South Mountains Marathons
Always double-check with the organizer's website! This page may contain affiliate links.
About the race
South Mountains Marathons is a trail running event held in South Mountains State Park near Connelly Springs, NC, organized by Tanawha Adventures. The primary race listed is a half marathon on January 9, 2027, starting from the park area near 3001 South Mountain Park Ave.
The half marathon specifics: The course is approximately 12.9 miles with about 2,600 feet of elevation gain. Runners cover roughly 12.4 miles of trail and 0.5 miles of pavement. There is one full aid station on course and two creek crossings. The time limit for the half is 4.5 hours.
Trail access and other distances: Some park trails remain closed due to lingering damage, so longer distances are on pause this year while access to a backcountry aid station is inaccessible. Organizers state they hope to bring back the 50k and marathon in 2027.
Contingency and entry policy: If the race must be postponed because of significant ice or snow, the event will move to January 24th; if roads are mostly clear then the race will proceed as scheduled. If in-person rescheduling is not possible, organizers plan a virtual on-course option. Registration has a closing deadline and the published refund policy grants 75% refunds through October 15th and 50% refunds through December 15th; transfers and deferments are not allowed. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
