Nogawild Safari Run

We are running in honor of Law Enforcement Officers killed in the line of duty and raising funds to build a Fallen Officer Memorial on the University of North Georgia-Dahlonega Campus. This Memorial will have the names of the killed in the line of duty officers who graduated from UNG or worked for the UNG Police Department. The race will take place on the UNG Dahlonega Campus.

RIP:

OFC Edgar Flores, Dekalb County Police, EOW December, 13, 2018

TFC Chase W. Redner, Georgia State Patrol, EOW February 20, 2024

Now about the race! The 5k race is on the beautiful campus of UNG Dahlonega. The course is 2-laps with a return to the start/finish line, around a magnificent fountain for lap number 2. The course boasts approximately 400 feet of gain. The last .25+ miles is a VERY fast gradual downhill into the finish line. A water station will be present at the round-about prior to starting lap number 2. Half of the laps are on a walkway and the other half is on the road. Come and get a PR!

The race is welcome to runners and walkers. The race has a 1-hour time limit. This is approximately 20 min/mile. Course support and timing will not be provided for those not completing the course in 1-hour. Strollers will not be permitted on the course due to safety barriers present on the course. Dogs will not be permitted on the course due to some of the narrow walkways to ensure everyone is safe. Headphones are permitted but play at a low volume, so you can hear other runners and race officials.

There is no race day registration. Registration closes on April 11, 2026 at 11:59pm.

What is new this year?

We have added a team event. The teams will comprise of 5 runners. All 5 runners must finish to qualify as a team. The team with the lowest/fastest cumulative will be the top team. The team division is open to civilian and LE participants.

Packet Pick Up:

Packet Pick-Up will be from 6:30am-7:50am at the start/finish line. The race starts at 8am sharp with the firing of the cannon.

Parking:

Parking will not be available at the start/finish line. There will be plenty of street parking/parking lot within close proximity to the start/finish line. Do not enter the main entrance to the campus unless you are highly skilled at backing up.

Awards:

All finishers within the 1-hour time period will receive a finisher's medal.

The 1st-3rd place Male and Female overall will receive an award.

The 1st-3rd place Male and Female overall retired/active LE will receive an award.

1st place to top team of 5.

Course Records:

(M) Billy Doran, 20:09.95

(F) Zandy Gonzalez, 26:19.10

Refunds:

The race entry fee is not refundable and not transferable.

The details

Join us on Saturday, April 25th to kick off the 28th Annual Mountain Ranger Run and Bike Races at Camp Frank D. Merrill. Choose your distance for the run with 7k and 15k options, or grab your mountain bike and hit the single track for 34k. Stick around after the race and spend the day at the Ranger Camp watching demonstrations, repelling, and more! Open House is free of charge and open to the public.

Government issued photo ID required.

Shirts can only be guaranteed to anyone who registers on or before Friday, April 17th. Anyone who registers on or after April 18th, including race day, cannot be guaranteed a shirt.

Please note: all courses MUST be cleared by 10:45 for the Open House schedule of events. Anyone still on course at this time will be pulled.

Parking will open at 5:45am. Packet pickup will only be on race day, opening at 6:00am

NO DOGS ALLOWED (this is due to insurance liabilities)

Race day registration will open at 6:00am and will close 15 minutes prior to the start of each event.

Awards will be given to top 3 male and female in each event. No age group awards.

Join the Lumpkin County Sheriff's Office and Team Give Back as we host our 3rd annual Foot Pursuit 5K. Proceeds from this event will go toward Lumpkin County Sheriff's Office Youth Programs.

DATE: Saturday May 9, 2026

TIME: 8:00am 5K / 9:00am Fun Run / 9:30am Awards

LOCATION: Start and Finish line will be at the Sheriff's Office (385 East Main Street, Dahlonega, GA 30533)

PARKING: Court House Hill and Greenbriar Shopping Center (Harbor Freight Parking)

SHIRTS: Shirts will be provided for all PRE-REGISTERED participants registered before Friday April 17, 2026

AWARDS: Awards will be given to the OVERALL male and female and the top three male/ female in each age division

DIVISIONS: Overall Male, Overall Female, 12 and under, 13-19 / 20-24 / 25-29 / 30-34 / 35-39 / 40-44 / 45-49 / 50-54 / 55-59 / 60-64 / 65-69 / 70-74 / 75-79 and 80 and up

PACKET PICKUP:

Saturday 7:00am to 8:00am at Lumpkin County Sheriff's Office (385 East Main Street, Dahlonega GA 30533)

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Contact Mitzi Deaton at teamgivebackga@gmail.com

** Water station and snacks provided along course **

DISCLAIMER - NO INMATES PARTICIPATE IN THIS RUN.

The Mount Yonah Vertical Race

“Without mountains, we might find ourselves relieved that we can avoid the pain of the ascent, but we will forever miss the thrill of the summit. And in such a terribly scandalous trade-off, it is the absence of pain that becomes the thief of life.” —Craig D. Lounsbrough

Details

Join Team Summit for the third annual Yonah Mountain Vertical Challenge weekend.

Participants will have FOUR options upon registration.

-5,000FT of climbing over 3 summits of Yonah, totaling roughly 25km.

-10,000FT of climbing over 6 summits of Yonah, totaling roughly 50km.

-Double UP - Race both events! Saturday and Sunday

-10,000FT 50k Relay - Grab a friend and tag-team Saturdays 10,000FT 50K! Runners may alternate ascents at their leisure.

Prizes provided by ALTRA Running.

This event sold out in 2024 and 2025! Register now and secure your spot.

The trail is technical and steep for the majority of the climb, with a few sections of scrambling required. As you get closer to the summit, the path becomes a dirt/gravel double-track leading to the top. There are #runnable sections of the trail depending on your skill level.

After-party hosted at NoFo Brew Co - 2 miles from the trailhead!

NEW FOR 2026

Saturday’s 50K will offer a 2-person relay! Bring a friend and tackle the distance together, alternating ascents at your leisure.

NEW FOR 2025!

This will become a two day race over Saturday and Sunday. The 50K will be held on Saturday and the 25K on Sunday.

Location

Yonah Mountain Trailhead

34.63721066176569, -83.72498145886013

Start/Finish will be in the main parking lot for Mt Yonah. This is a gravel lot with limited space, volunteers will direct participants on where to park. Please consider carpooling.

Schedule

Friday February 26th

530PM - Bib Pickup at NOFO Brew Co (Cleveland)

Saturday February 27th

630 AM - Bib Pickup available

8 AM - 10,000FT-50K Race Start

4 PM - Must have started final lap!

6 PM - Course closed

6 PM - After-party at NoFo Brew Co (2 miles away) and bib pickup for 25K

Sunday February 28th

730 AM - Bib Pickup available

9 AM - 5,000FT-25K Race Start

3 PM - Must have started final lap!

5 PM - Course closed

5 PM - After-party at NoFo Brew Co (2 miles away)

The Course

The race course follows the Yonah Mountain hiking trail up to the summit of the mountain. From there you will pass the overlook before returning down the mountain. The trail is runnable in some sections, rocky and rooty in others, and a few spots require scrambling over boulders. The race will start with a quick out and back on the gravel road leading to the trail-head, this is so runners will thin out before hitting the trail. Each time you return from your summit, you will repeat the same out and back, this is necessary to achieve the distance and vert advertised. You may encounter hikers on the course, so use caution and be courteous.

Strava Route

CUTOFFS

10 Hours for the 50K Saturday- You must be on your final summit attempt by 4PM!

8 Hours for the 25K Sunday - You must be on your final summit attempt by 3PM!

HIKING POLES

Allowed!

REQUIRED GEAR

-All Summit events are cup-less. All participants should carry a bottle, bladder, or collapsible cup at all times. Revolution Running Co is donating 150 reusable silicon cups to the event, ask for one during check-in!

-All participants should have a waterproof shell or jacket with them at all times.

-Adequate footwear - the trail is rocky, rooty, wet, muddy, icy, and everything in between. Be prepared.

*This is a mountain race that takes participants up and over 3000' above sea-level. The weather at the summit can feel drastically different from the trailhead. Do not leave the trail-head without the required gear on you at all times. There is no rescue or bail-out point near the summit, except by helicopter.

AID

A full aid station will be provided at the main trailhead, featuring Precision Fuel carb/electrolyte mix(60g of carb/1,000mg of sodium), along with everything else you’d expect including hot food, as well as GF and plant-based options. You will pass this after every loop (roughly every five miles).

There will be a water stop on course near the summit, you will pass it shortly before the summit and again on your way down. Volunteers will be at the mountain-top as well with emergency supplies as-needed, but only for emergencies.

CREWING

Due to limited space at the trailhead, personal pop-up tents/tables are not allowed. If needed, you may use your vehicle for a personal aid setup, being mindful of others visiting the park or participating in the event. Reminder that you will pass through the whole length of the parking area during each repeat.

Sorry, no pacers or crew allowed on the trail with participants.

WEATHER

Our team closely monitors the weather during race weekend and leading up to it for any adverse conditions. The Yonah Mountain Vertical Challenge will be run "rain or shine", but could potentially be delayed or cancelled depending on the severity of any storms and with guidance from the USFS. Your safety and the safety of our crew and volunteers will always be our priority. If storms are expected, keep an eye on your email and our socials for any updates.