Trail Running calendar near Old Fort 2025-2026

Join the 15th annual High Country Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving in Boone for scenic 5k and 10k trail races, a paved 5k fun run, live DJ and custom race shirts and finisher medals. Proceeds support Hospitality House of Northwest N.C.

Join Upstate Run Club for a free 5k group run on the Swamp Rabbit Trail followed by food and drinks at Double Stamp Brewery in Greenville. All paces welcome; the club provides the main course so bring a side or dessert to share.

Run scenic single track loops at Lake Norman State Park with 30K and 50K options on December 6, 2025. Enjoy well stocked aid stations, a 9 hour cut off, finisher medals, and awards for top overall and masters runners.

Beast of the East 100 at Crowders Mountain near Kings Mountain NC offers distances from Half Marathon to 100 Miler on scenic but rugged singletrack with serious elevation gain. Robust aid stations and great community support make it a class..

Celebrate the season at the Dirty Santa Trail Run in Lenoir, a festive 5 miles of single track, field and gravel trails ending with s'mores and hot cocoa. Part of the Foothills Run Series; register by Dec 1 to guarantee a hoodie.

Join a free 17 mile run along the scenic Virginia Creeper Trail from Alvarado Station to Abingdon. Handmade mementos for top, middle and final finishers plus warm post race drinks and snacks.

Spend the Longest Night at Lakewood Nature Preserve, an overnight trail ultra supporting the Upstate Running Club Youth Team. Cozy barn hub, rolling grassy loops, hot aid station fare, and distances from 10K to 50 miles.

Tackle the South Mountains Half Marathon at South Mountains State Park, a rugged 12.9 mile trail run with about 2,600 feet of climbing and creek crossings. Limited to 200 runners, all finishers earn hand crafted ceramic medals.

Join the Roy Abernathy Legacy Race at George Poston Park in Gastonia on Jan 17, 2026, offering distances from 1 mile to 50K on scenic trail and soccer loop routes. Celebrate a meaningful cause supporting brain research and earn a handmade p..

Run the Land and Lakes Relay in late Feb 2026, a scenic team relay from Warren Wilson College in Asheville to Fonta Flora Brewery near Lake James. Teams of four or six share varied mountain legs and finish with awards and a celebratory beer..

Take on the Catawba Falls 15K on Feb 28 in Old Fort NC, a scenic trail run that climbs toward waterfalls with steep staircases, creek crossings, and mountain views. Proceeds support local land and trail conservation and local partners provi..

Take on Conquer the Rock at Table Rock State Park on March 7, 2026, with 25k or 50k options. This scenic but rugged trail race climbs Pinnacle Mountain and Table Rock, offering big views and serious elevation for adventurous runners.

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.

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 Assault on BlackRock, a rugged 7 mile trail to a 5,810 foot summit with rocky single track and steep climbs. Beat one hour for $400 or finish in 101 minutes for a buckle and help fund outdoor murals in downtown Sylva.

Run scenic single track around Lake James from Fonta Flora Brewery on April 4, 2026 with 7 mile and 5K options. Finish with a Fonta Flora beer for 21 and over, a commemorative shirt and wooden finisher medal while supporting the Lake James..

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.

Smoky Mountain Relay sends teams on just over 200 miles of road and trail through Pisgah National Forest near Brevard, NC. Teams rotate through marked legs and finish with a lively party featuring live music, food and drinks.