Amicalola Falls Marathon

Amicalola Falls Marathon is held in Dawsonville, Georgia, on December 5, 2026, at Amicalola Falls. Two trail distances go off together at 9:30 AM: the marathon (26.2 miles) and the half marathon (13.1 miles). A shared start line and a late morning departure keep the logistics simple, and both fields cover the same north Georgia mountain terrain.

North Georgia in December means cold mornings, wet leaves and climbing that never really lets up, so both distances run slower than their road equivalents — plan on that rather than being surprised by it. The half is a good target for a road runner curious about mountain trail. For the marathon, a 16-week build with weekly hill work and long runs on technical ground matters more than raw mileage, and poles are worth considering if the rules allow them.