The Cherokee - Tellico Plains, TN
Tellico Plains, United States • 18 Jul 2026
The Cherokee
The Cherokee is an ultramarathon event set for July 18, 2026 in Tellico Plains, Tennessee, organized by East Coast Adventures and held in the Cherokee National Forest. The event offers multiple mountain distances with significant elevation change and a field cap on the longest distance.
Distances include:
- 130K: 85 miles, 19,000+ ft gain, 26-hour strict cutoff
- 70K: 46 miles, 10,000+ ft gain, 16-hour soft cutoff
- Waucheesi Challenge: 24 miles, 5,000 ft climb and 5,000 ft descent, 12-hour cutoff
The course runs through named features and trails such as Warrior’s Passage, Waucheesi Tower, Buck Bald, the Benton MacKaye Trail, the John Muir Trail, the Hiwassee River and Reliance, and portions of the historic Unicoi Turnpike. The 130K has an eligibility requirement of a finished 50K or longer within the past 18 months; the 130K field is limited and the early start option is not podium eligible.
Mandatory gear requirements list items including a water filter, a GPX file on a watch or phone with a paper map recommended, an antihistamine for stings, a headlamp to be used throughout the race, and a whistle. The event includes themed aid stations by day, lantern-lit stations at night, live YouTube coverage, and a finisher celebration at Tellico High School. Awards include top three male and female finishers in each distance and finisher buckle and swag. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.