Fonta Flora 50K and Half Marathon

Fonta Flora 50K and Half Marathon

The Fonta Flora event takes place along trails and the banks of Lake James State Park in Nebo, NC. The course starts and finishes at Fonta Flora Brewery's Whippoorwill Farm and runs near Shortoff Mountain and the Linville Gorge. Portions of event proceeds support trail development around Lake James, including the Fonta Flora State Trail.

Distances offered:

• 50K approximately 31.5 miles with about 2,400 feet elevation gain.
• 50K 2 person relay legs roughly 13.5 and 18.5 miles.
• 50K 3 person relay legs roughly 13.5, 12.5, and 6 miles.
• Half Marathon approximately 13.1 miles with about 850 feet elevation gain.

Course surface and limits are noted for each distance. The 50K covers roughly 30 miles of single track plus small amounts of pavement and gravel and has a published time limit. The half marathon uses mostly single track trail and has a published time limit.

Packet pickup is available early at Fonta Flora's Whippoorwill Farm the Friday before the event and also at the start/finish on race days. Lake James State Park campgrounds are within five miles of the start; hotels in Morganton are about a 20 minute drive. A costume contest coincides with the weekend; volunteers and organizers vote and winners receive free entry into a Tanawha Adventures race in the 2026 calendar.

Tanawha Adventures was founded in 2016 and allocates a portion of profits to conservation and trail advocacy. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.