Rock/Creek River Gorge Trail Race

Rock/Creek River Gorge Trail Race is run in Chattanooga, Tennessee, on November 21, 2026. Three trail distances are on offer above the Tennessee River Gorge: a 20-mile, a 10.2-mile and a 6.5-mile. The odd numbers come from the terrain rather than a round-figure course design, which tells you something about the singletrack the day is built on.

Terrain, not distance, sets the difficulty here. Rocky Southeastern trail with repeated climbing means your mile splits will look slow next to road numbers, and that is normal — race by effort and by feel. Newer trail runners will find the 6.5-mile long enough to be a real event without becoming a survival exercise. The 20-mile is the one that rewards specific preparation: long runs on technical ground, deliberate downhill work, and a plan for eating past the two-hour mark.