Fall Creek Falls 50K and Half Marathon Trail Runs

  • Date Sat 21st March 2026
  • Time 8:00AM CDT
  • Location Spencer, Tennessee
  • Price $53.00 - $68.90
  • Races 2 races
  • Distances Ultra, Half Marathon

Event summary

Get ready for an unforgettable running experience at the Fall Creek Falls 50K and Half Marathon Trail Runs, taking place on Saturday, March 21, 2026, in the stunning Spencer, Van Buren area of Tennessee! This event invites runners to immerse themselves in the natural beauty of Tennessee's most popular state park, featuring the breathtaking highest free-falling waterfall east of the Rocky Mountains. With a cooler and shaded course, participants can enjoy the scenic trails while challenging themselves with either a 50K or a Half Marathon distance.

The race kicks off at 8:00 AM Central Time for the 50K and 9:00 AM for the Half Marathon, making for an exhilarating day filled with adventure. Runners will receive a long sleeve shirt, and finishers can look forward to award mugs, certificates, and a delicious post-race meal accompanied by live music. As you prepare for this exciting event, remember to secure your lodging early, as accommodations at the Lodge at Fall Creek Falls are limited! Don’t miss out on this chance to embark on a memorable journey through nature while pushing your limits alongside fellow enthusiasts.

Organiser's Description

Come enjoy the beauty of Tennessee's most popular state park. Cooler temps shaded run course, and the highest free-falling waterfall east of the Rocky Mountains are just a few of the attractions of the Fall Creek Falls 50K & Half Marathon Trail Runs. Post-race meal and music for all participants. Centrally located between Nashville, Chattanooga, and Knoxville. Race start time is 8:00 AM Central Time for 50K & 9 AM Central for Half Marathon.



2026 COURSES WILL BE THE ORIGINAL COURSE THAT HAS BEEN ALTERED THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS DUE TO THE SUSPENSION BRIDGE REPAIR. IT IS NOW COMPLETED. MAPS WILL BE UPDATED SOON TO REFLECT THE COURSE WE WILL BE USING. AS ALWAYS, KEEP IN MIND THAT SINCE THIS IS A TRAIL RUN, WE HAVE HAD TO ALTER THE COURSES DUE TO WEATHER ISSUES AND DOWNED TREES THE PAST FEW YEARS AS WELL.

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CLICK HERE FOR HALF MARATHON MAP [https://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/6478739017] - THE HALF MARATHON WILL BE ONE LOOP AND FINISH AT THE PAVILION AT BETTY DUNN NATURE CENTER.



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CLICK HERE FOR THE 50K MAP [https://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/6479829916/] - THE 50K WILL AT THE PAVILION AND CONTINUE 1 FULL LAP OF THE COURSE BACK TO THE START/FINISH FOR REFUELING AND RESTROOMS. 50K WILL THEN RETURN BACK OUT TO DO LAP 2. ON THE 2ND LAP, ONCE YOU COME OUT OF THE TRAIL AT 284 AND FIRE TOWER RD, YOU WILL TURN AROUND AND HEAD BACK TO THE PREVIOUS TRAIL HEAD, THEN TURN BACK AROUND AND HEAD TO THE FINISH LINE. INSTRUCTIONS AND QUESTIONS WILL BE GIVEN AT THE EVENT MEETING.



THE LODGE BLOCK ROOMS HAVE BEEN SOLD. We should have a block of rooms available at the Lodge at Fall Creek Falls for those who are registered for the events. There are only a limited number of rooms and date cutoff, so make sure to get your rooms early. Click the Lodge menu at the top of this page for more info on getting your room.

Race packet includes LONG SLEEVE SHIRT AND OTHER SWAG. AWARD MUGS & CERTIFICATES AND HOT FOOD AWAIT YOUR FINISH!

TIME CUT OFFS WE DO FEEL WE NEED TO HAVE SOME LIMIT TO ENSURE SAFETY AND NOT OVER-BURDEN PARK OFFICIALS AND VOLUNTEERS. WE ARE GOING TO LOOSELY HOLD 50K RUNNERS TO A 20 MINUTE-PER-MILE LIMIT THIS MEANS 4 HOURS AT FIRST PASSING OF AID STATION #3 AT 12.25 MILES & 8 HOURS AT SAME POINT NEXT LOOP. IF YOU HAVE NOT REACHED AID STATION #3 BY THESE TIMES, YOU WILL BE ASKED TO HEAD BACK OR RECEIVE A RIDE BACK TO FINISH AREA.

Packet pick up / late registration is Friday, April 4 from 4:30 to 6 PM CST & Saturday, April 5 from 6:30 to 7:45 AM for the 50k and continue to 8:45am for the Half Marathon. The location will be at the pavilion across from the Nature Center located near the North entrance of the park next to the Playground.

Park Map link [https://tnstateparks.com/assets/pdf/additional-content/park-maps/Fall_Creek_Falls_web.jpg] - Here is a 2015 BLOG with elevation data at bottom [http://itsthedistance.blogspot.com/2015/03/fall-creek-falls-50k.html]

AID STATIONS - Please review map for locations of 3 aid stations on loop. Between 1ST & 2ND (HALF AND 50K) AND BETWEEN 4TH AND 5TH AID STATIONS (50K) - PLEASE CARRY FLUIDS AT LEAST AS THIS WILL BE A LONGER STRETCH - Stations will have water, Gatorade, gel and some other snacks. No hot food on course - hot food back at finish.

Bald Eagle Events has a NO REFUND policy. This is based on our pricing structure to provide 15% OF GROSS REVENUES TO OUR CHARITY PARTNERS. Insurance is available during the registration of each event. Please take advantage of this option should you wish to insure your entry fees.

Event Cancellation / Modification Policy - If Natural Disaster or Community Disaster occurs, our action steps are as follows:

1. Bald Eagle Events in concert with local officials will make decisions based on safety first. 2. Courses and/or race segments will be altered as agreed to between Bald Eagle Events and local officials 3. Financial: It is not financially feasible for Bald Eagle Events to accept the risk of a disaster for everyone. Each registered participant needs to accept the risk of his or her entry fee. We do offer Registration Protection Insurance during checkout and it is strongly suggested. You just never know what will transpire and better to be prepared. There will be NO REFUNDS or free entries to future races. The money you paid is spent developing the subject event. 4. Bald Eagle Events does not save any money if one of our events has to be canceled for reasons beyond our control. All supplies and services needed for the events are purchased and/or arranged in advance. All event supplies and services associated with that event must be paid for, regardless of the outcome.

Event Shirts - Event shirts are NOT guaranteed to participants registering within 2 weeks of each event. Please register prior to 2 weeks prior to guarantee your race shirt.

Races

  • 50K Age Group

    Incl. $3.90 Fee & T-Shirt

    Sat 21st March 2026 (8:00AM CDT)

    $68.90

    Courses will follow the UPPER LOOP trail. Three aid stations will be stocked with water, Sports Drinks, pretzels, fruit and some kind of salty snacks! Start will be in the parking lot just up the road from registration / finish area. Runners follow WHITE BLAZE markings of Paw Paw Trail and Upper Loop trail approx. 50k will run Clockwise around the trails. You will complete 1 loop and back to the Finish area but stay on 284 and then get back onto the Paw Paw trail. 2nd loop will continue through Aid stations 1 and 2, then turn around at Aid Station 3 at the Fire Tower Rd and head back to Aid Station 2. Turn around and head back to the Finish Line to complete the 50k. Each loop has three small (ankle deep) stream crossings - rain will determine how high water gets! Time Cut offs We had not posted time cut-offs but do feel we need to have some limit to ensure safety and not over-burden Park officials and volunteers. We are going to loosely hold 50K runners to a 20 minute-per-mile limit This means 4 hours at first passing of aid station #3 at 12.25 miles & 8 hours at same point next loop. If you have not reached aid station #3 by these times, you will be asked to head back or receive a ride back to finish area. Final 50K runners completed entire course in just over 8 hours in the past.
  • Half Marathon Age Group

    Incl. $3.00 Fee & T-Shirt

    Sat 21st March 2026 (9:00AM CDT)

    $53.00

    Half Marathon course is one loop of the route outlined. Start will be in the parking lot of Betty Dunn Nature Center and then onto the Paw Paw trial. This will connect to the Upper Loop which you will follow Clockwise to the Finish at Betty Dunn Nature Center pavillion. There is no time limit.

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Location

10821 Park Road, Spencer, 38585, TN, United States

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Mar 21, 2026

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