Cades Cove Loop Lope

For 2022 results, click here.

• LIMITED PARKING PASSES FOR THE 2023 CADES COVE LOOP LOPE WILL BE AVAILABLE WHEN REGISTRATION OPENS.  Please scroll down to read more about our group transportation option.

• 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. If the shuttle vehicle approaches you and you are still on the course, you WILL be required to ride the vehicle out. Due to the nature of this race, the road must open in a timely manner and participant safety is of the utmost importance. Therefore, this policy will be strictly enforced.
• All participants must be capable of completing the full race distance, start line to finish line, by 10:20 a.m. under their own power. Participants outside of the time limit may not be recorded or published as official finishers, receive on-course support from aid stations and traffic safety personnel, or be allowed to complete the full race distance. Friends of the Smokies reserves the right to set cutoff times and participants not meeting the cutoff time will not be allowed to continue.
• 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 the 5K course, 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, which is June 1st, 2023.
• 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. If you experience troubles making this change, please let us know either by contacting lindsay@friendsofthesmokies.org OR at Packet Pick Up so that we can make this change for you.