Mystery Mountain Marathon and 12 Miler

Chatsworth, USA

Expected October 2027

Our best guess from a single past year. We'll firm it up when the organiser confirms.

Choose your distance

Marathon

Distance

42.2km

Climb

Hilly·1,676m

Start Time

08:00

Cutoff

8 hours (3.5 hours at Power Line Aid Station approx. mile 11, 6.0 hours at Far Out approx. mile 18.9, 7.0 hours at Last Gasp approx. mile 22.3)

Terrain

Trail

From last year's edition. Details may change once confirmed.

Overview

The Mystery Mountain Marathon and 12 Miler cover difficult, sometimes technical trails over and around Fort Mountain in north Georgia, with roughly 5,500 feet of climbing on the marathon course. Both races open with a flat, quick loop around the lake before joining the rocky and rooty Big Rock trail and the single-track Gahuti trail that traces the edge of the park just below the summits of Cohutta and Fort Mountains. Runners climb to the top of the mountain, pass the mysterious rock wall built over 1,000 years ago, then descend on trails where the climbing is far from finished. Marathoners add the 301 loop with its old mines, waterfalls and rhododendrons, while 12-milers head back around the lake to finish. Post-race food and drink are served at the picnic shelter, and a portion of the proceeds supports Fort Mountain State Park.

Panoramic views of fall foliage on the surrounding mountains
The mysterious 855-foot rock wall at the top of Fort Mountain
Rocky, rooty single track on the Gahuti trail
Waterfalls, old mines and rhododendron thickets on the 301 loop
Flat lakeside loop start and finish

The practical side

Start / Finish

Start

Near the lake in Fort Mountain State Park; follow signs in the park to the lake. Both races start with a flat loop around the lake

Finish

Near the lake in Fort Mountain State Park. Both races finish with a loop around the lake, with the finish line reached at approximately mile 12.0 for the 12 Miler and mile 26.2 for the marathon

Terrain

Difficult, sometimes technical trails with long extended climbs. Rocky and rooty single track on Big Rock, cambered and rocky single track on the Gahuti just below the summits, narrow mountain top trail with difficult footing, and a mostly double-track 301 loop through pine and scrub laurel thickets, upland hardwood and cove forests. Bikers and horses may also be on course.

Route

Both races start with a flat, quick loop around the lake and then join the Gahuti trail via the rocky and rooty Big Rock trail, traveling around the edge of the park just below the summits of Cohutta and Fort Mountains. After the opening section the marathoners turn and run up to the 301 loop via the steep power line trail. The 301 loop passes through pine and scrub laurel thickets, upland hardwood and cove forests, by old mines, then waterfalls and rhododendrons, before returning up the mountain and following the ridge top back down to the lake for a final loop around it to the finish.

Expo

Packet pickup on Saturday from 16:00 to 18:00 at Picnic Shelter #2 (near the lake) in Fort Mountain State Park. Note that a second packet pickup section on the same page lists Saturday 16:00 to 19:00 at Picnic Shelter #4, so check the final race instructions before travelling. Race-day packet pickup is available at the same shelter area from 06:30.

Race Day

Race-day packet pickup opens at 06:30 at the picnic shelter near the lake. Both races start at 8:00 a.m. near the lake, opening with a flat loop around the lake before heading onto the Gahuti trail system. Awards follow the finish, with top 3 overall women and men, first masters and grandmasters women and men, and a special finisher's award for marathon finishers.

Recovery

Post-race food and beverage are served at the finish area. Lodging nearby includes cabins and campsites at Fort Mountain State Park, the Super 8 and Key West Inn in downtown Chatsworth about 8 miles from the park, plus hotels in Ellijay (about 18 miles) and Dalton (about 21 miles).

Good to know

What you get

Finisher medal

Finisher t-shirt

Marathon finishers receive a special finisher's award

12 Miler finishers receive three full aid stations plus a fluids-only station

Marathon finishers receive six full aid stations plus two fluids-only stations

Race t-shirt with guaranteed shirt size for entries received before September 19

100% non-profit race; a portion of proceeds supports Fort Mountain State Park

Food after the finishPost-race food and beverage are served at the picnic shelter to celebrate finishers.

PrizesAwards go to the top 3 overall women and men, plus 1st place masters and grandmasters women and men. Marathon finishers also receive a special finisher's award. Awards are not duplicated and cannot be posted out.

On the day

Food vendors

Marshals on course

First aid on course

Water on course2

Parking · PaidThe fee is collected after arrival in the park, so bring $10 cash or your annual park pass. A daily or annual pass can also be purchased in advance online through the Georgia State Parks reservation system. Follow signs in the park to the lake for parking and race-day facilities. From I-75 northbound from Atlanta take Exit #293, GA 411 to Chatsworth (about 39 miles), turn right onto GA 52, and the park gate is on the left in about 8 miles. From I-75 southbound from Chattanooga take Exit #336, US 41 to Dalton (about 16 miles), turn left onto GA 52, and the park gate is on the left in about 8 miles.

Aid stations · 6The 12 Miler has three aid stations with a variety of food, drink and support, plus one fluids-only station. The marathon has six full aid stations plus two fluids-only stations. Full aid stations sit at miles 3.5, 8.0, 11.0, 18.9 and 22.3, with fluids-only points at miles 9.8, 15.5 and 24.6.

Course markingThe course is marked with a combination of surveyor's tape, flags, chalk and directional arrows, plus confidence markers every 2 to 5 minutes even where there is no turn. All markings are placed on the right hand side of the trail. 12-mile runners follow orange markings; marathon runners follow orange for the first 11 miles and blue after the Power Line Aid Station. This is not a road race, there are no mile markers, and it will not always be obvious which way to go, so pay attention and if you have not seen a marker in over 5 minutes, retrace your steps or wait for another runner.

Recommended

Before you enter

RefundsNo. Entries are non-refundable, non-transferable and non-deferrable, with no exceptions.

TransfersNo transfers under any circumstances.

DeferralsNo deferrals under any circumstances.

Bad weatherNo formal weather policy is published. All runners should be aware of changing weather, as conditions can change quickly in the mountains; Fort Mountain October averages are a high of 74F and a low of 49F.

Time limitYes. The 12 Miler has a 6-hour limit with a 3.5-hour cutoff at the Park Entrance aid station at about mile 8. The marathon has an 8-hour limit with cutoffs of 3.5 hours at Power Line (about mile 11), 6.0 hours at Far Out (about mile 18.9) and 7.0 hours at Last Gasp (about mile 22.3). The cutoffs are enforced for runner safety so runners and sweeps are off the mountain trails before dark, and the race director and EMT supervisors may pull a runner if continuing is unsafe.

Collecting your numberPacket pickup is on Saturday from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. at Picnic Shelter #2 near the lake in Fort Mountain State Park, and the page also lists a Saturday pickup from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Picnic Shelter #4. Race-day pickup is available at the same shelter area from 6:30 a.m. Check the final race instructions before you travel.

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Mystery Mountain Marathon and 12 Miler

Overview

The practical side

Good to know

Do I need to carry water during the race?

Are there bears or other wildlife on the course?

Will the trails be closed to other users during the race?

Is the field limited and is there a discount for members?

Can I volunteer instead of running?

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