Hand Book and GPX Files

For a copy of the which also includes all course information, cut-off times, maps, GPX file downloads please use the link below. GPX files are available for download in the handbook.

The Cherokee Ultra Runners Handbook

The Cherokee Course Map with Aid Stations

(Example of Handbook Below)

Cutoffs and MANDATORY Gear

With this being a true mountain ultra you are required to complete a 50k or greater in the last 18 months. We will accept most 50ks, please keep in mind this is a technical and difficult Mountain event.

1(Water Filter)
:Must have a water Filter, in either a straw,flask,or bottle form!
:Must be kept with you at all times!

2(GPX file)
:Gpx file Must be on your phone or watch. Map Must be downloaded and saved prior!
A printed map is recommended!

3(Antihistamine)
Some form of Antihistamine needs to be in your pack at all times!
This time of year wasp,hornets,yellow jackets,and all other stinging insects are out and about!

4(Headlamps)
1 headlamp Must start with you and stay with you the entirety of the event!

5(Whistle)
It's a whistle. Most packs have them made into them,if not get one!

6More info with be placed in the runners handbook!


Start 130k 26 hr CUTOFF
All cutoffs are updated in the runners handbook!

The Cherokee Ultra

Welcome to our newest endurance event. The Cherokee 70K and 130K is an
ultra trail event that takes you through scenic mountains of the Cherokee
National Forest for an adventure you will never forget. For the 70K you will
climb over 10,000 feet of elevation gain while the 130k will climb over 19,000
feet of elevation gain as both distances discover... Waucheesi ain’t easy.
Utilizing some of the most scenic views and technical trails in the Southern
Cherokee National Forest.
As we created this event the name was extremely important to us. Several ideas were discussed, but one
kept standing out to show case the multiple aspects of this beautiful and historic area.
These lands have a significant meaning and a deep history that should not be forgotten, it
should be respected and honored. So... we chose “The Cherokee” as it represents the area
(The Cherokee National Forest) and to honor the Cherokee people and ancestors who
have such a significant history to the area!

Sponsors

We couldn't put on these events without our sponsors. Thank you to all of you becuase without you our events would not be possible!

Salty Britches
UnRunning
Greater me
Allegiance Flag Supply
Drankful
Ketone IQ
Thankful for the local Emergency agencies helping with this event.
Monroe county Rescue Squad
Monroe county EMS
Monroe County Amateur Radio Emergency Services
Town of Tellico
Tellico Police
Tellico Fire
Forest Service
We will also be taking donations for all of the response services if you would like to make a donation to them.

As well as for
Isaiah house 117
And the trail work crews in the area!

Course description

Home base camp will be utilized at the beautiful Tellico Plains high school.(A small town with a bigbackyard)

The Cherokee event will start in Tellico and head up the skyway and then take a right onto old furnace road (service road) from there you will climb until you connect to the Warriors passage trail. From there you will have multiple creek crossing and some strong accents. You will climb to the top of Waucheesi Bald sitting at over 3000 ft. As we like to say Waucheesi ain't Easy!
Once you ascend the mountain you will come to the Waucheesi turnaround take same route down the mountain to the tobee creek aide and turn left onto a service road heading to the Smithfield community. As you reach this are you will find remote cabins full of beautiful scenery. You will connect to the old Doc Rogers road and climb past whay remains of the Doc Rogers stucture. You then connect to the Benton Mackaye Trail heading toward the Unicoi Gap. This is a very runnable section. These trails run past parts of the original Unicoi turnpike (AKA Joe Brown Highway) used by the Cherokee and other travelers. This is also historically the path used as part of The Trail of Tears!

From there you continue to Unicoi cap aid station and on up buck bald sitting at over 2000 ft. This with be a main aid station with medic, porta potties, stretching and food/hydration.
You then come down Buck Bald and continue on the BMT/Unicoi Mountain trail toward highway 68 and cross over heading toward the Hiwassee river. These next few miles are runnable and lead you to the next aid station at a camp ground next to the actual Coker creek.

As you head out from there you now be on the BMT/John Muir National trail. You will begin to climb and over look the beautiful Hiwassee river. You will continue to run this section crossing small streams,creeks, and springs until you descend to the lower levels and run along side the Hiwassee river. Upon reaching the next aid station (Towee Creek) from there your just a short run to Reliance and the turn around point for the 130k and the start of the 70k.

The 70k will meet in the town of Tellico at base camp,and will be bussed to Reliance and dropped off to begin the treck back to Tellico! You will follow the same route back to Tellico as the 130k.

Swag/Awards

Awards will be presented to the top three Male and Female for the 70k and 130k.

The 1st place finisher of the Male and Female in the 70k and 130k will also receive a free entry into the 2025 Cherokee 100+ miler.

Swag items and shirts are guaranteed for all participants who registered before JUNE 14th. After that date it will be until we run out.

History

The Cherokee National Forest is a United States National Forest located in the U.S. states of Tennessee and North Carolina that was created on June 14, 1920. The forest is maintained and managed by the United States Forest Service. It encompasses an estimated area of 655,598 acres

You can have an adventure while on Warriors Passage! This is the trail that Cherokee Indians

and British Soldiers followed almost 300 years ago. A group of Knoxville Scouts reopened the

trail for your use in the 1960s. It was used by the Cherokee as they traveled between their

villages in western South Carolina and in eastern Tennessee and by the soldiers who built Fort

Loudoun in 1756.
Check out our other race Fort Frenzy to experience this part of history at the Fort loudon historic park.




The John Muir National Recreation Trail (#152) trail in eastern Tennessee, along the north side of Hiwassee River in the Cherokee National Forest. It is named after naturalist John Muir and was constructed in 1972 through the efforts of the Youth Conservation Corps and the Senior Community Service Employment Program. The trail is said to follow the path taken during Muir's travels from Kentucky to Florida in his book A Thousand Mile Walk to the Gulf. In it, he wrote:

(My path all to-day led me along the leafy banks of the Hiwassee, a most impressive mountain river. Its channel is very rough, as it crosses the edges of upturned rock strata, some of them standing at right angles, or glancing off obliquely to right and left. Thus a multitude of short, resounding cataracts are produced, and the river is restrained from the headlong speed due to its volume and the inclination of its bed.

All the larger streams of uncultivated countries are mysteriously charming and beautiful, whether flowing in mountains or through swamps and plains. Their channels are interestingly sculptured, far more so than the grandest architectural works of man. The finest of the forests are usually found along their banks, and in the multitude of falls and rapids the wilderness finds a voice. Such a river is the Hiwassee, with its surface broken to a thousand sparkling gems, and its forest walls vine-draped and flowery as Eden. And how fine the songs it sings)


The Benton Mackaye Trail
The Benton MacKaye Trail or BMT is a footpath nearly 300 miles (480 km) in length in the Appalachian Mountains in the southeastern United States and is blazed by a white diamond, 5″ across by 7″ tall. The hiking trail was created and is maintained by the Benton MacKaye Trail Association, and it is named for Benton MacKaye, the Massachusetts forester and regional planner who first had the idea for the Appalachian Trail in 1921.[1][2]

The BMT runs from Springer Mountain in Georgia (sharing the southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail) to Big Creek[3] in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The trail passes through seven United States Wilderness Areas, while traversing three states (Georgia, Tennessee and North Carolina). The lowest elevation (765 ft) on the BMT occurs at the crossing of the Hiwassee River in Tennessee. The highest elevation is the 5,843-foot (1,781 m) summit of Mt. Sterling in the Great Smoky Mountains of North Carolina.

The trail crosses various trout rivers along its path including Shallowford Bridge and the Swinging Bridge over the Toccoa River in Georgia, the Ocoee, Hiwassee, Upper Bald and Tellico rivers in Tennessee, and the Little Tennessee River in North Carolina. It also crosses Eagle, Hazel, Forney, Noland and Big creeks in the Smokies, along with Fontana Dam and the Oconaluftee River.

Refund

Refunds will be available until June 14th minus the UltraSignup fee. No refunds will be given after June 14th 2025. At this point we have placed our order for swag and shirts. We truly understand that life happens and things pop up and people get sick but for us to do our part and plan with volunteers and swag we simply cannot roll entrys over or offer refunds.In the event of unsafe weather a makeup date will be scheduled/or attempted. Race registrations are not transferable to other participants. Please consider these factors carefully before completing your registration.

Event's current local time: 5:21 PM ET