The course begins at the James River Visitor Center; runners cover a short out-and-back section on the Blue Ridge Parkway before completing a few short miles of road.
The course then meanders northward over various dirt and gravel roads in the National Forest before runners have to negotiate the second half of the course.
Leaving Long Mountain aid station, the second half includes dirt and old logging roads as well as several miles of single-track trail.
Upon reaching the last aid station at Porters Ridge, runners course downhill for 2.9 miles toward the finish in Montebello.
The entire MMTR course traverses some of the most beautiful areas in the Blue Ridge right around peak fall foliage.