Trail Running calendar near Chapel Hill 2026-2027

Experience the natural beauty of Cedarock Park with a variety of trail races in Burlington. Enjoy twisty single track trails followed by hot soup and a finisher hoodie at this long running December event.

A weekend of trail races at Salem Lake offering a night 5K, looped 12.5K courses up to a 50K, and a four-person 50K relay, with water stops on looped courses, a seven hour cap for the 50K, finishers swag, and post-race food and beer.

A January trail event in Gibsonville, NC offering a 13.1 mile half with two river crossings, a 5 mile race, ruck divisions and virtual options. The race includes chip timing, on-course support, a hoodie and finisher medal.

Winter single track trail races of 8, 20 and 40 miles in Uwharrie National Forest on February 6, 2027. Aid stations, finish food, pottery awards, shirts, parking and shuttles are provided.

Experience an epic trail run through Harris Lake County Park at the Viking Dash in Raleigh. Choose between 5K or 10K distances and earn a unique forged finisher medal for completing the journey.

A 12 hour trail race and a 6 hour weighted ruck at Camp GuilRock in Reidsville NC on an about 3 mile mixed terrain loop, with one aid station, Race Passport lap tracking, FLAP and SLAP formats, and finisher awards.

A 30-mile point-to-point training run between Duke University and UNC in Chapel Hill with direction alternating by year, organized by The TarDevil.

A multi format endurance event at Sugg Farm Park and Bass Lake on a 4.167 mile trail loop, featuring 12 hour and 24 hour individual races, a 100 mile with a 30 hour cutoff, relays and ruck divisions with mandatory gear checks.

Trail races at Carver's Creek State Park near Fayetteville offering 25K and a 50K run over two laps of a 16 mile loop; the 50K has a hard cutoff for the second lap and a nine hour finish limit.

A 100 mile trail endurance run through William B. Umstead State Park in Raleigh, NC, with a 30 hour cutoff and a 50 mile option. The event is scheduled for April 3 to 4, 2027 and opens registration September 16, 2026.

A community trail event at Northwood High School in Pittsboro, NC featuring a 5K trail race and a 1 Mile fun run or walk. Leashed dogs are allowed and registered participants receive a T shirt and goodie bag.

Spring single-track trail races on the Mountains to Sea Trail near Durham, NC, offering **13 miles** and **50K** courses, cupless with aid stations, shirts, and awards.

Multi-distance Spartan obstacle races at McCormick Farms near Fayetteville on May 1 and 2 2027, featuring forest, quarry and riverbank terrain plus kids races.

A self-paced family adventure run at the YMCA in Raleigh on May 1, 2027, featuring a 2+ mile outdoor course with 20+ creative challenges, mud features and a large slip and slide; shirts for early registrants and finisher medals.

Tackle the Tar is an annual 5K obstacle course and family fun day in Rocky Mount featuring a mud pit and 15+ obstacles. Proceeds support local college scholarships and a separate 1 mile kids race is offered.

A Memorial Day weekend running event at the Northwest Cary YMCA with in-person and virtual 2, 4, and 6 mile options, a kids-in-strollers category, exhibitor booths, finishers medals, and a prize pool that supports the local Veterans of Fore..

Conquer mountain trails in the scenic Uwharrie Mountains of North Carolina. This chip timed fundraiser offers 5K and 10K distances featuring forest paths, mountain summits, and beautiful lake views to support local youth camp scholarships.