The Cherokee - Tellico Plains, TN

Event overview

The Cherokee is a trail ultramarathon held in Tellico Plains, Tennessee, in the Cherokee National Forest. The event uses Tellico Plains High School as the start and finish location. A livestream on YouTube will provide coverage, interviews, and on-course tracking updates.

Distances and key rules

• 130K : listed as 85 miles; 19,000+ ft gain; 26-hour strict cutoff; field cap limited; entrants must have completed a 50K or longer in the past 18 months; an early-start option is offered but early starters are not podium-eligible.
• 70K : listed as 46 miles; 10,000+ ft gain; 16-hour soft cutoff.
• Waucheesi Vert Challenge : listed as 24 miles; 5,000 ft climb and 5,000 ft descent; summit of Waucheesi.

Course and support

Course highlights include Warrior’s Passage, Waucheesi Tower, Buck Bald, the Benton MacKaye Trail, the John Muir Trail, the Hiwassee River at Reliance, and sections of the historic Unicoi Turnpike. Daytime aid stations will include music and food; nighttime aid stations will be lantern-lit and offer warm food. A finisher celebration and local desserts will be provided at Tellico Plains High School.

Logistics and policies

Mandatory gear items include a water filter, GPX file on a watch or phone (paper map recommended), antihistamine, headlamp (for the entire race), and a whistle. The event policy states there are no refunds or deferrals. Registration closes Fri, Jul 17 at 11:59 PM ET. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.