Johnston Woods Trail Festival

The Johnston Woods Trail Festival is a multi-distance endurance event held at the Woodland Center in Cleveland, Tennessee. Scheduled for Saturday, May 23, 2026, the festival serves as a fundraiser for local children's summer camps and community programming. The course features a 4.35-mile loop of forested, rolling hills with approximately 300 feet of elevation gain per lap, crossing several small creeks. The terrain includes typical East Tennessee roots and rocks but remains largely runnable for participants of all skill levels.

The event reflects regional demographic trends in the Southeastern trail running community. In Tennessee, trail and ultra-running participation is approximately 89.2% White. Other participant groups include approximately 5.1% Black, 3.4% Hispanic, and 1.8% Asian. Bradley County, where Cleveland is located, has a general population that is roughly 84% White and 6% Black, indicating that while the trail community is largely representative of the local majority, outreach efforts continue to aim at narrowing the participation gap for minority groups in endurance sports.

Event Logistics and Participant Information:

• -- Rucking Requirements: Participants in the 6-hour Ruck must carry a weighted pack: 30 lbs for males and 15 lbs for females (dry weight).
• -- Packet Pickup: Early pickup is available Friday, May 22, from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM at the Woodland Center. Race-day pickup runs from 6:00 AM to 7:00 AM.
• -- Aid Station: A fully stocked station at the end of each lap provides LMNT electrolytes, PB&J, fruit, and hot food (pizza and lunch items) for longer-distance runners.
• -- Swag and Awards: Finishers receive a custom slate coaster made by a local veteran. Top three overall male and female finishers receive custom awards and gift cards to Terra Running Company.
• -- Course Records: Current benchmarks to beat include 104.4 miles for the 24-hour race and 60.9 miles for the 12-hour event.
• -- Registration: Online registration through UltraSignup closes on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, at 11:59 PM ET.
• -- Parking: Available at the Woodland Center and on the pipeline just before the main gate.

The Johnston Woods Trail Festival offers a high-support environment for runners looking to test their limits on a well-maintained forested course while supporting local community programs.