COURSE INFORMATION

Eight mountains out. Eight mountains back.

The Athens Big Fork Trail Marathon and 17 Mile Blaylock Creek Fun Run are rugged, out-and-back trail races beginning and ending at the Big Fork Community Center. Both courses travel portions of the historic Athens-Big Fork Trail through the Ouachita National Forest.

The trail began as a horse postal route more than 125 years ago. By the time you finish, you may wish you had brought the horse!

Course Overview

The course begins at the Big Fork Community Center and follows Highway 8, County Road 83 and Forest Road B15 to the northern trailhead of the Athens-Big Fork Trail.

The trail is permanently marked with white blazes. Additional race-day markings, including spray chalk, flour and orange cones at road intersections, will be placed to help direct runners.

Course Links

Use the links below for driving directions, route viewing and navigation.

COURSE RECORDS

COURSE MAP

The Marathon Course

Runners begin with approximately 2.5 miles of paved and gravel roads leading to the northern trailhead. After entering the Athens-Big Fork Trail, they follow the white blazes across eight mountains:

1. Missouri Mountain
2. Hurricane Knob
3. McKinley Mountain
4. Brier Creek Mountain
5. Leader Mountain
6. Brush Heap Mountain
7. Brushy Mountain
8. Big Tom Mountain

At the southern end of the trail, runners turn right and continue approximately one-half mile down Forest Road B23F to reach the Mile 13.1 turnaround aid station. Then they turn around, cross all eight mountains again and return to Big Fork. It’s that easy!

The 17 Mile Fun Run Course

The 17 Mile Blaylock Creek Fun Run follows the marathon route from the Big Fork Community Center to the Blaylock Creek aid station. Runners turn around immediately after crossing Blaylock Creek and return to Big Fork along the same course.

MARATHON BY THE NUMBERS

ELEVATION PROFILE

Start to the marathon turnaround at Mile 13.1