Race packet includes long sleeve shirt and other swag. Award mugs & certificates and hot food await your finish!

Time Cut offs – We do feel we need to have some limit to ensure safety and not over-burden Park officials and volunteers. We are going to “loosely” hold 50K runners to a 20 minute-per-mile limit – This means 4 hours at first passing of aid station #3 at 12.25 miles & 8 hours at same point next loop. If you have not reached aid station #3 by these times, you will be asked to head back or receive a ride back to finish area.

Packet pick up / late registration is Friday, March 20th from 4:30 to 6 PM CST & Saturday, March 21st from 6:30 to 7:45 AM for the 50k and continue to 8:45am for the Half Marathon.  The location will be at the pavilion across from the Nature Center located near the North entrance of the park next to the Playground.

Park Map link - Here is a 2015 BLOG with elevation data at bottom

Aid Stations - Please review map for locations of 3 aid stations on loop. Between 1ST & 2ND (Half and 50k) and between 4th and 5th AID STATIONS (50K) - PLEASE CARRY FLUIDS AT LEAST as this will be a longer stretch - Stations will have water, Gatorade, gel and some other snacks.  No hot food on course - hot food back at finish.  

Bald Eagle Events has a NO REFUND policy. This is based on our pricing structure to provide 15% of GROSS REVENUES to our charity partners. Insurance is available during the registration of each event. Please take advantage of this option should you wish to insure your entry fees.

Event Cancellation / Modification Policy - If Natural Disaster or Community Disaster occurs, our action steps are as follows:

1. Bald Eagle Events in concert with local officials will make decisions based on safety first. 2. Courses and/or race segments will be altered as agreed to between Bald Eagle Events and local officials 3. Financial: It is not financially feasible for Bald Eagle Events to accept the risk of a disaster for everyone. Each registered participant needs to accept the risk of his or her entry fee. We do offer Registration Protection Insurance during checkout and it is strongly suggested.  You just never know what will transpire and better to be prepared.  There will be NO REFUNDS or free entries to future races. The money you paid is spent developing the subject event. 4. Bald Eagle Events does not save any money if one of our events has to be canceled for reasons beyond our control. All supplies and services needed for the events are purchased and/or arranged in advance. All event supplies and services associated with that event must be paid for, regardless of the outcome.

Event Shirts - Event shirts are NOT guaranteed to participants registering within 2 weeks of each event. Please register prior to 2 weeks prior to guarantee your race shirt.

Parking around the Betty Dunn Nature Center as well as 50 yards away towards Campground B.  

Packet Pickup will be in the below yellow marked pavilion.  This will be the Finish area as well.

Google Map location

Course overview with aid stations noted.  The Course on trial will be marked with "White Blazes" on the trees of the Upper Loop Trail.  Example is below.  We will have directional arrows and cones on the roadways and pertinent turns.  Port O Lets will be located at the Start/Finish, Aid #2 and Aid #3 along the course.

The Half Marathon will complete 1 full loop. Finishing at the Pavillion.

The 50k will complete 1 full loop, then continue on to start 2nd loop.  Follow Aid stations #1 - #8.  Once you get to Aid #6, you will continue across Rt 284 on the Trail and stay right to Aid Station #7, then turn around and head back Aid Station #8,staying left.  At Aid #8 turn right on Rt 284 to the Finish line Pavillion.  

***Note***  The Suspension Bridge on the Upper Loop is still closed due to damage after a storm back over a year ago.  We have updated the course with an updated route that will be more trail than the normal course.  

50k and Half Marathon Course