2025 TNMLHM Hiking Marathon

Now in its 10th year, the Tennessee Mountain Laurel Hiking Marathon is a walk in the woods for anyone willing to put one foot in front of the other.

​

For Application, Registration,  Log and Trail List, click here. 

​

WELCOME!

​​IT’S OUR TENTH YEAR ANNIVERSARY!

​

​Celebrating our first decade, the Tennessee Mountain Laurel
Hiking Marathons will kick off March 22nd with a group hike on the Emory River Gorge section of the Cumberland Trail, a 2.6 mile out and back, featuring the historic Nemo Bridge and overlooking the
Emory and Obed Rivers.

Participants can register for the marathons until April 15 th and hike to their selected goal up until the Tennessee Mountain Laurel Festival date of

May 17th.  Hikers can select a marathon goal of half
marathon (13.1 miles), full marathon (26.2 miles), or ultra marathon (100+ miles). The list of seventy-one trails, over 300 miles, spans three state parks, two national parks, and four state natural areas.

​

The trail list includes short trails starting at half a mile to longer trails up to twenty-plus miles, rated from easy to strenuous, allowing the marathons to provide an opportunity for all hikers to achieve their goal. Hikers can also count “Hiker Choice” miles toward their marathon goal whether on the trail list or not.

 

In partnership with the Cumberland County Ulta Marathon, the Cumberland Trails on their marathon can be counted for the TNMLHM also.

Hike MoCo, under the sponsorship of Morgan County Tourism Alliance, organizes the marathons and works with the hikers throughout the marathons by scheduling hikes, answering questions, and providing helpful information on the trails.

​

Hike MoCo encourages hikers to share their trail pictures on
the Hike MoCo Facebook group and document their adventure. The goal is to get people in the woods, moving, and enjoying the beauty and solace the woods has to offer.

 

In addition to enjoying the adventure, cleaning the trails as we go is a requirement, whether hiking the marathons or any other group hike. Hike MoCoians routinely carry an extra bag or two for collecting
garbage found on or around the trails. Trash pictures are posted on the Hike MoCo Facebook group, also, to help promote the “Leave No Trace” principle.
Morgan County has so much natural beauty for all to enjoy, the marathons may be the incentive for people to venture beyond their yard and discover that peace and beauty.

​