CHECK-IN DAY - 10/1/2025

Check-In Time: 5:00pm

Where: CTS Coach House

Description: Welcome to the Ultrarunning Camp! When you arrive at our Tennessee field office, you'll be warmly welcomed by our CTS coaching staff.

We’ll begin with a welcome session where you'll have the chance to meet the coaches and participants who will be part of this amazing experience with you. We’ll go over the week’s schedule, routes, and itinerary, giving you a clear idea of what to expect in the coming days. Additionally, we’ll have a presentation and discussion on Rate of Perceived Exertion to help you understand how to best pace yourself each day for the three big days of volume.

This is also a perfect opportunity to ask questions, gather information, and start connecting with other runners. To kick things off, we’ll enjoy a relaxed welcome dinner where you can mingle and share your excitement for the adventures ahead. Get ready for an unforgettable weekend!

Special note on the routes: Each day, we will break the athletes up into separate groups based on ability level. Each group will be out on the trails for about the same amount of time but will do slight variations of the route.

 10/2/2025

Mileage: 12-14miles

Elevation Gain: 3500-4000ft 

Time Range: 3.5-4.5hrs 

Brief Run Description:  Get ready for an exhilarating day on the trails as we climb the Alum Cave Trail up to Mt. LeConte. This is one of the most popular trails in the park for good reason. Don’t worry, we will be getting an early start to beat the foot traffic!

You will take in multiple views throughout this climb, run along beautifully maintained trails, and experience quintessential Appalachian terrain. The Alum Cave overhang marks the halfway point up to Mt. LeCone. From here, the trail continues to climb steeply until you reach the famous Mt. LeConte Lodge that sits atop the mountain. We will press on another half mile to Myrtle Point and take the time to soak in the panoramic views from this iconic overlook.

Leaving Myrtle Point, we will run across the aptly named Boulevard Trail for 5 miles until we connect with the Appalachian Trail. The Boulevard Trail is a perfect punch of technical trails with gradual climbs and descents. More expansive views await at various stops along this trail.

Our route then transitions to the Appalachian Trail, where we'll experience a meandering descent to Newfound Gap. This section promises to deliver a mix of technical terrain and scenic beauty as we make our way down to Newfound Gap and the North Carolina-Tennessee border. 

Be prepared for a day of rewarding challenges and breathtaking sights, and don’t forget to take in the serene beauty of the Appalachian Trail as we wind down our run. It’s going to be a day packed with adventure and memorable moments!

10/3/2025

Mileage: 20-22miles

Elevation Gain: 5000-6000ft

Time Range: 5-7hrs 

Brief Run Description: Today’s adventure takes us on a diverse and scenic route, starting from the Lead Cove Trailhead and completing a counter-clockwise route to Tremont. We’ll begin our day with an ascent up to Bote Mountain, which will be a steady climb that tops out on the Appalachian Trail. Upon reaching the Appalachian Trail, we head north and will be greeted with big views of Fontana Dam and the eastern expanse of the Smokies. The best views await from Rocky Top where we will take time to stop and enjoy a break after 6 miles and 3,600 feet of climbing!

After Rocky Top, we’ll continue heading north and traverse a technical stretch of the Appalachian Trail for 5 miles. From there, we turn left onto more hospitable singletrack and start the long, fun descent down to Tremont. The first 6 miles of this descent go down the Greenbrier Ridge Trail which provides a perfect opportunity to open up the downhill legs and finetune your descending skills. As we descend, we will run along and cross numerous creeks and enjoy the diversity of landscapes that the Smokies are famous for.

For the last 4 miles, we descend the gentle Middle Prong Trail, which is an old railroad bed. We parallel Lynn Camp Prong for the remainder of the route. This is a fun descent, but you will want to take the time for a few brief pauses to take in the many cascades and waterfalls along this last section of the trail.

This day truly has it all and encompasses all the beauty and diversity that the Smokies has to offer; big climbs and descents, views up high along the Appalachian Trail, and running along high-flowing, beautiful creeks.

10/4/2025

Mileage: 18-20miles

Elevation Gain: 4500-5500ft

Time Range: 5-7hrs 

Brief Run Description: For our final day, we’ll ascend the Anthony Creek Trail out of Cades Cove and join the Appalachian Trail for the final time. The steady climb up Anthony Creek includes numerous creek crossings across footbridges in the first few miles and then transitions to dense forest single track for the remainder of the climb.

For the next 8.5 miles, we traverse the spine of the Smokies across the Appalachian Trail and head north to Gregory Bald. By day 3, you will be all too familiar with the undulating mix of terrain that the Appalachian Trail has to offer! This section stays up high along the ridge the entire time, and we will experience a very secluded and peaceful section of the mountains.

At the end of our final stretch of the Appalachian Trail, we will do a steep but short half mile climb up to Gregory Bald. Gregory Bald is one of the last maintained balds in Smoky Mountain National Park. You will enjoy more big views of the surrounding mountains and also be treated to a view of Cades Cove.

After enjoying your last expansive view of the weekend, we descend the Gregory Ridge Trail. The first 3 miles of this descent are steep and go through an old-growth forest full of towering tulip and oak trees. For the final 2 miles, the trail levels out and offers a gentle descent that parallels Forge Creek.