SPONSORS: TuckerBuild, Gearhead Outfitters, Fast Break, La Sportiva, Black Diamond, Evergreen Property Group, Friction Prescription, Rossignol, Turtlebox, Peak Fitness and Physical Therapy, and Horton Design
The Bad Beard River Gorge 6.5, 10.2, and 20 mile trail races are a Southeastern classic that runs the Mullens Cove and Pot Point loops in the Prentice-Cooper Wildlife Management Area just outside Chattanooga, Tennessee. The highly technical single-track loop trail boasts magnificent bluff views of the Tennessee River and cascading streams lined with rhododendrons and towering hemlock. One of the most beautiful trails in the Chattanooga area, this is a bucket list race for leisure and competitive trail runners. Elevation gain for the 10 Miler 2000ft, 6.5 Miler is around 1500ft, and the 20 Miler is around 3000ft.
EARLY PACKET PICKUP WHEN: Friday, November 20th WHERE: Gearhead Riverside Drive TIME: 4:30PM - 6:00PM
RACE DAY PACKET PICKUP WHEN: Saturday, November 21st WHERE: Start/Finish line at Mullens Cove parking lot TIME: 6:45AM - 8:15AM EASTERN RACE DAY REGISTRATION Online registration only. There will be no walk-up registration on race day. START TIME The 20 mile race will begin at 7:30AM EASTERN. The 10 mile race will begin at 8AM EASTERN. The 6.5 mile race will begin at 8:30AM EASTERN. DIRECTIONS TO THE START/FINISH LINE @ MULLENS COVE PARKING LOT From downtown Chattanooga, take Hwy 27 North to Hwy 127 North (Signal Mountain). Go 1.9 miles, and turn left onto Suck Creek Road. Continue for 8.2 miles, turn left towards Prentice Cooper State Forest. Follow the signs 0.7 miles to the entrance area of Prentice Cooper. Stay on Tower Road approximately 2 more miles until you arrive at Mullens Cove parking lot and race start/finish. The drive to the start will take 30 minutes. ***Please note that there is a 2 hour 30 min hour cutoff for the 6.5M, 3 hour 30min cutoff time for the 10M, and 5 hour 30 min for the 20M*** AWARDS CEREMONY The Awards Ceremony will begin immediately after the race. There will be overall awards for Male and Female 1st-3rd place.
Nov 21, 2026
Distance — 32.2K
Type — Running
07:30
$90.00
Nov 21, 2026
Distance — 16.4K
Type — Running
08:00
$70.00
Nov 21, 2026
Distance — 10.5K
Type — Running
08:30
$55.00
These values represent the 3-year monthly averages for November in Chattanooga.
Learn more about the host city, Chattanooga.
Chattanooga is the 4th largest city in Tennessee. It is the seat of Hamilton County. It is in Southeast Tennessee on the Tennessee River and near the border of Georgia. It was immortalized in the popular 1941 song "Chattanooga Choo Choo", made famous by Glenn Miller.
Read more launchTours and activities near Chattanooga, powered by Viator.
All-time top performances and historical records for River Gorge Trail Race.
| Place | Name | Year | Time | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🥇 | Mac Dean | '25 | 2:56:47 | |
| 🥈 | Dan Rose | '25 | 3:06:08 | |
| 🥉 | Dan Rose | '24 | 3:17:39 | |
| 4 | Thomas Sell | '25 | 3:22:00 | |
| 5 | Josh Cornelius | '24 | 3:27:03 | |
| 6 | Kyle Kalbus | '24 | 3:27:09 | |
| 7 | Peter Hagemeyer | '24 | 3:28:19 | |
| 8 | Josh Cornelius | '25 | 3:31:17 | |
| 9 | Charlie Haney | '25 | 3:34:24 | |
| 10 | Adam Cogbill | '24 | 3:36:35 |
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