Trail Running calendar near Athens 2025-2026

Bad Beard Events Oli Kai 3, 6, and 9 Hours is held in Chattanooga, Tennessee, on the trails of Reflection Riding Arboretum and Nature Center. The course is a 2.1-mile loop with about 190 feet of elevation gain, designed for runners and walkers alike. The event offers a flexible, participant-driven f..

24 Hours at Lake Z takes place in Dahlonega, Georgia, offering 24-, 12-, and 6-hour endurance options around Lake Z. The course is a 4.63-mile lolipop loop featuring steep climbs and descents, rocky and rooty sections, runnable ridge lines, water crossings, and about 800 feet of elevation gain per l..

Oli Via is a dirt-trail race held in Chattanooga, Tennessee, offering two challenging distances: 4.5 miles and a half marathon. The entire course is on dirt, featuring mostly flat, fast sections but notable climbs: about 731 feet for the 4.5-mile option and 2,444 feet for the half marathon. The atmo..

The Twisted Ankle Trail Race, held at Sloppy Floyd State Park in Summerville, Georgia, offers trail running distances of 5K, 10 miles, and a half marathon. The event features a mix of wide trails and single-track paths, with challenging terrain including rocks and roots. Runners in the longer distan..

The Guild 7 Trail Race is a 7-mile event in Chattanooga, Tennessee, run along the Guild-Hardy Trail, a well-groomed “truck” trail popular with runners, walkers, hikers, and cyclists. The course features a 3.5-mile uphill climb to a turnaround at a large boulder, followed by a 3.5-mile descent back t..

Nogawild Safari Run & Challenge Course, held in Cleveland, Georgia, is a family-friendly fundraising event set in the Wildlife Park. It offers multiple options: Safari Run/Walk All About the Animals (2.8 miles), Safari Challenge Course (3.6 miles) in Non-Competitive or Competition formats, and a Kid..

The Georgia Jewel is a celebrated trail running event held near Dalton, Georgia, featuring distances of 100, 50, 35, and 18 miles. Known as Georgia's longest-standing 100-mile trail race, it takes place on the scenic Pinhoti Trail, with 99% single-track terrain and a challenging climb called "Mt. Ba..

Located at Frozen Head State Park in Tennessee, The Barkley Fall Classic is a 50-kilometer trail race through the rugged Brushy Mountains. It emphasizes endurance with brutal climbs and descents, minimal markings, and no GPS; the course map is only revealed the night before, demanding navigation and..

The Flat Top Mountain Farm Harvest Hustle 5K is an off-road running event held in Soddy Daisy, Tennessee. The race course winds around the farm, taking runners along horse pastures with scenic views of sunflower fields and the Blue Ridge Mountains in the background. This 5K race offers participants..

Lady of the Lake in Blairsville, GA returns for its 7th year on September 27, 2025 as an 8-hour and 4-hour trail race around Lake Trahlyta in Vogel State Park. The course is a one-mile loop of gently rolling, runnable terrain—hard-pack pea gravel with some single-track and a short paved section. Run..

Big South Fork Trail Race unfolds in the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area near Oneida, Tennessee. The event offers a 17.5-mile out-and-back/loop course that starts and finishes at the John Litton General Slavens Trailhead by the Bandy Creek Campground; the first 1.5 miles are paved..

Ridge Runner 5k & 1 Mile Fun Run, held in Maynardville, Tennessee, takes place at Big Ridge State Park (1015 Big Ridge Park Road) along State Hwy 61 between Norris and Maynardville. In its 10th year, the event features a 3.1-mile trail run for the 5K and a 1-mile asphalt fun run. The scenic course s..

Assault on Yonah Mountain is a one-way uphill running/hiking/ruck event on Yonah Mountain near Cleveland, Georgia. The course runs about 2.5 miles from the bottom to the summit, gaining roughly 1,650 feet. It features three ascent sections with rocky and gravel terrain, including a 35% grade just be..

The Bull Mountain Epic is a North Georgia trail race held in Dahlonega, GA, featuring 50K and half-marathon distances on the Jake & Bull Mountain Trail System. The course consists of three roughly 10-mile loops; half marathoners complete one loop up Bull Mountain with some double-track, while 50K ru..

The Color Me Mutt 5K & 1 Mile Color Walk/Run is an annual, pet-friendly event held at NASCAR SpeedPark Smoky Mountains in Sevierville, Tennessee. Participants can choose between a timed 5K color run or a 1-mile fun run/walk, both featuring non-toxic color powder stations along the course. Dogs are w..

The Naturalist Trail Race in Franklin, NC, part of Outdoor 76’s Fall Celebration, offers 25K and 50K trail events along the Bartram Trail from Wallace Branch to Wayah Bald. The 25K features over 5,500 feet of climbing; the 50K more than 8,500 feet, making it a grueling ascent and descent through rug..

The Fausett Farms Sunflower 5K, held in Dawsonville, Georgia, offers a scenic running experience through vast sunflower fields in the foothills of Dawson County. Scheduled for October 11, 2025, the event features a 5K race with a challenging climb at the halfway point and a 1-mile fun run designed f..

The Blue Ridge Ultra is a challenging trail running event held in Blue Ridge, Georgia, within the scenic Chattahoochee National Forest. It offers three race distances: 50K, 30K, and 15K, all featuring rugged terrain including single-track trails, creek crossings, steep ascents and descents, and vibr..

Payson’s Run 10k is a trail race held at the Nantahala Outdoor Center in Bryson City, North Carolina. The 10-kilometer course is run entirely on NOC property, mainly along the Flint Ridge single-track with a mix of packed gravel and a short pavement section. Runners start and finish on the NOC campu..

The Mystery Mountain Marathon & 12-Miler is an annual trail running event held at Fort Mountain State Park near Chatsworth, Georgia. The race offers two distances: a challenging marathon with approximately 5,500 feet of elevation gain and a 12-mile trail run. Participants traverse rugged single-trac..