RIVER GORGE 2025
About River Gorge
A Southeastern classic that runs the Mullens Cove and Pot Point Loops in the Prentice-Cooper Wildlife Management Area just outside Chattanooga, Tennessee. The highly technical single-track loop trail boasts magnificent bluff views of the Tennessee River and cascading streams lined with rhododendrons and towering hemlock. One of the most beautiful trails in the Chattanooga area, this is a bucket list race for both leisure and competitive trail runners. Elevation gain for the 10 Miler is 2,000 ft, the 6.5 Miler is around 1,500 ft, and the 20 Miler is around 3,000 ft.
THE FINISHERS
- 1Brittany Blanton· 411:06:15
- 2Martha Clemmer· 293:31:50
- 3Gracen Glover· 233:33:41
- 1Mac Dean· 342:56:47
- 2Bryson Harper· 371:22:31
- 3Will Noogle· 3300:56:34
Age-group winners · 20 MILER
| Age | Female | Male |
|---|---|---|
| <20 | Ainsley Craig6:29:59 | — |
| 20-29 | Martha Clemmer3:31:50 | Thomas Sell3:22:00 |
| 30-39 | Catherine Casselman4:05:34 | Mac Dean2:56:47 |
| 40-49 | Laura Henry4:25:31 | Dan Rose3:06:08 |
| 50-59 | Wendy Halsey-Richardson5:58:05 | James Slaughter4:04:28 |
| 60-69 | — | Scott Leeth5:00:18 |
Age-group winners · 10.2 MILER
| Age | Female | Male |
|---|---|---|
| 20-29 | Jessie Rieth2:08:02 | James McKenzie1:28:02 |
| 30-39 | Bethani Nelson1:49:09 | Bryson Harper1:22:31 |
| 40-49 | Kimberly Hall2:21:37 | Thomas Crutchfield1:28:25 |
| 50-59 | Dawn Lamb2:29:36 | Taka Elkins2:14:26 |
| 60-69 | Leslie Cain3:08:31 | Tab Tollett2:04:36 |
Age-group winners · 6.5 MILER
| Age | Female | Male |
|---|---|---|
| <20 | Addison Smith2:48:20 | Kellan Giles1:09:48 |
| 20-29 | Kaylee Jorgensen1:21:16 | — |
| 30-39 | Emily O'Neil1:18:26 | Will Noogle00:56:34 |
| 40-49 | Brittany Blanton1:06:15 | C.J. Recher1:10:48 |
| 50-59 | Kystye Dalton1:27:07 | Chris Greenwood1:06:20 |
| 60-69 | Kay Pearlman1:47:33 | Keith Turner1:32:58 |
| 70+ | — | Jack Pickett1:57:37 |
20 MILER · 34 men finishers
- 1Mac Dean2:56:47Overall #1Age 34Chattanooga, TN
- 2Dan Rose3:06:08Overall #2Age 45Chattanooga, TN
- 3Thomas Sell3:22:00Overall #3Age 25Chattanooga, TN
- 4Josh Cornelius3:31:17Age 36Chattanooga, TN
- 7Charlie Haney3:34:24Age 31Chattanooga, TN
- 8Matt Guenther3:40:59Age 31Rising Fawn, GA
- 9Emmett Whitaker3:59:01Age 26Chattanooga, TN
- 10James Slaughter4:04:28Age 50Gallatin, TN
- 13Ory Dortch4:12:07Age 35Apison, TN
- 15Jonathan Pinter4:25:15Age 39Chattanooga, TN
- 17James Fisher4:26:08Age 39Signal Mountain, TN
- 18Scott Swafford4:29:14Age 46Chattanooga, TN
- 19Brad Dailey4:33:00Age 53Venice, FL
- 20Robert Fischman4:42:38Age 33Signal Mtn, TN
- 22Cody King4:46:03Age 40Dallas, GA
- 23Daniel Highsmith4:46:26Age 47Cross Plains, TN
- 24Tom Cupo4:46:48Age 39Chattanooga, TN
- 25Logan Pearlman4:47:01Age 24Fort Myers, FL
- 26Jared Pearlman4:47:12Age 30Fort Myers, FL
- 26Carson Pearlman4:47:12Age 28Fort Myers, FL
| Men Place | Overall | Name | Age | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | #1 | Mac Dean | 34 | 2:56:47 |
| 2 | #2 | Dan Rose | 45 | 3:06:08 |
| 3 | #3 | Thomas Sell | 25 | 3:22:00 |
| 4 | #4 | Josh Cornelius | 36 | 3:31:17 |
| 5 | #7 | Charlie Haney | 31 | 3:34:24 |
| 6 | #8 | Matt Guenther | 31 | 3:40:59 |
| 7 | #9 | Emmett Whitaker | 26 | 3:59:01 |
| 8 | #10 | James Slaughter | 50 | 4:04:28 |
| 9 | #13 | Ory Dortch | 35 | 4:12:07 |
| 10 | #15 | Jonathan Pinter | 39 | 4:25:15 |
| 11 | #17 | James Fisher | 39 | 4:26:08 |
| 12 | #18 | Scott Swafford | 46 | 4:29:14 |
| 13 | #19 | Brad Dailey | 53 | 4:33:00 |
| 14 | #20 | Robert Fischman | 33 | 4:42:38 |
| 15 | #22 | Cody King | 40 | 4:46:03 |
| 16 | #23 | Daniel Highsmith | 47 | 4:46:26 |
| 17 | #24 | Tom Cupo | 39 | 4:46:48 |
| 18 | #25 | Logan Pearlman | 24 | 4:47:01 |
| 19 | #26 | Jared Pearlman | 30 | 4:47:12 |
| 20 | #26 | Carson Pearlman | 28 | 4:47:12 |
10.2 MILER · 47 men finishers
- 1Bryson Harper1:22:31Overall #1Age 37Chattanooga, TN
- 2James McKenzie1:28:02Overall #2Age 28Niota, TN
- 3Thomas Crutchfield1:28:25Overall #3Age 43Chattanooga, AL
- 4Connor Hatfield1:35:04Age 33Talbott, TN
- 5Alex Stephens1:35:05Age 34Nashville, TN
- 6Mitchell Connell1:35:39Age 33Chattanooga, TN
- 7Will Davis1:39:11Age 28Nashville, TN
- 8Lake Campbell1:40:11Age 32Chattanooga, TN
- 9Skyler Baker1:40:41Age 31Chattanooga, TN
- 10Benjamin Ramos1:42:57Age 33Chattanooga, TN
- 11Jonathan Watson1:43:53Age 40Chattanooga, TN
- 12Justin Sims1:43:55Age 34Nashville, TN
- 13Sloan Youngblood1:45:33Age 44Lookout Mountain, TN
- 14Paul Belobraydic1:46:29Age 40Chattanooga, TN
- 16Jake Fast1:49:11Age 39Cleveland, TN
- 17Ben Stephens1:51:23Age 34Cleveland, TN
- 18Christian Rauch1:53:28Age 48Chattanooga, TN
- 20Horry Parker2:00:58Age 45Chattanooga, TN
- 21Andrew Clingan2:01:16Age 31Birmingham, AL
- 22David Wolfe2:03:25Age 36Signal Mountain, TN
| Men Place | Overall | Name | Age | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | #1 | Bryson Harper | 37 | 1:22:31 |
| 2 | #2 | James McKenzie | 28 | 1:28:02 |
| 3 | #3 | Thomas Crutchfield | 43 | 1:28:25 |
| 4 | #4 | Connor Hatfield | 33 | 1:35:04 |
| 5 | #5 | Alex Stephens | 34 | 1:35:05 |
| 6 | #6 | Mitchell Connell | 33 | 1:35:39 |
| 7 | #7 | Will Davis | 28 | 1:39:11 |
| 8 | #8 | Lake Campbell | 32 | 1:40:11 |
| 9 | #9 | Skyler Baker | 31 | 1:40:41 |
| 10 | #10 | Benjamin Ramos | 33 | 1:42:57 |
| 11 | #11 | Jonathan Watson | 40 | 1:43:53 |
| 12 | #12 | Justin Sims | 34 | 1:43:55 |
| 13 | #13 | Sloan Youngblood | 44 | 1:45:33 |
| 14 | #14 | Paul Belobraydic | 40 | 1:46:29 |
| 15 | #16 | Jake Fast | 39 | 1:49:11 |
| 16 | #17 | Ben Stephens | 34 | 1:51:23 |
| 17 | #18 | Christian Rauch | 48 | 1:53:28 |
| 18 | #20 | Horry Parker | 45 | 2:00:58 |
| 19 | #21 | Andrew Clingan | 31 | 2:01:16 |
| 20 | #22 | David Wolfe | 36 | 2:03:25 |
6.5 MILER · 24 men finishers
- 1Will Noogle00:56:34Overall #1Age 33
- 2Chris Greenwood1:06:20Overall #3Age 53Chattanooga, TN
- 3Blake Huebner1:08:17Overall #4Age 35Signal Mountain, TN
- 5Mac McGee1:08:35Age 54Lookout Mountain, TN
- 6Kellan Giles1:09:48Age 12Signal Mountain, TN
- 7C.J. Recher1:10:48Age 41Hixson, TN
- 8Brandon Boyd1:11:31Age 39Hixson, TN
- 9William Miller1:12:25Age 12Signal Mountain, TN
- 10Tony Giles1:16:18Age 53Signal Mountain, TN
- 12Jonathan Sims1:17:06Age 37Murfreesboro, TN
- 13Alex Wester1:17:10Age 36Signal Mountain, TN
- 16Michael Distante1:23:20Age 32Atlanta, GA
- 20Drew Sinclair1:28:15Age 49Alpharetta, GA
- 22Brandon Langford1:28:55Age 40Rocky Face, GA
- 24Chris Browning1:30:28Age 33Chattanooga, TN
- 25Brett Baker1:32:30Age 36Red Bank, TN
- 26Keith Turner1:32:58Age 60Soddy Daisy, TN
- 27Leighton Steadman1:33:43Age 34Rock Spring, GA
- 27Robert Mountjoy1:33:43Age 45Rossville, GA
- 35Brent Perkerson1:41:48Age 41Chattanooga, TN
| Men Place | Overall | Name | Age | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | #1 | Will Noogle | 33 | 00:56:34 |
| 2 | #3 | Chris Greenwood | 53 | 1:06:20 |
| 3 | #4 | Blake Huebner | 35 | 1:08:17 |
| 4 | #5 | Mac McGee | 54 | 1:08:35 |
| 5 | #6 | Kellan Giles | 12 | 1:09:48 |
| 6 | #7 | C.J. Recher | 41 | 1:10:48 |
| 7 | #8 | Brandon Boyd | 39 | 1:11:31 |
| 8 | #9 | William Miller | 12 | 1:12:25 |
| 9 | #10 | Tony Giles | 53 | 1:16:18 |
| 10 | #12 | Jonathan Sims | 37 | 1:17:06 |
| 11 | #13 | Alex Wester | 36 | 1:17:10 |
| 12 | #16 | Michael Distante | 32 | 1:23:20 |
| 13 | #20 | Drew Sinclair | 49 | 1:28:15 |
| 14 | #22 | Brandon Langford | 40 | 1:28:55 |
| 15 | #24 | Chris Browning | 33 | 1:30:28 |
| 16 | #25 | Brett Baker | 36 | 1:32:30 |
| 17 | #26 | Keith Turner | 60 | 1:32:58 |
| 18 | #27 | Leighton Steadman | 34 | 1:33:43 |
| 19 | #27 | Robert Mountjoy | 45 | 1:33:43 |
| 20 | #35 | Brent Perkerson | 41 | 1:41:48 |
RACE DAY DETAILS
The 2025 Bad Beard River Gorge Trail Race brought the Southeastern classic back to the Mullens Cove and Pot Point loops in the Prentice-Cooper Wildlife Management Area just outside Chattanooga. Three distance options ran across highly technical single-track with magnificent bluff views of the Tennessee River and cascading streams lined with rhododendrons and towering hemlock — one of the most beautiful trails in the Chattanooga area.
20 Miler: ~3,000 ft elevation gain. 10.2 Miler: ~2,000 ft elevation gain. 6.5 Miler: ~1,500 ft elevation gain. Highly technical single-track on the Mullens Cove and Pot Point loops.
Cutoffs — 6.5 Miler: 2:30 · 10.2 Miler: 3:30 · 20 Miler: 5:30
Awards — Overall awards for 1st-3rd in male and female divisions.
Start/Finish: Mullens Cove Parking Lot, Prentice-Cooper WMA (35.1325765757196, -85.4191571431518). Directions from downtown Chattanooga: Hwy 27 N to Hwy 127 N, 1.9 mi to Suck Creek Road (left), 8.2 mi, left toward Prentice Cooper State Forest, 0.7 mi, then Tower Road ~2 mi to Mullens Cove (~30 min drive). Online registration only — no walk-up. Sponsors: TuckerBuild, Gearhead Outfitters, Fast Break, La Sportiva, Black Diamond, Evergreen Property Group, Chattanooga Brewing, Rossignol, Turtlebox, Peak Fitness and Physical Therapy, Horton Design.
- 4:30 PM - 6:00 PM, Friday Nov 14Early packet pickupHello Monty on Main
- 6:45 AM - 8:15 AM, Saturday Nov 15Race-day packet pickupMullens Cove parking lot
- 7:30 AM20 Miler start
- 8:00 AM10.2 Miler start
- 8:30 AM6.5 Miler start
RIVER GORGE ARCHIVE
THE GROUND RIVER GORGE RUNS ON
Get to know the trail before the gun goes off. Our guide covers the trailhead, the terrain, and the route for your watch, so a training run out here means fewer surprises on race day.
Volunteer
Volunteer with Bad Beard Events
Our races run on volunteer power — course marshals, aid stations, packet pickup, finish-line cheer squads.
You don't need experience. Bring a thermos, decent layers, and a willingness to clap loudly. We'll plug you in.