The Cherokee - Tellico Plains, TN
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The Cherokee - Tellico Plains, TN
The Cherokee is a multi-distance mountain ultramarathon held in Tellico Plains, Tennessee, within the Cherokee National Forest. The event uses Tellico Plains High School as the start and finish location and follows trails including Warrior’s Passage, Waucheesi Tower, Buck Bald, the Benton MacKaye Trail, the John Muir Trail, the Hiwassee River corridor, and sections of the historic Unicoi Turnpike.
Distances offered:
- 130K : 85 miles, 19,000+ ft elevation gain, 26-hour strict cutoff; field cap and eligibility requirement apply.
- 70K : 46 miles, 10,000+ ft elevation gain, 16-hour soft cutoff.
- Waucheesi Vert Challenge : 24 miles, about 5,000 ft climb and 5,000 ft descent, summit of Waucheesi.
The event includes themed aid stations by day and lantern-lit stations at night, a finisher celebration at the high school, and local baked goods at the finish. Live coverage is provided on YouTube with real-time tracking and runner interviews. Awards are given to the top three men and women in each distance; finishers receive a buckle and swag under stated registration conditions, and a double-buckle recognition exists for completing the 130K twice.
Mandatory equipment requirements include a water filter, a GPX file on a device (paper map recommended), an antihistamine, a headlamp for the entire race, and a whistle. The organizer is East Coast Adventures and a no-refunds, no-deferrals policy applies. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
