Trail Creatures is Athens Road Runners Trail Team made up of trail runners, of all levels. We have two main goals: first, to train together in the mountains in a noncompetitive and fully supported environment, providing benefits of training in a group such as safety in numbers, aid & nutrition, camaraderie, and skill sharing. Our second goal is to provide a training group for those planning to compete in trail races of distances from half marathon up to 50k and beyond.

Who Can Join?

Any Athens Road Runner can join in our mountain trail runs: from beginners and experienced trail junkies to even hikers. Mountain trail runs are rugged and take some getting used to, but our community is diverse and ALL are welcome. Each run offers multiple distance options and a buddy system to ensure no one gets left behind. We also have a hiking group! We encourage you to try out local trail runs in the ARR Trail Series before coming to a mountain run.

2023 Trail Creatures Mountain Series

Jan. 22Jake Mountain

2023 Local Trail Series

Jan. 8Sweetwater Creek State Park
Jan. 15Dirt Loop, Start at College Station Park and Ride
Jan. 29Botanical Gardens
Feb. 12Botanical Gardens – 1 pm

2022 Trail Creatures Mountain Series

Jan. 15Bull Mountain
Feb. 12Vogel State Park
Mar. 12Lake Russell WMA
Apr. 9Southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail
May 21Yonah Mountain
Jun. 5Rabun Half (race)
Jun. 11Vogel State Park
Jul. 9Winfield Scott & Blood Mountain
Aug. 13Fort Mountain State Park
Sep. 10Brasstown Bald
Oct. 8Currahee
Nov. 12Friendsgiving at Yonah Mountain 8 am [RSVP]
Dec. 10Helen Holiday Half and 10K

2022 Local Trail Series

Feb. 27Lake Chapman course preview with Dustin Shinholser
Mar. 20Lake Chapman 5K and 15K trail race
May 29Oconee NF near Scull Shoals
Jun. 12E23 lot (Park n Ride) dirt loop
Jun. 19Lake Chapman
Jun. 26Botanical Garden – white and orange loops
Jul. 3Hawkes Creek Farm
Jul. 10Dirt Loop – Winston Drive start
Jul. 31Botanical Garden – white and orange loops
Aug. 21E23 lot (Park n Ride) dirt loop
Aug. 28Lake Chapman
Sep. 18Botanical Garden – white and orange loops
Sep. 25Botanical Garden – white and orange loops
Oct. 9Botanical Garden – white and orange loops
Oct. 30UGA IM Fields
Nov. 27Lake Chapman
Support & Camping

All of our runs will start near a campground or National Forrest campsite in the mountains. Trail Creature members will enjoy free camping, hydration support, campfire when possible, and post-run food/snacks and beverages.

Monthly Trail Runs

Our monthly mountain runs are scouted, guided, and supported by seasoned trail/mountain runners, to introduce new folks to the magic in the mountains, without the fear or risk of going it alone. All runs are zero-drop, provide multiple distances, and an emergency support leader with an SOS beacon and first aid.

Community & Race Discounts

Our community provides skill and knowledge sharing across experience and speed levels. Through Creature Comforts’ generous support trail team members will enjoy discounts and free race entries for a number of trail races in North Georgia and beyond.

Additional Team Benefits
Abigail West

Meet Trail Team Captain Abigail West 

Abigail West’s favorite place in the world is probably the mountains of North Georgia. Abigail is an Athens-based artist whose ideal weekend is spent exploring new places in the mountains with her husband and fellow artist, Michael Ross. After several years of running and racing on the roads, she discovered her joy and freedom in trail running and has now become a competitive trail & ultra runner. She’s passionate about connecting with other runners over the magic of the mountains.