Trail Running Calendar North Carolina 2025-2026

Oakwood24 is an annual 24-hour ultra run/walk event held at Lakeside Retreats in Raleigh, North Carolina, benefiting Healing Transitions. Now in its 8th year, the event has raised over $1 million to support recovery services for the homeless, uninsured, and underserved individuals struggling with ad..

The Birds of a Feather Trail Trot is an annual Thanksgiving Day trail running event held at Briar Chapel in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Participants can choose between a mellow 2-mile course featuring paved trails, grass, and smooth paths, or a more rugged 5K course with roots, rocks, and hills. Bo..

The High Country Turkey Trot 10k is part of the 15th Annual High Country Turkey Trot held in Boone, North Carolina, at Clawson-Burnley Park. This event features a scenic 10k timed trail race along the Boone Greenway and Kennedy Trails, offering mostly grass and wooded dirt paths with some paved sect..

The Black Toenail Friday Half Marathon and 7.5 Mile race is a trail running event held in Snow Camp, North Carolina, at the Cane Creek Mountains Natural Area. Scheduled for the Friday after Thanksgiving, this race offers participants a chance to enjoy a scenic late-fall run through crisp air and eve..

The Derby 50K in Ellerbe, North Carolina, is a low-key ultramarathon covering 31.5 miles over three loops of rolling hills on a mix of asphalt and dirt roads. The course starts and finishes at the Derby Community Building and is marked with yellow arrows and signs, though it remains open to traffic,..

The Turkey Chase in Cary, North Carolina, is a festive running event held annually on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. It offers multiple race distances including a half marathon (13.1 miles), 10K, 5K, and a Kids in Strollers event, with both in-person and virtual participation options. Participants..

The Shakori 40 Running Festival, held annually in Pittsboro, North Carolina, is a vibrant celebration of running, nature, and community. The event features a 40-mile ultramarathon, a 40K open race, a 40-mile age-graded team relay for up to 10 members, and a 4-mile open race. The cross-country style..

The Old Fort Strong Endurance Festival, held in Old Fort, North Carolina, is a trail running and mountain biking event featuring 3, 6, and 12-hour races. Set on the trails around Camp Grier and the Gateway Trail System, the festival offers separate loops for runners (about 3.5 miles) and mountain bi..

The Lake Norman State Park Trail Race, held in Troutman, NC, offers two challenging trail running options: a 30K and a 50K. Both races feature smooth, rolling single-track trails with no repeated loops, providing a fresh experience throughout. The 30K course includes about 1,500 feet of elevation ga..

The Beast of the East 100 is an ultramarathon event held at Crowders Mountain in Kings Mountain, North Carolina. It features multiple race distances including a 100-mile, 100K, 50-mile, marathon, and half marathon, all run on the extensive Crowders Mountain trail system. The course includes challeng..

The Run at the Rock Half Marathon is part of the 21st Annual Run at the Rock event held at Cedarock Park in Burlington, North Carolina. Scheduled for December 13, 2025, the event offers 5K, 10K, and Half Marathon trail races on challenging courses featuring twisty single-track and smooth equestrian..

The Dirty Santa Trail Run is a 5-mile trail race held annually in Lenoir, North Carolina, serving as the final event in the Foothills Run Series presented by UNC Ortho. The course begins and ends at the Lenoir Rotary Soccer Complex and features nearly 3 miles of single-track trail on Zack's Fork Mou..

The Cape Fear Holiday Run is a festive trail running event held at Cape Fear Shiner Park in Lillington, North Carolina. Featuring a 1.17-mile loop that blends scenic trails with a short paved section, the course is accessible for runners of all levels. Participants can choose from 9-hour, 6-hour, or..

The Carolina Beach State Park Trail Half Marathon & 5K is a trail running event held in Carolina Beach, North Carolina, featuring 13.1-mile and 3.1-mile courses. Set within the scenic Carolina Beach State Park, the race offers runners a unique experience on rolling pine-laced single-track trails alo..

The Tsali Ultra is an annual trail running event held in Almond, North Carolina, within the scenic Nantahala National Forest. Celebrating over 15 years, it offers three race distances: 8K, 30K, and 50K. Runners experience the world-class Tsali Trail System, known for its well-groomed paths alongside..

The Whiskey Tango Foxtrot (WTF) Trail Half Marathon & 5 Mile is a winter trail running event held in January at Northeast Park in Gibsonville, North Carolina. Participants can choose between a half marathon or a 5-mile race, both offering a challenging course through scenic trails. The event is know..

Groundhog's Lap Race is a challenging endurance running event held at Haw River State Park Iron Ore Belt Access in Greensboro, North Carolina. Participants run loops on the 3.2-mile Great Blue Heron single-track trail through the woods. The race offers multiple time-based options: 3-hour, 6-hour, an..

The Stone Mountain Massacre is a challenging trail running event held in Roaring Gap, North Carolina, featuring distances of 50K, 25K, and 8 miles. The 50K race follows a point-to-point loop through Stone Mountain State Park trails and the Mountain to Sea Trail, with an elevation gain of 1,530 feet..

The Uwharrie Mountain Run is an annual trail running event held in the Uwharrie National Forest of central North Carolina, featuring challenging single-track courses of 8, 20, and 40 miles. Celebrating its 35th year, the event attracts both recreational and elite runners, offering a unique experienc..

The Grit & Grace Trail Race, held at Camp GuilRock in Reidsville, North Carolina, offers two challenging events: a 12-hour trail run and a 6-hour weighted ruck race. The course is a roughly 3-mile loop featuring grassy trails, gravel roads, single track, and forest roads with gentle rolling terrain,..