Natchez Trace Trail Run
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About the race
The Natchez Trace Trail Run takes place on Saturday, November 7, 2026, from the Garrison Creek trailhead near Franklin, Tennessee. The event uses the Highland Rim section of the Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail and follows roughly 25 miles of largely singletrack ridge trail above the old road corridor. Course features include creek crossings, several road crossings, leafy and rocky tread, and long remote stretches with little trail traffic. The event is cupless: entrants must carry their own hydration.
Aid stations are placed at roughly five-mile intervals. The overall field is capped at 180 across all distances. The fifty-mile route is an out-and-back that repeats the point-to-point course and accumulates up to 8,000 feet of gain; shorter distances run toward Garrison Creek after bus transport to the far trailhead.
Peak fall color often coincides with race weekend. The ruck division covers 13 miles with mandatory carried weight: entrants over 150 pounds carry 20 pounds dry and entrants under 150 pounds carry 10 pounds dry. Weigh in occurs before the start and weight must remain on course. Rules prohibit pacers and outside aid, require staying on trail, and enforce leave-no-trace practices because this is a national park unit. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
