Rough Trail Ultramarathon 50k

Race - Nov 9, 2019

Dogs No Dogs

Features Fall Colors · River/Creek · Views · Wildlife

This is the Red River Gorge. Trails were originally built in the middle part of the past century and do not gradually ascend or descend the numerous ridges and their sandstone bastions.

This is a land of hard edges, steep slopes, and heartbreaking opposition to forward motion.

November is typically a good time for stable weather in the area, though it may be rainy and cool. There will be autumn leaves on the ground which can be treacherous when obscuring roots and rocks.

This course is HARD. The 50k course has 6,000' of gain and 6,000' of descent and it's all steep, technical, and comes relentlessly throughout the route. There are multiple stream crossings and the course varies from intimate valleys and gorges to exposed sandstone ridgelines.

The race will begin and end at Koomer Ridge Campground. First it will traverse over to Pinch Em Tight Ridge and then you'll spend the day looping around the Tunnel Ridge Road area before racing out Rough Trail to ChimneyTop Road and then turning back for one last descent and climb to finish. It ain't over til its over!

From the website:

The Rough Trail Ultramarathon is one of the roughest, toughest, and damn hardest trail races in the eastern United States. Taking you the length of Kentuckys famed Red River Gorge, Rough will give you a rare opportunity to see the entire Gorge in all of its beauty and treachery. Rough is designed for one purpose: to take you to your very limits and give you that rare opportunity smash through the wall. In doing so, we believe you learn something raw and new about yourself.

Rough Trail Ultramarathon will give you stunning views of ancient rock shelters, natural arches, and the deep expanse of the Red River Gorge. Oh, and some of the gnarliest damn trails youll find.

Rough will punish you and trick you into thinking the worst its over when it certainly is NOT. But if you believe you can take the beating and keep moving forward; if you think you have what it takes to learn a hard new truth about yourself; if you want to see some of the most breathtaking, untouched Appalachian country and have one of the most exciting experiences of your life, then Rough is waiting.