The Bull Mountain Epic

The Bull Mountain Epic

The Bull Mountain Epic is a trail running event in Dahlonega, GA offering two distances: a 50K and a half marathon.

The Jake and Bull Mountain trail system comprises three different loops, each approximately 10 miles long. Half marathon entrants run one loop up and over Bull Mountain plus a short section of double track. 50K runners complete each loop once, with a total elevation gain of about 5000 feet. After each roughly 10 mile loop runners pass the main aid station and the start/finish area.

Trails include some technical sections but are mostly runnable single track. Notable trail features include waterfalls, multiple stream crossings, rocky climbs and fast descents. The event operates with a 12 hour cutoff; 50K runners must be on loop 3 by 4pm. Pacers are not allowed. Awards are given to the top three female and top three male finishers in each event.

Organizers provide three aid stations stocked with vegetarian-friendly options such as soups, fruits, hot foods cooking in the evening, standard aid station fare, and volunteer specialties served until the last finisher. A pre-race letter notes that rainfall earlier in the year has washed out parts of the forest service road to the Bull Mountain parking lot; large ruts and holes may affect low clearance vehicles and extra travel time is advised. Organizers assign bibs on Thursday. Participants who cannot attend may withdraw their registration through their UltraSignUp account. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.