About

The Urban Wilderness 50k is the only trail 50k in Knox County. It uses Knoxville's new Urban Wilderness Gateway Park as a home base, and follows along the city trail system for a 31 mile loop. It passes through 4 city parks, 1 WMA, and 3 sections of privately owned land such as Ijams, the Drop Inn, and the Helix trails. This race has around 4,000 ft of elevation gain across 50k, making it a great race for first time ultrarunners, and experienced runners alike. With aid stations scattered throughout, and well maintained, runnable trails, this is sure to be a great time for everyone. Course and other details to be released in mid summer prior to the event. We look forward to seeing everyone out on the trails!

Schedule of Events

October 9, 2026
4:00-8:00 PM Packet Pickup at Southside Garage 1014 Sevier Avenue, Knoxville, TN, 37920.

October 10, 2026
6:30 AM - Late bib pickup at race starting line
7:30 AM - 50k Begins
9:00 AM - 10k Begins
5:30 PM - Event cutoff time

Note: Friday packet pickup is preferred. Saturday morning bib pickup only as needed.

Registration

Must register by September 18, 2026 to guarantee a race shirt.

75% refund available until 8/21, 50% refund available until 9/18. After this date, no refunds will be granted. Please contact the race RD through our website for any questions, concerns, or special circumstnaces.

Course Description

50k: The 50k is a true tour of the urban wilderness. Beginning at the Urban Wilderness Gateway Park at the end of James White, runners will begin along the greenway to thin out for the first half mile before beginning with the first climb of the day up Red Bud. Then, runners will descend down into the Drop Inn via Rendezvous and pass by the cabin sites as they make their way towards Ijams. Once at Ijams, the course has many rolling climbs and descents on Burnett Ridge and Ross Marble. This is followed by a gentle section through the Hickory Loop and out Flow as the course passes Mead's Quarry. The short greenway section follows this, as runners take the Will Skelton Greenway out to the end where they'll run through more smooth trail on Whaley. A short, half mile road section connecting Whaley to Transfarm is next. Transfarm winds in and out of open forest and connects to the Helix trail system and Chain Ring/ACDC. Lost Chromosome then connects out to the Anderson School aid station, which will send runners into Hastie. Hastie has the most dense climbing of any section, containing Remedy, Dryer, Mitchies Way, Yellow Jacket, Hard Labor, AEIOU, Margaret Road, and Shadow Run. This combines to 5.25 miles and nearly 700 ft of gain. After making it out of Hastie, runners descend Toll road so that they can climb the full length of Victor Ashe up to View Park, followed by a long descent down Floyd Fox. One last climb up Best Medicine welcomes you and then all that's left is an easy gravel descent down Pappy's and back to the greenway to the end.

10k: The 10k begins the same way as the 50k, starting at the Urban Wilderness Gateway Park and taking the greenway up to Red Bud. After crossing Red Bud road, runners continue up Red Bud trail to the top of View park, followed by a long descent down Victor Ashe and winding around to the Drop Inn campground. They will then ascend Rendezvous and race down Floyd Fox. At the bottom, they'll take a right to head back on the Sycamore trail to the greenway and back to the start.

50k:
Elevation - 3400 ft
Distance - 31 miles
Map:

10k:
Elevation - 640 ft
Distance - 6.3 miles
Map:

Event's current local time: 6:52 AM ET