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The Naturalist race photo

The Naturalist

The city you want to run becomes your next trip.

The Naturalist race photo
The Naturalist race photo
Franklin
US
Gr5555 · CC BY-SA 3.0Harrison Keely, CC BY 4.0Harrison Keely, CC BY 4.0
Race date in 2 days
Oct 3, 2026 Sat
City · Distance
Franklin · 50km
Entry fee
$110From the 2025 edition
Status
ClosedTBD ~ Wed, September 30, 2026See how to enter ↗
Official website ↗D-day as of Oct 1, 2026
The Naturalist race photo
Gr5555 · CC BY-SA 3.0
The Naturalist race photo
Harrison Keely, CC BY 4.0
The Naturalist race photo
Harrison Keely, CC BY 4.0
About the raceHow to enterCourseRace PrepTravel
Why you dream of this race

THE DREAM

About The Naturalist — what makes it special

ABOUT THE RACE

A day you'll remember,
long past the finish line.

Runners follow the Bartram Trail from Franklin, North Carolina, to Wayah Bald.

This is the same path that naturalist William Bartram traveled in the late 1700s, and it is a demanding mountain route.

The road to your own record

Picture the course in advance
and find the pace that fits you.

When the city cheers

Streets lined with cheers, runners all around.
You'll be part of that scene.

The trip that follows the run

Take it slow with the finish still in you,
and meet the city all over again.

The Naturalist runner reviews and race reports

Stories from those who ran it first.

From the joy of finishing to the tough moments — read what runners wrote themselves.

No runner reports yet. We'll add them here as they come in.

See it on video,
feel it through their stories.

Preview the course and read what runners who went before you wrote.

The Naturalist 25/50k + Fall Celebration

outdooor76

View on YouTube

This may be from a past edition. Check the organizer for this year's course and operations.

The way in that fits you

YOUR ENTRY

How to enter The Naturalist — registration routes

How to reach the start line —
start with what fits you.

Here are the ways to enter and what each requires.
Check the organizer's page for whether entries are open.

From the 2025 edition
Next edition entry

Entry dates for the next edition haven't been announced yet

Official race websiteEntry options
From the start line to the finish

RACE WEEK

The Naturalist course map and elevation

The 50km I'll run

Know the course and time limit, and race day comes into focus.

Runners start · local timeFrom 08:00
EventStartField size
Ultra50km08:00150
25K25km08:00—
Other25km08:00—
START

In front of Outdoor 76, 35 E Main Street, Franklin, NC

Start · Google Maps
FINISH

35 E Main Street, Franklin, NC

Show more

You must start from downtown Franklin and take the Bartram Trail to the top of Bald. The 25K ends at the summit (cumulative climb approximately 1,700m) and the 50K comes back.

Course starts at 8:00 AM in downtown Franklin, North Carolina, moves onto the Wallace Branch section of the Bartram Trail,

and then continues into a steep climb up to the summit of Wayah Bald.

It's about 11 miles from the trailhead to the summit, and Wayah Bald, at an elevation of 5,385 feet, is the highest point of this course.

The 25k category finishes at the summit of Wayah Bald, with total elevation gain exceeding 5,500 feet.

The 50k category loops at the summit, takes on supplies, and descends back down the Bartram Trail, with total elevation gain exceeding 8,500 feet.

Field size
150 people in two sports combined
Typical race-season temperature: around 14°C (57°F)
Short sleeves or light long sleeves + arm warmers
Aid stations
3.5 miles (Wallace Branch, limited supply), 9 miles, 14.5 miles (Wayah Bald summit), 19.5, 25 miles (50K only)

Participant benefits

Aid stations

Start shuttle

Where and when to collect your The Naturalist race bib

To the start line,
step by step.

Pick up your bib, check your wave.
So on race morning, you can just run.

From the 2025 edition

Pick up your bib at the expo

This is Franklin’s Naturalist trail race; race-pack collection instructions have not been published.

Stations & transport near the venue

Getting to the start

None (no train/bus), but the start itself is walkable in downtown Franklin, NC — in front of Outdoor 76, 35 E Main Street

The race begins at 8:00am at Outdoor 76 on Main Street in downtown Franklin, an easily walkable in-town location (not remote).

Start is in walkable downtown Franklin;

the 25K finish is a remote mountaintop reached only via the race's own shuttle back or by the trail.

Getting to the finish

None – 25K finishes atop Wayah Bald, a remote mountain summit with limited parking

The 50K circles Wayah Bald and descends back to the downtown start on foot (no shuttle needed for 50K).

Parking at Wayah Bald itself is limited.

More details

Yes – free organizer shuttle ride from the Wayah Bald finish back to the downtown Franklin start, provided for 25K finishers

Stations & transport near the venue

The Naturalist race near Franklin is a rural trail venue with no public transit or fare-card system serving the area.

A rental car is the practical way to reach the start;

cash or card covers any parking.

Stations & transport near the venue

25K runners can take a free shuttle back to the starting point on race day.

There is little parking space at Waya Bold.

Source · checked Aug 24, 2026
READY TO RUN

From race morning to after the finish.

Your start time, fuel and bag drop.
Know them ahead and the run feels easier.

Registration is done through UltraSignup, and the race is held as part of a fall festival event hosted by local outdoor store Outdoor 76.

As a mountain course with elevation gain of 5,500-8,500 feet, runners need to pace themselves for the steep sections.

Times are local to Franklin. Check the latest official information before the race.

A trip built around the race

STAY A LITTLE

MAKE IT A RUNTRIP

The race is one day,
the trip can be longer.

From a hotel that makes race morning easy,
to the meals and views you'll enjoy with the medal on.

Hotels near the The Naturalist start line in Franklin

Hotels that make race morning easy

6 places

Distances are straight-line from the start.
Check real travel times and booking terms with each hotel.

Swipe sideways to see more hotels.

View on map →

Time for you, before and after the finish

4 experiences

Rest a little, wander a little.
Pick what suits you and whoever you're with.

Asheville｜Private Airport Pickup/Drop-off Service at Asheville Airport

$156

View on Klook
Eating well is part of the tripA meal before the race, a dinner to celebrate the finish.View on mapSeeing Franklin with the medal onThe city you ran — this time, a little slower.View on map

Hotel distances are straight-line from the start. Distances and ratings for food and sights come from the place provider, and experiences are travel products in Franklin.

Total cost and budget for The Naturalist

TRAVEL ESSENTIALS

Trip prep too,
light and in one place.

ChecklistLocal eSIM · YesimFlight delay or cancellation compensation · AirHelpPace calculator

Once saved, you can open this page without an internet connection

Runner stories and questions about The Naturalist

RUN TOGETHER

With runners who dream of
the same start line.

Be the first runner
Leave this room's first post

Franklin runners' room

Frequently asked questions about The Naturalist

FAQ
When does The Naturalist 2026 take place?

It takes place on Sat, October 3, 2026 in Franklin, NC, United States.

What distances does The Naturalist 2026 offer?

Ultra.

What time does The Naturalist 2026 start?

The race starts at 08:00.

Where does The Naturalist 2026 start?

In front of Outdoor 76, 35 E Main Street, Franklin, NC.

Where does The Naturalist 2026 finish?

35 E Main Street, Franklin, NC.

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