Trail Running Calendar North Carolina 2025-2026

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 Camp Chestnut Ridge Trail Race, held annually at the Chestnut Ridge Camp and Retreat Center in Efland, NC, offers a scenic trail running experience through rolling hills and old hardwood forests. The event features two main trail races of approximately 4 and 8 miles on single-track dirt and grav..

Oakwood24 at Lakeside Retreats in Raleigh, NC is Healing Transitions’ eighth annual run/walk fundraiser. The event offers multiple options: a 24-hour timed ultra, plus 6-, 12-hour, and relay formats and a 5k walk/run, welcoming individuals to run, walk, bike, or show support. The move from Oakwood C..

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 trail terrain with some paved s..

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 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, Pine Hill Trail Head. Taking place the Friday after Thanksgiving, this race offers participants a chance to enjoy the crisp late-fall air and..

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 runners must remain cautiou..

Turkey Chase in Cary, North Carolina, is a Fit & Able Productions event offering in-person and virtual options near Umstead State Park. Participants choose from 5K, 10K, or 13.1-mile distances, with course maps and a staggered start by distance. Finishers receive a medal and a knit hat or fleece war..

Shakori 40 Running Festival takes place in Pittsboro, North Carolina, at Shakori Hills and its Community Art Center. The cross-country style course winds through Shakori Hills, offering a 40-mile ultramarathon, a 40K open race, and a 40-mile age-graded team relay for up to 10 runners, plus a 4-mile..

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 Old Fort Strong Endurance Festival, held at Camp Grier near Old Fort, NC, is a trail running and mountain biking event featuring 3, 6, and 12-hour races. The festival offers a vibrant atmosphere with live music, vendors, and guest speakers from the trail running and mountain biking communities...

The Run at the Rock Half Marathon is part of the 21st Annual Run at the Rock event held at Cedarock Park in Burlington, NC. This trail race features a challenging two-loop half marathon course with approximately 999 feet of elevation gain, combining twisty single-track and smooth equestrian trails...

The SOHO-HO AND AWAY WE GO! is a festive running event held at Silver Coast Winery in Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina. Scheduled for December 13, 2025, it features a 5K race and a 1-mile fun run. The course is a Christmas-themed trail with sections like Cindy Lou Hoo’s Loop, Candy Cane Lane, and Gr..

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 Beast of the East 100 is an ultramarathon event held in Kings Mountain, North Carolina, featuring multiple race distances including a 100-mile, 100K, 50-mile, marathon, and half marathon. The courses traverse the entire Crowders Mountain trail system, summiting both peaks and offering scenic vie..

Cape Fear Holiday Run is a fundraiser trail race in Lillington, North Carolina, at Cape Fear Shiner Park. The course features a 1.17-mile loop on a scenic trail with a short paved section, suitable for runners of all levels. The event offers 9-hour, 6-hour, and 3-hour timed divisions, with electroni..

The Pilot Mountain Goat is a challenging trail running event held at Pilot Mountain State Park in Pinnacle, North Carolina. It offers two race distances: a 3-mile and a 7-mile course, both starting at the campground and finishing at the mountain's summit. Runners ascend trails such as Grindstone, Mo..

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..

Located in Concord, North Carolina, the Frosty Cox 6-Hour Trail Race invites runners to explore a private network of trails normally off-limits. The course is a 6.2-mile (10K) loop of 95% singletrack, 5% jeep road, and 100% dirt, with about 1,350 feet of elevation gain per lap. The terrain winds thr..

South Mountains Marathons, organized by Tanawha Adventures, are trail races at South Mountains State Park in western North Carolina. The half marathon (12.9 miles) features about 2,600 feet of elevation gain, with roughly 12.4 miles of trail and 0.5 miles of pavement. Runners encounter two creek cro..