Trail Running Calendar North Carolina 2025-2026

The Moonlight Bootlegger 5K in Greensboro, NC, is a unique nighttime trail race held at Haw River State Park. Scheduled for July 12, 2025, this event combines running with a festive atmosphere featuring bluegrass music and moonshine cocktails or mocktails. Participants run a 5K course illuminated by..

The Common Rush Trail Run is an annual trail running event held at Harris Lake County Park in New Hill, North Carolina. The race offers two distance options: a 5.5-mile single-loop course and a 10-mile two-loop course. The scenic routes feature lake views, open meadows, wide dirt roads, and forested..

Trail Camp for Big Kids is a relaxed, multi-day trail running camp held at Rattler Ford Group Campground in the Nantahala National Forest near Robbinsville, North Carolina. Designed for adults of all running levels, the camp offers a mix of team building, navigation, community, and trail running fro..

The Sweaty Backyard Cox Ultra is a challenging backyard ultra event held in the woods of Concord, North Carolina. The race features a 4.167-mile loop that participants must complete every hour, with the event continuing until only one runner remains. This open-ended format tests endurance and strate..

The Petal to the Medal Endurance Event is an inclusive trail running challenge held at the Daniel Stowe Conservancy in Belmont, North Carolina. Scheduled for August 9, 2025, participants have up to eight hours to complete as many 5K loops as they choose on a scenic trail course. Designed for both se..

The Old Fort 50 is a challenging endurance race held in Old Fort, North Carolina, featuring a 30.4-mile course on rugged, legendary mountain bike trails and newer paths by the G5 Trail Collective. Participants face 4,874 feet of elevation gain and descent over fast, technical terrain including the G..

The Big 4 Trail Race Series is a collection of four trail running events held in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, organized by the Twin City Track Club. The series includes the Hobby Trails to You!, Salem Lake Trail Races, Black Friday Relays, and Frosty Fifty races, spanning from August 2024 to Janua..

Hobby Trails To You! is a trail running event held in Winston Salem, North Carolina, at Hobby Park. Scheduled for August 9, 2025, it offers two race distances: a 5K and a 10K, both featuring a cross-country start that quickly funnels into single-track trail courses. The race provides ample parking,..

The Black Copperhead Sting 50K is an ultramarathon held annually at Rocky Branch Park in Belmont, North Carolina. Organized by Dirty Wolf Racing, this event features multiple distances including 50K, 25K, and 5K. The course is a scenic loop incorporating the Catawba Thread Trail, Beaver Run Trail, E..

The Epiphany Cross Country #1 is a running event held in New Bern, North Carolina, at 2301 Trent Road. It features separate 5K races for girls and boys, providing a competitive yet community-focused atmosphere. The event is free to enter and takes place in August, attracting local runners eager to c..

Run with the Bears: Extreme Vertical Pursuit is an annual running event held at Bear Lake Reserve in Tuckasegee, North Carolina, set against the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains. The event features a challenging 5K race with nearly 1,000 feet of elevation gain, starting from The Summit—the highest point..

The Twin Anchors Copperhead Beer Relay 20K and Beer Mile is a unique running event held in Hampstead, North Carolina, at the scenic Briar Patch Hunting property near Poplar Grove Plantation. Participants can compete individually or in teams of 2 to 4, running four 5K loops totaling 20 kilometers. A..

The Dark Horse Trail Series features a range of running events, including a marathon, half marathon, and 10k, set in the scenic Tryon International Equestrian Center in Mill Spring, North Carolina. Scheduled for August 23, 2025, this event invites both seasoned and novice runners to experience the b..

The Not-A-Sprint Ultra Races, held annually in Forest City, North Carolina, is an endurance running event featuring 3, 6, and 12-hour race options. The course is a scenic, flat, and paved 8.34-mile out-and-back loop along the Thermal Belt Rail Trail, with minimal elevation gain (95 feet) and about 3..

The Carpe Diem – Carpe Noctem Half Marathon and 10K is a unique trail running event held at Hagan-Stone Park in Pleasant Garden, North Carolina. Scheduled for September 6, 2025, it offers both half marathon and 10K distances with options to run during the day, at night, or both. The well-groomed tra..

The Mount Jefferson Ascent is a challenging 5-mile trail run and hike located in West Jefferson, North Carolina. Participants face a steep climb with approximately 1,600 feet of elevation gain, reaching a summit over 4,600 feet. The course features a mix of road and trail segments, including the Mou..

Springmaid Splash is a trail running event held at Springmaid Mountain Resort in Spruce Pine, North Carolina. The race offers 5K and 10K distances that wind through scenic trails on a 400-acre property, including a unique splash crossing of the North Toe River, providing an authentic mountain runnin..

Chasing Trails Ultras is a trail running event held in Old Fort, North Carolina, featuring timed races of 3, 6, and 12 hours, plus a 5k option. The course consists of a challenging yet beginner-friendly 3.2-mile loop with about 380 feet of elevation gain, winding through the scenic Gateway Trail sys..

The Shining Hope Farms Salute Trail Run is an annual event held at Shining Hope Farms on Saint Peters Church Road in Conover, North Carolina. Scheduled for September 13, 2025, this 5th annual run offers participants a choice between a 5k or 10k trail run or walk across scenic trails on the farm's 12..

The Cane Creek Mountain Trail Run, held in Snow Camp, North Carolina, offers a challenging and scenic trail running experience with 10K and half marathon distances. Set in the 1,000-acre Cane Creek Mountain Natural Area, the courses feature stellar single-track trails, steep climbs including a 300-f..