Trail Running calendar near Lancaster 2025-2026

Run the Prisoner of War Trail Race at Croft State Park and tackle scenic figure eight loops with 50K, 25K or 8 Mile distances. Proceeds support the Upstate Running Club Youth Team and finishers take home a medal and gear pack.

Run the Mountaineer Rumble at Kings Mountain State Park in Clover SC, a scenic but rugged looped trail event offering distances from 10 miles to 100 miles. Fully supported with stocked aid and awards including a 100 mile buckle.

Roll the dice and run The Unforeseen on Nov 15, 2025 at Reedy Creek Nature Preserve in Charlotte. A 2.25 mile loop turns into a surprise race distance from 4.5 to 27 miles, making every lap a thrilling gamble.

Run through woods from dusk to dawn at Long Night in Lanford, an overnight 1 mile loop event plus a spooky 5K Afraid of the Dark. Enjoy headlamp miles, on site camping, sunrise finish and proceeds to the Laurens County Humane Society.

Join the 2nd Belarusian Carolinas Trails Run in Charlotte and choose a 5K or 1M along Sugar Creek Greenway. Refreshments and tees await as proceeds support a Nobel laureate championing human rights and freedom.

Run marathon or half marathon laps through Harbison State Forest trails with varied elevation and creek crossings. Finishers earn medals and Southern post race food while supporting the Upstate youth team.

Join Berry Your Turkey 5k Run/Walk on Saturday November 22 at The Farm near Newberry High for a friendly cross country 5k open to runners and walkers. Enjoy scenic trails and support a local youth program with optional donations.

Take on the Derby 50K in Ellerbe North Carolina on Nov 29, a three loop counterclockwise course of rolling hills on asphalt and dirt. Finish with a community spaghetti meal and help support local causes.

Brooks South XC Championships on Nov 29, 2025 at McAlpine Park in Charlotte offers 3K and 5K races for youth, high school, open and masters runners. Top finishers earn medals, swag and berths to the Brooks XC Championships in San Diego.

Run scenic single track loops at Lake Norman State Park with 30K and 50K options on December 6, 2025. Enjoy well stocked aid stations, a 9 hour cut off, finisher medals, and awards for top overall and masters runners.

Push your pace at the Naturally Outdoors 2 hour endurance race on Dec 6 in Florence, SC, running laps on a 2.5 mile loop with most laps winning. Entry includes a New Balance hoody and supports local trail expansion, plus a post race party.

Beast of the East 100 at Crowders Mountain near Kings Mountain NC offers distances from Half Marathon to 100 Miler on scenic but rugged singletrack with serious elevation gain. Robust aid stations and great community support make it a class..

Mo Big Butt on December 27, 2025 is a self timed, unsupported 50 km run with on site parking for those familiar with the course. The route recently hosted a 50 km ultramarathon that saw 28 finishers and two state records.

Start the new year on the trails at the 13th annual Gnome Run in Fort Mill on January 1, 2026. Choose a 10 mile ruck or run or a 5K family fun run, then enjoy a traditional New Year lunch while supporting the Baxter Trail Club.

Tackle the Frosty Cox six hour trail challenge in Concord NC by running as many 6.2 mile singletrack loops as you like. Expect big climbs, creek crossings and home baked aid plus finisher and top overall awards; entries are limited.

Join the Roy Abernathy Legacy Race at George Poston Park in Gastonia on Jan 17, 2026, offering distances from 1 mile to 50K on scenic trail and soccer loop routes. Celebrate a meaningful cause supporting brain research and earn a handmade p..

Join the 35th Uwharrie Mountain Run Feb 7 2026 in Uwharrie National Forest. Choose 40 mile, 20 mile or 8 mile single track courses with rocky roots, creek crossings and aid stations, and earn handcrafted pottery finisher awards.

Run the Mill Stone 50K at ASC Greenway in Fort Mill SC, a rugged scenic trail with creek crossings and technical single track. Pick the 50K three loop ultra or the 10M one loop and enjoy race swag, shirts and a custom 50K finisher medal.

Explore sandy ridges and singletrack loops around Sesquicentennial State Park at the Sandhills Trail and Ultra Festival on February 21 and 22, 2026. Choose from ultra and shorter looped distances for a scenic, community driven trail challen..

Run through scenic countryside at the Ellerbe Marathon and Half Marathon, a USATF certified loop that brings you back to town for a festive finish. Finishers get a custom medal, pottery wine cup, race shirt and a post race meal.