Saturday, April 18, 2026

2026 Chickamauga Chase

For more than half a century, runners from across the region and beyond have gathered for one of the most meaningful races in the Southeast, The Chickamauga Chase. Since 1968, this cherished event has carried athletes through the rolling fields and quiet forests of the Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park, a landscape where history lives and inspiration comes easy.

As Chattanooga’s oldest continuously run road race, the Chase has become a rite of spring for runners of all ages and abilities. Our legendary 15K, one of the oldest races of its kind in the nation, anchors a race day filled with challenge, camaraderie, and the simple joy of moving forward.

Choose your adventure:
15K • 8M Trail • 5K • Kiddie K
From families sharing a first race-day memory to seasoned competitors chasing a new milestone, every participant is part of something bigger, an ongoing tradition woven through time, community, and the natural beauty of this historic battlefield.

Here, the course itself tells a story. Monuments rise between the trees. Sunlight cuts across open fields. Every turn offers a reminder of the courage once shown on this ground and the determination you bring with you today.

Participation Limit:
To preserve the serenity and integrity of the Park, the National Park Service limits the event to 2,000 runners in all races combined, including 400 in the Trail Race. This intimate field keeps the experience personal, special, and safe. Register early! Spots go quickly.

For race-day updates and announcements, follow the Chickamauga Chase Facebook page, and watch your email and the CTC website.

Swag

 Race T-shirt Included with Registration.  ****New this year all participants will receive a Chickamauga Chase  Finishers medal******

AWARDS

We celebrate speed, grit, and every runner who shows up ready to give their best.

Awards

• 5k:  Top M/F Overall, Masters, Grand Masters, Sr. Grand Masters.   Top 3 M/F: 19 & under, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70+
   
• 15K: Top M/F Overall, Masters, Grand Masters, Sr. Grand Masters.   Top 3 M/F: 19 & under, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70+
   
• 8M Trail: Top M/F Overall, Masters, Grand Masters, Sr. GrandMasters Top 3 M/F: 19 & under, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70+

RACE DAY PARKING

Just minutes south of Chattanooga, the Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park welcomes you with open fields, quiet roads, and the towering presence of Wilder Tower.
Primary Parking: Recreation Field near Wilder Tower.

Signs along Lafayette Highway will guide your way. Park Rangers and volunteers will help you settle in. From there, your race-day journey begins.

NOTE:  If there is inclement weather soon before or on race day, parking will be moved to Oakwood Baptist Church, a short distance away (directions below). We will notify participants via email, Facebook Post, and on the CTC website in case of a parking change on race morning. In either case, signs to parking will be prominently posted on Lafayette Highway as you enter the Park. Please obey all traffic signs & speed limits.

ABOUT OUR PARTNERS

Chattanooga Track Club (CTC)

For over fifty years, CTC has built a community where runners of every pace and background are welcomed, encouraged, and inspired. Whether you’re taking your first running steps or chasing podium dreams, you belong here.
Learn more: runctc.org

National Park Partners

Established in 1986, Friends of the Park is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization that serves as an advocate for the Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park, helping to preserve, promote, and enhance its resources for the benefit of the public.  For more information or to make a donation, visit:  https://nppcha.org/

Wild Trails

Dedicated to the spirit of outdoor adventure, Wild Trails champions physical activity, trail stewardship, and the love of wild places.
Learn more: wildtrails.org

Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park

A place of reflection, resilience, and deep history—this Park preserves the battlegrounds of Chickamauga and the Chattanooga Campaign. Running here is a privilege, and an unforgettable one.
Learn more: https://www.nps.gov/chch/index.htm

DRIVING DIRECTIONS

From Downtown Chattanooga

Follow Hwy 27 south ? I-24 east ? Rossville Blvd/US Hwy 27 ? continue straight on Lafayette Road into the Park (approx. 6.1 miles).
Give yourself about 35 minutes from downtown.

From I-75

Take Exit 350/Battlefield Parkway ? travel west 6.2 miles ? turn left onto Lafayette Road ? enter the Park in about 1 mile.

DIRECTIONS TO PARKING / ALTERNATE PARKING

Parking at Recreation Field: As you enter the Park on Lafayette Rd, please look for event signs along the roadside. These signs will direct you to the event Parking. Please obey all traffic signs, speed limits, and Park Rangers! As you get near the Parking area, Park Rangers and volunteers will direct you to your parking spot in the Recreation Field near the Wilder Tower. If parking is in the recreation field, you will walk to the event staging area in the field below Wilder Tower, approximately .4 miles or a 10-minute walk.

Latitude/Longitude coordinates for the Parking Area next to Wilder Field:
Latitude: 34.910536
Longitude: -85.269419

Parking at Oakwood Baptist Church: As mentioned above in “PARKING” - If NPS determines the fields next to Wilder to be too wet for parking, runners will be instructed to park at Oakwood Baptist Church.  (RACERS WILL BE NOTIFIED VIA EMAIL & FACEBOOK). If alternate parking is necessary, signs will direct you to parking at Oakwood Baptist Church. You will be taken to and from the registration/staging area by bus, approximately 4 miles away.

Latitude/Longitude coordinates for the Parking Area at Oakwood Baptist Church:
Latitude: 34.888828
Longitude:  -85.279385

POLICY REMINDER

CTC maintains a no-refund policy, as preparations begin long before race day. If life changes your plans, you may request a deferral to 2027 through March 31, 2026.

**For race updates and information, visit the Chickamauga Chase Facebook page!

107 days left to register