Big South Fork Trail Race

BIG SOUTH FORK TRAIL RACE

TIME & PLACE

• Date: September 26, 2026
• Start Time: 8:30 am (Eastern Daylight Time)
• Location: Starts and finishes at the Bandy Creek Campground in the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area.

COURSE DESCRIPTION

• Distance: 17.5 Mile out-and-back loop course.
• Trail Type: First 1.5 miles is paved and gravel, balance is single track.
• Aid Stations: Located at roughly 3.5, 5, 12, and 14 miles.
• Closure Time: Course closes at 1:30 pm.

For maps, elevation profiles, and more, click here.

DIRECTIONS AND LODGING

• Route: From Knoxville, take I-75 north to Oneida, Exit 141 (40 minutes).
• Camping: Space available at Bandy Creek Campground.
• Reservations: Can be made through the NPS reservation service (www.nps.gov) at 1.800.365.CAMP.
• GPS Coordinates: 36.490481, -84.700717

REGISTRATION AND FEES

• Fees: Registration fees above, $5 KTC member discount accepted.
• Non-Members: Sign up here!
• Pre-registration: All runners MUST pre-register!
• Additional Lunch: $10.00 each.

NO REFUNDS AND NO BIB TRANSFERS. NO LATE OR RACE DAY REGISTRATION.

IMPORTANT NOTICE ON BIBS

PLEASE DON'T TAKE A BIB IF YOU'RE NOT RUNNING. This is safety-related - we want to make sure that everybody who starts the race stays safe. If you take a bib, we think you're running the race. Then when you don't show up at the finish, we have to try and track you down and make sure you're not lost in the woods or hurt. So please -- if you're not running the race, don't take a bib. Also, if you have to drop out of the race, please let one of the race officials know so you are accounted for. Don't crunch or fold your bib, or tear off the bottom: we need an unspoiled bib to record your time and finish place.

SHIRTS

• 17.5 Mile Runners: Will receive a limited edition long-sleeve BSF Trail Race sweatshirt.
• 10k Runners: Will receive a long-sleeve cotton T-shirt.
• No Shirt Option: Deduct $5 from fee for either race.

AWARDS

• Categories: Top 3 Overall, top Masters (40+), Grandmasters (50+), Veterans (60+) for Male and Female.
• Clydesdale and Athena: Awards to the top Clydesdale (male, 200 lbs+) and Athena (female, 150 lbs+).
• Eligibility: Overall winners not eligible for age division awards (three deep).
• Treadin' Trodden Trails: Grand Prix points awarded for the 17.5 mile race and half points for 10k race.

SPECIAL TTT SERIES AWARDS

This year we'll be awarding the top 3 in each division free race entries. Additionally we’ll hold a drawing so that two lucky runners get a pair of shoes, thanks to the generous sponsorship of Runners Market. Reminders: to qualify for series awards (and free shoes!), you'll need to be a member of KTC, and you will need to have volunteered two times during the course of the trail race season.

POST RACE CELEBRATION

All runners are invited to a family picnic in the staging area immediately after the race. Extra meal tickets $10.00.

RESULTS

Results will be available on the Knoxville Track Club website: www.ktc.org.

COURSE ETIQUETTE

We reserve the right to disqualify anyone who exhibits unsportsmanlike conduct or is abusive to volunteers. Due to insurance regulations, no headsets, earphones, bicycles, baby strollers, roller blades or pets on the course.

SAFETY

Aid and water stations will be provided, but in an effort to be greener, we urge all runners to carry their own water. If you don't own a handheld, consider purchasing one. We also strongly recommend that anyone sensitive to insect stings or bites carry their own medication. Finally, we urge that everyone does some pre-race training offroad, as there is no substitute for experience. We want you to have a good time.

SAFETY POLICY CLARIFICATION

Our primary goal is to keep everybody safe out there in the woods. If a runner is under 12 years old, he or she will need to be accompanied by an adult in order to run the race. Additionally, we’ll need to enforce the 18:00/mile minimum pace to keep our volunteers from being in the woods longer than necessary.

INFO FOR RUNNING OR VOLUNTEERING

• Contact: Trail Series Director Michael deLisle at 865.548.4718 or email trails@ktc.org.
• Race Director: Bobby Glenn at 865.548.7664 or bgruns@icloud.com.
• Volunteer Opportunities: Available on Runsignup.com.

KTC SAFETY POLICY

KTC’s mission is to encourage lifelong physical well-being through running and walking. The safety of its participants, spectators, staff, and volunteers is the first priority. The Executive Director and Race Director will monitor weather conditions and communicate any necessary changes. Participants must abandon the race if ordered to do so by officials.