Sunday, August 20, 2023 • Pikeville, TN • Course Map
Filled with cascading waterfalls, gorges, streams, creeks and hardwood forests — including the tallest waterfall in the eastern United States, the 256-ft. waterfall that gives this 20,000-acre park its name — Fall Creek Falls State Park plays host to its own half marathon trail race here on the Cumberland Plateau of eastern Tennessee.
Runners will start the race inside the park, which lies just a few miles northwest of the small town of Pikeville, home to just under 2,000 residents here in the region known as the Sequatchie Valley.
Just a few hours’ drive away lies Knoxville and beyond that, the backcountry wilderness of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the most visited national park in the nation.
That fact alone helps explain why this much smaller park has been called the best state park in the southeastern U.S. by publications like Southern Living magazine, as it sees far fewer than the roughly 9 million visitors who make their way to the Smokies every year.
For the race through Fall Creek Falls, runners in both the half marathon and the 50K will run the park’s upper loop trail, along which organizers plan to set up three water & aid stations.
The starting and finish line for the race is set for the park’s Nature Center on the northern side of the park; signs will be posted pointing the way to the Nature Center on the day of the race, organizers note.
Race Weather & Climate
Located in the Sequatchie Valley of the East Tennessee region, roughly 50 miles north of Chattanooga and about 140 miles southeast of Nashville, Pikeville typically sees temperatures that average between the low 60s and the mid-80s in August, which also brings just over 3.7 inches of rainfall.
On race day (Aug. 20), the average low is 63ºF and the average high is 84ºF.
Course Map
See the race route map for the Falls Creek Falls Half Marathon here.
Starting Time
- 7:30 AM – half marathon
- 8:00 AM – 10K
- 8:30 AM – 5K
Fees
- $50 – $65 for the half marathon
- $40 – $50 for the 10K
- $25 – $35 for the 5K
- $39 for the virtual race
Registration
To reserve your spot in the 2023 running of Pikeville’s Falls Creek Falls Half Marathon, 10K or 5K trail race, register online at RunSignUp.com here.
Official Race Website
www.endurancesportsmanagement.com
Comments
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