Trail Running calendar near West Jefferson 2025-2026

Pilot Mountain Salamander Scamper is a 25K trail race held near Pinnacle, North Carolina, with the start/finish at 301 Boyd Nelson Rd. Runners wind through Pilot Creek Trail to the campground, then Grindstone Trail, up Ledge Springs to the mountain summit, circling the Pinnacle counterclockwise and..

Land and Lakes Relay is a team relay race starting at Warren Wilson College in East Asheville, NC, finishing at Fonta Flora Brewery-Whippoorwhill Farm near Lake James in Nebo. The course passes Swannanoa, Black Mountain, Lake Tomahawk, Old Fort, Marion, and the Lake James area. Four- or six-person t..

The Catawba Falls 15K, held in Old Fort, North Carolina, offers runners a unique blend of speed and rugged mountain terrain. The race starts at the Foothills Watershed property with a smooth 2-mile stretch along the scenic Catawba River before tackling a challenging 3.5-mile trail loop featuring ste..

Mount Mitchell Heartbreaker is an ultramarathon held in Old Fort, North Carolina, starting at Camp Grier. The event offers 50-mile and 55-kilometer options through the western NC mountains known as “the other Pisgah.” Highlights include Snooks Nose, Green Knob, Black Mountain Crest, and Heartbreak R..

The Leatherwood Marathon, held at Leatherwood Resort in Ferguson, North Carolina, offers multiple race distances including 10 miles, 25K, 50K, 50 miles, and a challenging 100-mile ultra. The course features private horse land trails with scenic, shaded tree lines and beautiful overlooks. Each loop i..

Lake James Races at Fonta Flora’s Whippoorwill Farm in Nebo, NC, offer a Half Marathon, 7 Miler, and 5k, starting and finishing at Fonta Flora. Runners explore the trails of Lake James State Park, enjoying scenic views and rolling terrain suited to trail enthusiasts. The Half Marathon is mostly sing..

New River Trail Races take place in Fries, Virginia, along the 100% dirt, flat New River Trail in New River Trail State Park. The event features four distances: 100k, 50k, 25k, and New River Trail 10k, all run as out-and-back courses along the river and Chestnut Creek. The race emphasizes cupless ru..

Seven Sisters 25k is a mountainous trail race near Montreat, North Carolina. The course covers about 15 miles (25 kilometers) with roughly 4,000 feet of elevation gain and is about 95% trail. Runners traverse the East and West ridges of the Montreat Wilderness, with highlights including Lookout Rock..

The Troublesome Hollow 50K is a trail running event held in Bristol, Virginia, set in the scenic heart of Southwest Virginia. The race features a 50K distance on Saturday and a 25K plus a 3-mile walk on Sunday, offering a two-day mountain adventure. The course includes flat, fast riverside trails, i..

Grayson Highlands, held at Grayson Highlands State Park in Mouth of Wilson, Virginia, offers four trail distances: 50 Mile, 50K, 25K, and 8 Mile. The courses feature significant elevation gain—about 9,500 ft for the 50 Mile, 4,500 ft for the 50K, 3,000 ft for the 25K, and 1,400 ft for the 8 Mile—wit..

Hellbender 100 is a premier ultramarathon held in Old Fort, North Carolina. This 100‑mile race traverses Western North Carolina’s mountains, including the Black Mountains and reaching Mt. Mitchell, with about 48,000+ feet of elevation change.The 2026 course will be an alternative blend of the 2025 a..

Quest for the Crest is a rugged mountain ultramarathon in Burnsville, NC, with three point-to-point races: 50K, 25K, and the new 11K. The routes feature brutal vertical climbs, including a 2.5-mile opening ascent with about 3,300 ft of gain, and total elevation around 12,000 ft for the 50K, 4,500 ft..

Ridge to Rails in Old Fort, NC, is a three-distance trail weekend offering a 50k, a half marathon, and a 10k through the Old Fort Gateway Trail system and Mill Creek Valley. The 50k forms a single loop over a mix of classic and new trails, delivering sweeping mountain views, fast downhills, and tech..

Dam Yeti 50 is an annual ultramarathon in Abingdon, Virginia, offering 50‑mile and 55K distances, plus the Pepsi Challenge 25K on Sunday. Marketed as the fastest ultra course in the country, it runs point‑to‑point down Virginia’s legendary trail, with a downhill start into Damascus and the famed 'br..

The Hollis Hills Farm Revival is a trail running event held in Ellenboro, North Carolina, featuring 5K, 25K, and 50K distances. The course consists of a scenic 5-mile loop around the farm, including a hunter's cabin and an out-and-back fire road section with a 400-foot elevation gain per loop. Parti..

The Steele Creek Struggle Half Marathon Trail Race is a challenging 13.1-mile trail run held in Steele Creek Park, Bristol, Tennessee. Known for its rugged and technical terrain, the course features over 2,000 feet of elevation gain, including steep climbs, rocky single tracks, creek crossings, and..