Cades Cove Loop Lope

For 2024 results, click HERE.

• LIMITED VEHICLE RESERVATION ACCESS PASSES FOR THE 2025 CADES COVE LOOP LOPE WILL BE AVAILABLE WHEN REGISTRATION OPENS. All other participants must shuttle from the Townsend Visitors Center the morning of the race. A handicapped accessible shuttle will be available. 

• Leave No Trace: Because this race happens inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park, it is essential that all of us (staff, volunteers, and runners) do our best to Leave No Trace on race day. If you wish to discard clothing, like gloves, or any type of food or beverage waste (like goo packets) even if they are biodegradable, please hold onto those items until you come to a water station or the finish line.
• Awards: Trophies will be presented to the overall (male and female) 1st place finishers for both the 5K and 10-Mile courses. There will be 1st place awards for age categories. Awards for the 5K will be available for pickup at 8:30 am. Awards for the 10-mile will be available for pickup at 9:30 am.
• Course Sweeps: After 1.5 hours on the 5K course and after 2.5 hours on the 10 Mile course, members of the Smokies’ all-volunteer Cades Cove Bicycle Patrol will ride along the routes to notify participants that the Cades Cove Loop Road will open to vehicle traffic. A shuttle vehicle for any participants remaining on the 10 Mile course will drive the course at 10:20 a.m. when the race officially ends.  If you choose not to board the shuttle vehicle sweep at that time, you must proceed cautiously to avoid vehicles and arrange my own transportation. The final shuttle to Townsend departs at approximately 10:30 a.m. and will not wait for remaining participants.
• All participants must be capable of completing the full race distance, start line to finish line, under their own power. Participants outside of the 10:20 a.m. time limit may not be recorded or published as official finishers, receive on-course support from aid stations and traffic safety personnel. 
• BE AWARE: It will be dark in Cades Cove when you arrive, so consider bringing a headlamp or small flashlight.
• Water Crossing (5K Course):There is a low water point on the 5K course. A creek crosses the road near the beginning of Sparks Lane and you will have to run through it. The water level depends on the weather during and around that time. There will be a volunteer stationed on the other side of the water with towels for you to dry your feet!
• Strollers are allowed on courses, however, please be aware of the water crossing (mentioned above) and you will be responsible for transporting the stroller on the shuttle bus if you do not obtain a parking pass or ride with a passholder. Parking passes usually sell out the first day registration opens.
• Participant Transfers: Since we will likely have a waiting list for this event, we are unable to transfer a registration from one participant to another.
• Event Transfers: If you signed up for either the 10-Mile or the 5K and decide you'd like to switch to the other distance, this is allowed and can be accomplished through your profile page. The deadline to make a transfer is October 10th, 2025. If you experience troubles making this change, please let us know either by contacting amy@friendsofthesmokies.org so that we can make this change for you.