Caney Fork Ultra

Caney Fork Ultra is held in Sparta, Tennessee, on September 12, 2026, with three trail formats: a 50K (31 miles), a 25K Run (15.5 miles) and a 20K (12.4 miles). Registration is handled through UltraSignup, and the name refers to the Caney Fork River area of middle Tennessee.

You get a nicely graduated set of distances here. The 20K and 25K sit close to a trail half marathon and suit runners who want a solid effort without ultra training, while the 50K is a natural first ultra for anyone coming off a road marathon. Mid-September in Tennessee can still be warm, so include heat-adapted long runs and a hydration plan in a 12- to 16-week build, with weekly hill work and, for the 50K, at least a few back-to-back long weekend runs.