Trail Running Calendar North Carolina 2025-2026

Pilot Mountain Goat is a mountain-running event at Pilot Mountain State Park near Pinnacle, NC. It offers two distances: 3 and 7 miles, starting in the campground and finishing at the summit, with runners descending on their own or arranging a ride back. The 3-mile route climbs Grindstone Trail to t..

Carolina Beach State Park Trail Half Marathon & 5K is a trail race held in Carolina Beach, North Carolina, staged at American Legion Post #129. The event offers a Half Marathon (two laps) and a 5K on rolling, pine-laced single-track trails through Carolina Beach State Park, delivering coastal views..

Freedom Starts Here 10K, 5K, and 1-Mile Run is a Pinehurst, North Carolina charity race held at the Sandhills Community College Campus, running through Reservoir Park and the Whitehall Trail Network along a well-maintained course that starts and ends at the Sandhills Community College Sports Complex..

Frosty Cox 6 Hour Trail Race is a private-trails ultramarathon held in Concord, North Carolina. Racers tackle a 6.2-mile loop largely on singletrack (about 95%), with a brief jeep-road segment and 100% dirt surface, delivering roughly 1,350 feet of elevation gain per lap. The course winds through ha..

The South Mountains Marathons are a collection of trail races held in South Mountains State Park, North Carolina. For 2026 the event is a half marathon only due to trail closures; longer distances are paused. The half marathon takes place on January 10, 2026. Registration opens August 15 and closes..

The Southern Tour Ultra, held in Wilmington, North Carolina, is a multi-distance ultramarathon event featuring a 100-mile individual race, a 50-mile individual race, a 50K, and a 50-mile age-graded relay. The course consists of multiple 10-mile loops, offering runners a challenging yet manageable la..

The Tsali Ultra is an annual trail running event held in Almond, North Carolina, within the scenic Nantahala National Forest. It features multiple race distances: 8K, 30K, and 50K, showcasing the world-class Tsali Trail System alongside Fontana Lake. The course offers rolling, well-groomed trails wi..

The Whiskey Tango Foxtrot Trail Half Marathon & 5 Mile is a trail running event on Saturday, January 17, 2026, at Northeast Park, 3421 Northeast Park Drive, Gibsonville, NC 27249. The course includes on-trail sections with water crossings and the half marathon crosses the river two times. The e..

Located in Gastonia, North Carolina, the legacy race is a trail event at George Poston Park offering 50K, 10K, 5K, and 1-mile distances. Courses feature a mountain-bike style trail with a 3-mile trail loop, and a separate paved 1-mile loop; the longer races start on a soccer loop heading to the Spen..

HAROC (Hanging Rock Challenge) is a trail running event held at Hanging Rock State Park in Danbury, North Carolina. It features two race distances: a challenging 50K ultra with approximately 5,100 feet of elevation gain over 30.6 miles, and a 25K race covering 15.8 miles with about 2,800 feet of ele..

Groundhog’s Lap Race is a Trivium Racing multi-hour trail event in Greensboro, North Carolina. Participants choose among 3-, 6-, or 12-hour timed races on a single-track loop at Haw River State Park Iron Ore Belt Access. The course is the Great Blue Heron Loop, a woods trail roughly 3.2 miles per la..

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 point-to-point loop that traverses Stone Mountain State Park trails and the Mountain to Sea Trail, with an elevation gain of..

The Uwharrie Mountain Run is an annual trail running event held in central North Carolina’s Uwharrie National Forest near Ophir, NC. Celebrating its 35th edition, the race offers challenging winter single-track trail runs with distances of 8, 20, and 40 miles. The course features natural obstacles s..

The Viking Dash - Raleigh takes place on Saturday, February 14, 2026, at Harris Lake County Park, 2112 County Park Dr, New Hill, NC 27562. The event is presented as the Raleigh Viking Dash Trail Run and includes multiple distance options. 5K 10K Published entry fees are $45 for the 5K and $55 fo..

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..

The Holly Springs Race Against the Sun is a challenging endurance event held at Sugg Farm Park in Holly Springs, NC. Featuring a 4.167-mile trail loop around Bass Lake and Sugg Farm, the race offers 12-hour and 24-hour individual and relay options, including 6-person and 4-person teams. Participants..

Queen Anne's Revenge Ultra is Greenville, North Carolina's first-ever ultramarathon, set at River Park North (1000 Mumford Rd). The course is a 6.2-mile loop run five times for the full 50k, with a 20k option and relays for both distances. The same course is used for the 20k with two loops.Runners p..

The Ellerbe Marathon and Half Marathon takes place in Ellerbe, North Carolina. The event offers two distance options: a full marathon and a half marathon. Current event details on the organizer’s site indicate a hopeful return on February 28, 2026, with registration opening on October 1, 2025.The ad..

Grit & Grace Trail Race takes place at Camp GuilRock in Reidsville, North Carolina (about 30 minutes north of Greensboro). The event offers a 12-hour trail race and a 6-hour ruck on a looped course of roughly 3 miles that includes grassy trail, gravel road, single track, and forest road with gentle..

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..