Trail Running calendar near Lowell 2025-2026

Run through scenic countryside at the Ellerbe Marathon and Half Marathon, a USATF certified loop that brings you back to town for a festive finish. Finishers get a custom medal, pottery wine cup, race shirt and a post race meal.

Perennial is a lap based timed endurance run at Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden. Choose a 3, 6, or 10 hour category and complete as many roughly 5K trail loops as you can. Scenic course, limited spots, and a self supported vibe.

Tackle the Naked Mountain Ultra at Morrow Mountain State Park NC, with 50, 25 and 10 mile courses that climb four park peaks across extensive singletrack. Aid stations and pacers for the 50 mile keep the trail energy high.

Take on the Camp Croft 50K, 50 Mile, and 100 Mile at Croft State Park, running scenic single track and rolling hills on a 10.05 mile loop. Options range from a 10 Mile up to the 100 Mile, with aid stations and finishers medals or a custom b..

Mount Mitchell Heartbreaker in Old Fort, North Carolina offers a scenic but challenging mountain trail experience with 50 mile and 55K options. Expect technical singletrack, big climbs and well stocked aid stations for a memorable day on th..

Run or hike a scenic 10K on the Palmetto Trail in Pomaria, South Carolina, finishing atop the Broad River Trestle. Proceeds support the Palmetto Trail and finishers receive a custom bottle opener medal.

Run the Lake James Races at Fonta Flora Brewery in Nebo NC on April 4, 2026 with a scenic 7 Miler or lively 5k on singletrack trails. Finishers get a wooden medal, shirt and a beer while supporting the Lake James Environmental Association.

Tackle scenic, technical trails at the Whitewater Center in Charlotte with your choice of a 13.1 or 26.2 mile course. Enjoy varied natural surfaces, friendly aid stations, and finisher swag for early registrants.

Join I Run for the Gospel in Monroe NC on April 8 for a joyful community run and the Share the Harvest 5K, celebrating unity, wellness, and faith. Proceeds support free culinary education and the Created for Worship TV Mission.

Leatherwood Marathons in Ferguson NC offers steep rugged looped trail running on private Leatherwood trails, run by Dirty Wolf Racing and billed as not a race. Distances span 25K to 100 mile with backcountry aid and pottery finisher medal.

Tackle the scenic yet rugged Seven Sisters 25 kilometer race in Montreat, NC, featuring roughly 4,000 feet of climbing and sweeping ridge top views. Expect technical trails, required safety gear, and a 5 hour cutoff.

Uforea is a trail challenge in Uwharrie National Forest near Troy, NC offering daytime and nighttime 50K races or the Ultimate 100K for those who run both. Enjoy rugged singletrack, scenic ridgelines and a true endurance test.

Join the Iredell Rise & Shine 5K or 1 Mile Fun Run at Jennings Park on April 25, 2026, for scenic nature trails, strollers welcome, and food trucks. All ages welcome with water and first aid on site.

Hellbender 100 is a 100 mile trail race up Mt Mitchell in the Black Mountains with about 48,000 feet of climbing and pacers allowed. Organized by Run828, it qualifies runners for Hardrock and Western States and supports local nonprofits.

Tackle rolling hills and scenic single track through hardwood forest at Camp Caraway in the Northern Uwharrie Mountains. Choose 5K or 10K, enjoy chip timing, medals and trophies, and help fund camper scholarships.

Take on the Devil Makes Three trail races in Waxhaw NC on May 16, 2026 with a 50K three loop challenge or a single lap 10 mile option. Enjoy scenic technical trails, prairie and lake views, aid station support and a finisher medal.

Run the Cancer Active Trail Race in Black Mountain, choose in person or virtual 5K, and enjoy scenic trails. Aid stations, shirts for early registrants, and friendly volunteers make this a welcoming community event.

Run the Momentus Back Yard Ultra on May 30, 2026 at Williams Rushing Farm in Monroe NC: repeat 4.167 mile loops each hour until one runner remains. Or try the Celebrity Fun Run for a single relaxed 4.167 mile loop on scenic farmland.

Cottonmouth 8 Mile at Lakewood Nature Preserve on June 6, four laps of a 2 mile grassy loop with BYOB beer sips between laps and chip timing. Finishers get medals, food and Beer Olympics while supporting the Upstate Running Club youth team.

Run a rugged 50k loop, a net downhill half marathon, or a smooth 10k in Old Fort, NC with finishes at Camp Grier. Expect scenic ridge views, single track trails and full aid station support.