Caney Fork Ultra

Race - Aug 21, 2021

Dogs No Dogs

Features Waterfall

We are excited to offer the opportunity for runners to enjoy the rugged terrain of Scotts Gulf with the inaugural Caney Fork Ultra.

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Scotts Gulf in White County is formed by the Caney Fork River which contains several areas of class III-V rapids. Fortunately though, the river typically becomes almost dry during late summer months and has several areas with natural Fords. As part of the agreement when the lands surrounding the Caney Fork were ceded to the State of Tennessee from Bridgestone/Firestone Corporation, there are no structures allowed on the property. This includes bridges. Needless to say, if you register for this event, you can expect to get wet. The course is a 40(ish) mile event that will take runners across the Caney Fork a total of 4 times at different fords. In between these river crossings, runners can expect a little bit of everything. Steep rocky descents/ascents, technical boulder fields, wide flowing singletrack, and a bit of gravel road all while passing by beautiful overlooks, and several waterfalls.

40 MILER:
The Caney Fork Ultra 40 mile course will start and finish on the Latimer Reservation Boy Scout property on the south side of the Caney Fork River in Van Buren County. Runners will cover several miles of trail in the Bridgestone/Firestone Centennial Wilderness as well as Virgin Falls and Lost Creek State Natural Areas. Runners will make a loop around Lake Joe Long to start the race before quickly descending into Bee Creek Gorge.

The course will follow Bee Creek toward the confluence with Caney Fork River where you'll ford the river for the first time. Once across the Caney Fork, the course follows the Caney Fork River Trail in the gulf through several rocky boulder fields before climbing up onto the Chestnut Mountain Ranch. A few miles of wide singletrack and a short distance of gravel road takes runners through the Centennial Wilderness toward Big Laurel Falls.

Once past Big Laurel Falls, runners will follow Virgin Falls Trail to Virgin Falls then onto a climb over Wilson Ridge into Lost Creek Natural Area. Once runners pass Lost Creek Falls a short section of gravel road takes them to Big Bottom Unit (yes, that's really the name) of Centennial Wilderness where they will ford the Caney Fork two more times while passing through historic (though long gone) towns of Dodson and Bethesda.

Once runners pass through Big Bottom, they will climb out of Scotts Gulf on Ambers Den Ridge Trail to Welch Point where a spectacular overlook of the Caney Fork River awaits. After taking Ambers Den Ridge Trail runners will run a short section of gravel once again(retracing about a mile from earlier in the race) and then run the rim of Scotts Gulf above the Caney Fork River with some great views along the way before dipping back down into the gulf one last time to make a final Ford of the river. After crossing the Caney Fork for the last time runners will begin making their way back up along the Bee Creek Trail toward Latimer Reservation. Fair warning: the last 0.75 miles of trail ascends roughly 450 ft and is narrow, loose, and rocky. A perfect way to end a 40(ish) mile run!

Participants have the opportunity to reserve camping or lodging on the Latimer Reservation in one of the Male/Female Lodge Houses, in Latimers Tent City, or for their own tent.

Cutoff for this event will be 13 hours which means an average pace of 18.5 minute miles. Many sections of this course will be very runnable and many sections will not be. River crossings will also slow your overall pace. Please keep this in mind when registering for this event.

Sorry, there are no refunds or exchanges for any registration. In the event of a cancelation all registrations will be rolled to the next year.