About This Race
Starting from the scenic campus of Covenant College high atop Lookout Mountain, the Lookout Mountain Trail Race offers runners a challenging journey through some of Alabama's most diverse trail terrain. This December race has built a loyal following over nearly two decades, drawing runners who appreciate its combination of technical challenges and spectacular views. The course winds through exposed bluff lines where visibility can extend across five states on clear days, creating a unique backdrop for the demanding terrain ahead. The race features three distance options that cater to different experience levels, from a notoriously challenging 10K that serves as an excellent introduction to technical trail running, to the full 50-mile ultra that tests endurance through creek crossings, forest traverses, and significant elevation changes. The 50-mile course ventures into the protected Lula Lake Land Trust, where runners navigate through rhododendron groves, mixed hardwood forests, and towering hemlocks before encountering the impressive 120-foot Lula Falls. Aid stations are well-regarded for their Southern hospitality, featuring hot soup and warming campfires during the cold December nights. The predominantly single-track course offers a mix of highly runnable sections balanced with challenging climbs and moderate descents, making it suitable for runners looking to push their limits while experiencing the natural beauty of the Cumberland Plateau region.
The course begins at Covenant College and immediately establishes its character with a variety of challenging climbs, runnable sections, and moderate descents on predominantly single-track trails. Two exposed bluff lines provide spectacular vantage points, including one section where five states are visible on clear days. The 50-mile course crosses or follows at least five different creeks, leading runners through diverse ecosystems including rhododendron thickets, mixed hardwood forests, and hemlock groves within the Lula Lake Land Trust.
The 10K follows college cross-country trails for the first few miles before transitioning to narrow, technical single track along two separate creeks. Despite its shorter distance, this course includes steep climbs and technical terrain that has earned it recognition as one of the most challenging 10K trail courses in the region. The 18-mile and 50-mile races share the same initial route, with the ultra continuing deeper into the wilderness areas surrounding the towering 120-foot Lula Falls.
Practical Info
Cold December conditions with potential for frost, temperatures typically ranging from 20s-40s Fahrenheit, possible rain or winter precipitation.
BHM - Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport
Race starts at Covenant College campus on Lookout Mountain, with accommodations available in nearby Birmingham, Alabama or Chattanooga, Tennessee areas.
Best For
Notable Features
The race stands out for its spectacular multi-state views from exposed bluff lines and its journey through the protected Lula Lake Land Trust featuring the dramatic 120-foot Lula Falls. The December timing creates unique challenges with cold weather and potential night running, while the Southern hospitality of aid stations with hot soup and campfires adds warmth to the experience. The course's diversity, from college trails to wilderness single track, offers runners a comprehensive sampling of Lookout Mountain's varied terrain.