The Barkley Fall Classic
Wartburg, United States • 19 Sep 2026
The Barkley Fall Classic : Frozen Head State Park, TN
The Barkley Fall Classic is a trail event held at Frozen Head State Park near Wartburg, Tennessee. The main distance is a 50 kilometer course that includes extensive climbing and descending, long runnable sections, and scenic viewpoints. The official course map is not revealed until the night before the race, and course markings exist only at major turns. GPS devices are not allowed.
The route contains a split with a marathon option at a decision point. Runners who choose to continue past that point for the 50 kilometer distance cannot later claim the marathon; the choice is final and completion of the 50 kilometer distance depends on reaching subsequent cutoffs.
The event publishes a set of operational rules. Examples include no GPS, no pacers, no trekking poles, no drop bags or caching, no littering, and a requirement to report a decision to drop to race staff. Entrants receive an additional bib at packet pickup which must be worn visibly on the back. Runners are asked to allow faster participants to pass and to follow marked park trails.
Packet pickup and a pre-race dinner take place the day before the race; dinner proceeds and other contributions support local Morgan County organizations and Frozen Head State Park. Lodging and camping options are available in the Wartburg area and within or near the state park. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.