Welcome to THE COVE!!
(We almost called this race "The Hidden Gem" because that's exactly what it is!)
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McLemore Cove is a 15 mile long valley in the “V” between the Lookout Mountain to the west and Pigeon Mountain to the east. It is about 45 minutes from downtown Chattanooga, TN and Fort Payne, AL and about 1 hour from Dalton, GA. Like most beautiful places it is a little out of the way. Its unique location between Pigeon Mountain and Lookout Mountain makes it geologically a transition between the Cumberland Plateau and Ridge and Valley province of the Appalachian Mountains.
Our races will start in The Cove at the beautiful Mountain Cove Farms and quickly climb up Pigeon Mountain for all race distances. Pigeon Mountain is famous for Rocktown and Ellison's Cave (National Geographic, July, 2023). It is also home to the ghost town of Estelle. We will keep you well clear of the dangers of Ellison's Cave. Both the 30K and 50K routes will get to go by Rocktown. 50K runners will go down the Estelle Mines Trail past (or possibly through?!?) the old railroad tunnels.😳 The 50K will also pass Pocket Falls and the High Point Overlook.
Crockford-Pigeon Mtn WMA is not a Georgia State Park. So, there's no $5 charge for parking for the event. However, Runners must purchase a day-use pass in the form of a Combo Hunting/Fishing (Short Term) License for the day of the race for a cost of $5.
Here's a link for race day. A reminder will be given at registration.
The Cove Trail Run 50K
The Cove Trail Run 50K
This is more of a "figure 8" route. It will begin like the 30K route. This route will leave the farm and immediately turn left on the dirt road through the Dove Field. A right turn at the pond to get on the blue-blazed Cove Loop Trail. At about 1.5 miles total, you will hit a big climb by turning left up the green-blazed Connector Trail. Around Mile 3 you will hit a junction with the white-blazed Bluff Trail and go left. A water-only Rocky Lane aid station will be located here. You will continue until approximately Mile 6 where you will reach the Atwood Trail Aid Station. Pay close attention to the volunteers' directions as you leave and continue on the orange-blazed Atwood Trail. You will go approximately 1 mile where you will come upon Allen Creek and the trail takes a sharp left. Stay on the orange-blazed route. 1 mile after Allen Creek (Approximately 8 total) you will take a left "cross-country" turn of about 30 yards that will put you on the red-blazed Rocktown Trail. You will then turn right. This area will be well-flagged. Continue toward Rocktown on the single-track trail that will turn into a forest road at the trailhead parking lot. At approximately mile 10-10.5, you will turn left on Rocky Lane. This will take you to the West Brow Aid Station at Mile 11. You will leave the aid station and turn left onto McCutchin Springs Rd. At approximately 12.5, you will turn left onto the white-blazed Bluff Trail. You will then quickly come to a fork where you will take a left onto the blue-blazed Pocket Loop Trail. After about 2.5 miles (15) you will turn left on The Pocket Rd. Half a mile downhill will be The Pocket Aid Station. You will leave the aid station on the orange-blazed Estelle Mines Trail. Depending on conditions, you may have a choice to run through a couple of mining tunnels on the trail. The official route will go over or around the tunnels, but choosing the tunnels will not count as "cutting the course". After about 2.5 miles (18), you will turn right onto the green-blazed Bluebird gap trail. This climb will take you to the white-blazed Bluff Trail where you will turn right. Stay left at the fork on the blue and white-blazed Bluff/Pocket combined Trail and head toward the High Point overlook. After a couple of miles, the trail will connect back onto the white-blazed Bluff Trail and you will return to West Brow Aid Station at Mile 23. You will leave the aid station continuing on Rocky Lane and turn left onto the white-blazed Bluff Trail. You will go approximately 3 miles and return to the Atwood Trail Aid Station around mile 26. You will then get back on the white-blazed Bluff Trail turning left and heading back to the green-blazed ConnectorTrail you climb up in the beginning. At approximately 28.5 miles you will turn right on the green-blazed Connector Trail. At the bottom of The Connector turn right on the blue-blazed Cove Loop Trail. You will take a left turn down the dirt road through the Dove Field. You will turn right on the paved road and head to the finish.
View 50K interactive course map (Garmin)
Garmin estimates approximately 4,000 ft of elevation gain.
Strava and CalTopo estimate closer to 5,000 ft of elevation gain.
The Cove Trail Run 30K
The Cove Trail Run 30K
This is a "lollipop" or "lasso" route. This route will leave the farm and immediately turn left on the dirt road through the Dove Field. A right turn at the pond to get on the blue-blazed Cove Loop Trail. At about 1.5 miles total, you will hit a big climb by turning left up the green-blazed Connector Trail. Around Mile 3 you will hit a junction with the white-blazed Bluff Trail and go left. A water-only Rocky Lane aid station will be located here. You will continue until approximately Mile 6 where you will reach the Atwood Trail Aid Station. Pay close attention to the volunteers' directions as you leave and continue on the orange-blazed Atwood Trail. You will go approximately 1 mile where you will come upon Allen Creek and the trail takes a sharp left. Stay on the orange-blazed route. 1 mile after Allen Creek (Approximately 8 total) you will take a left "cross-country" turn of about 30 yards that will put you on the red-blazed Rocktown Trail. You will then turn right. This area will be well-flagged. Continue toward Rocktown on the single-track trail that will turn into a forest road at the trailhead parking lot. At approximately mile 10-10.5, you will turn left on Rocky Lane. This will take you to the West Brow Aid Station at Mile 11. You will leave the aid station continuing on Rocky Lane and turn left onto the white-blazed Bluff Trail. You will go approximately 3 miles and return to the Atwood Trail Aid Station around mile 14. You will then get back on the white-blazed Bluff Trail turning left and heading back to the green-blazed ConnectorTrail you climb up in the beginning. At approximately 16.5 miles you will turn right on the green-blazed Connector Trail. At the bottom of The Connector turn right on the blue-blazed Cove Loop Trail. You will take a left turn down the dirt road through the Dove Field. You will turn right on the paved road and head to the finish.
View 30K interactive course map (Garmin)
Garmin estimates approximately 2,000 ft of elevation gain.
Strava and CalTopo estimate closer to 2,500 ft of elevation gain.
The Cove Trail Run 10K
The Cove Trail Run 10K
This route will start like the other distances by charging down the dirt road through the Dove Field. After half a mile, a quick left turn takes runners across a rugged bridge over an inlet to Hog Jowl Creek as the trail narrows before emerging back onto Daugherty Gap Road for .3 miles. The course then heads up into the rolling fields of Mountain Cove Farms. Rolling fields give way to more rugged, wooded trails as runners head into Whiskey Hollow and the only aid station (where you can expect a namesake shot to be available) just past the halfway point. Runners return briefly back the same trail to size up the remaining field before grinding up the most (and last) significant hill of the day. Runners are then in for a treat as they hit the rolling fields and expansive views at the base of Lookout Mountain as they wind through the scenic Mountain Cove Disc Golf Course and maybe even an orchard. The finish is a fast and fun downhill back to the The Cove race finish line.
View 10K interactive course map (Garmin)
Garmin estimates just over 700 ft of elevation gain.
Strava estimates just over 800 ft of elevation gain.
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