Blue Heaven Trail Fest

Event Overview

Blue Heaven Trail Fest takes place from Friday April 24, 2026 to Saturday April 25, 2026 at 161 Sanctuary Lane, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, US 27516. The venue is about 15 minutes from UNC, 30 minutes from Duke/Durham, and 45 minutes from NC State in Raleigh and UNCG in Greensboro.

The event offers several race formats for teams and individual runners. The venue is open for three days, from Friday evening to Sunday late morning, with camping and glamping available on site. Music, a wellness park, and food are part of the festival setting.

Races and Distances

Available events include:

• 100 Mile Relay (4-person team)
• 100 Mile Relay (8-person team)
• XC Half Marathon
• Sunset 4 Miler
• Sunrise 4 Miler
• Sunset to Sunrise Challenge (combined Sunset and Sunrise 4 Miler)

The 100-mile relay gives teams up to 24 hours to complete the distance. Each relay uses a loop system: in 4-person teams, three runners complete 6 loops and one runner completes 7 loops; in 8-person teams, seven runners complete 3 loops and one runner completes 4 loops. Each 100-mile team receives a complimentary camping space.

The XC Half Marathon uses 3 full loops plus a final shortened loop. The Sunset to Sunrise Challenge includes a complimentary shared campsite.

Course and Setting

All events take place on a 4-mile trail loop over 83 acres of pasture and forest. Each loop includes about 2 miles of shaded forest trails and 2 miles of open pasture, with gentle rolling elevation. The property is also home to Beautiful Together Animal Sanctuary, a 501(c)(3) organization that rescues abused, neglected, or abandoned animals and runs community programs with children and rescued animals. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.