Cades Cove Loop Lope
About this race
The Cades Cove Loop Lope is the only organized footrace held inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park, to benefit Friends of the Smokies. All funds raised benefit park projects and programs such as historic preservation, wildlife conservation, native plant and grassland restoration, and so much more.
There are two course options, a 5K or a USATF Certified 10-Mile Loop. Participation is limited to 750 total runners. This race sells out fast, so please don't wait to register!
You can pick up your race day packets and race bibs at either of the following times/locations:
- Thursday, November 5, 2026, 3-6PM at River Sports Outfitters – 2918 Sutherland Ave, Knoxville, TN
- Saturday, November 7, 2026, from 2-5pm at the Townsend Visitor Center – 7906 E Lamar, Alexander Pkwy, Townsend, TN
Carpooling is essential to maximizing participation in this race. A limited number of vehicle reservation passes for on-site access in Cades Cove will be available for purchase for an additional fee. Please note: Parking reservation passes typically sell out the day registration opens. Registrants who do not purchase a vehicle pass must either carpool with a passholder they know or utilize the group transportation option from the Townsend Visitors Center. A handicapped accessible shuttle will be available at the Townsend Visitors Center.
Pick your distance
Running
10 Mile Loop Lope
Registration fee is the same for either the 5K or 10 Mile Loop Lope. Carpooling is essential to maximizing participation in this race. Only 100 vehicle reservation passes will be available for purchase for an additional fee when registration opens. Registrants who do not purchase a vehicle pass must either carpool with a passholder they know or utilize the group transportation option which will be provided by Friends of the Smokies. A handicapped accessible shuttle will be available at the Townsend Visitors Center.
5K Loop Lope
Registration fee is the same for either the 5K or 10 Mile Loop Lope. Carpooling is essential to maximizing participation in this race. Only 100 vehicle reservation passes will be available for purchase for an additional fee when registration opens. Registrants who do not purchase a vehicle pass must either carpool with a passholder they know or utilize the group transportation option which will be provided by Friends of the Smokies. A handicapped accessible shuttle will be available at the Townsend Visitors Center.
Typical race-day weather
Based on 13 years of Open-Meteo archive data for this event's race dates in Townsend, plus the 3 days either side.
The sun rises at 7:04 AM and sets at 5:33 PM local time (EST) in Townsend on November 8, 2026 — 10h 29m of daylight.
Course
No course map published yet.
The organizer hasn't released a route for this event, and we don't publish guesses. If you're the organizer, send us a GPX file and we'll draw the profile.
Reviews
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Results — Cades Cove Loop Lope
Other races near Townsend
Different organizers, within 40 miles, in the next three months
Smoky Mountain Very Scary 5K
S'mores Run 5k & 10k (Townsend, TN )
Little River Run 5K
Arrowwood Adventure 5K
🏃 Plan Your Next Race in Townsend
Find upcoming events by distance:
- Townsend 5K Races 6 races
- 10K Run Events in Townsend 2 races
- Townsend Running Calendar 2026 7 races
Where this page comes from. Race details were last updated on . We re-check listings regularly and again in the week before race day.
- Entries, prices, waves and inclusions — the event's official registration page
- Temperature and humidity — Copernicus ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0)
- Elevation and terrain relief — Copernicus DEM GLO-90, ESA (CC BY 4.0)
- Comparisons and counts — Race Discovery calendar, 8 Townsend events
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