Trail Running Calendar North Carolina 2025-2026

The Goose Creek Trail Run & Hike is an exciting outdoor event taking place in Washington, NC, featuring a variety of trail races and hikes. Participants can choose from a 10K hike, a 10K trail race, a half marathon trail race, and a 50K trail race, all set in a scenic state park with beginner-friend..

The Looking Glass 100k is a highly scenic ultramarathon held in Pisgah Forest near Asheville, North Carolina. Covering approximately 62 miles with around 13,600 feet of elevation gain and loss, the course features a challenging single large loop around the iconic Looking Glass Rock. Runners traverse..

The Unforeseen is a unique running event held at Reedy Creek Nature Preserve in Charlotte, NC, organized by Kingfisher Ultras. Participants will run a random distance between 4.5 and 27 miles, determined by a dice roll just before the race begins. The course features a 2.25-mile loop with flat grave..

The 16th Annual Camp Chestnut Ridge Trail Races will take place at the Chestnut Ridge Camp and Retreat Center in Efland, NC. This event features three race options: a 4-ish mile trail run, an 8-ish mile trail run, and a 3-mile virtual race. The course will navigate through scenic trails with rolling..

The 16 Hour Lock-In is an ultrarunning event held at Carolina Beach State Park near Wilmington, North Carolina. Participants have 16 hours to complete as many 4.5-mile loops as they wish on a relatively flat, groomed trail featuring two hills and varied terrain including dirt, sand, pine straw, and..

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 terrain, or a more rugged 5K course with roots, rocks, and hills...

The High Country Turkey Trot 10k is part of a festive running event held annually in Boone, North Carolina, featuring both a 10k and a 5k timed trail race, along with a fun run/walk. Participants can enjoy scenic routes through the Boone Greenway and Kennedy Trails, with awards for top finishers and..

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. Taking place over the Thanksgiving holiday, this race offers participants a scenic late fall experience with crisp air and evergreen surround..

The Derby 50K in Ellerbe, North Carolina, is a low-key, scenic ultramarathon event held on November 29, 2025. The race covers 31.5 miles on a course of rolling hills, running in a counter-clockwise direction over asphalt and dirt loops. Participants can enjoy a community-oriented atmosphere, with a..

The Turkey Chase is a running event held in Cary, North Carolina, offering in-person and virtual race options on November 29, 2025. Participants can choose from three distances: 5K, 10K, and a half marathon (13.1 miles). The race takes place at William B.Umstead State Park, featuring a course with e..

The Shakori 40 Running Festival is a weekend event held in Pittsboro, North Carolina, celebrating endurance, community, and live music. It features a 40-mile ultramarathon, a 40K open race, and a 40-mile age-graded team relay for up to 10 members, along with a 4-mile open race. The cross-country cou..

The Lake Norman State Park Trail Race is an annual event featuring 30K and 50K trail running races held in Troutman, North Carolina. The course includes smooth, rolling single-track trails with no repeat loops, offering a scenic and challenging experience for runners of all levels. The race provides..

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 Beast of the East 100 is a challenging trail running event held in Kings Mountain, North Carolina, featuring multiple race distances including 100 miles, 100K, 50 miles, marathon, and half marathon. The race takes place on the scenic Crowders Mountain trail system, with routes passing through mo..

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. This trail race features a challenging two-loop half marathon course with 999 feet of elevation gain, combining twisty single-track and smooth equestrian trails. Th..

The Carolina Beach State Park Trail Half Marathon & 5K is a scenic trail running event taking place in Carolina Beach, NC. Scheduled for January 3, 2026, the race features two distances: a half marathon (13.1 miles) and a 5K (3.1 miles), catering to runners of all skill levels. Participants will enj..

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 and a 5-mile race, both set on scenic trail courses. The event offers a unique winter running..

Groundhog's Lap Race is a unique 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 Loop singletrack trail through the woods. The race offers multiple time-based challenges: 3-hour, 6-hour,..

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 Stone Mountain Massacre is a challenging trail running event held in Roaring Gap, North Carolina, featuring distances of 50K, 25K, and an 8-mile race. The 50K course is a demanding 30-mile loop that traverses Stone Mountain State Park trails and the Mountain to Sea Trail, with an elevation gain..