Mt Mitchell Challenge and Black Mountain Marathon
Black Mountain, United States • 3 Apr 2027
Mt Mitchell Challenge and Black Mountain Marathon : Black Mountain, NC
This event on April 3, 2027 combines a standard marathon with an optional longer Challenge that includes a summit finish on Mount Mitchell. Runners register under the Marathon entry; up to 250 runners who reach the Blue Ridge Parkway turnaround within the race cutoff may opt to continue to the summit and become Challenge finishers. If the Parkway or State Park is closed, summit access may not be possible and alternative course options may be used.
Distances:
- Marathon
- Challenge – 40 miles
The course begins from Black Mountain and includes a mix of pavement, single-track trail, and rough gravel. The first and final three miles are paved; from mile 3 onward the route is mostly trail and rough gravel. The summit section combines pavement and trail when trail access is available. Aid coverage differs by distance: the Challenge has 10 aid stations and the Marathon has 6; stations provide water, Gatorade, fruit, salty and sweet snacks, and some offer hot soup.
Logistics and policies noted include a pack in / pack out gear rule, a field-size limit with open entries accepted until that limit is reached, and a January 1 drop deadline for deferrals or refunds minus a fee. The race was not held in 2025 and 2026 due to extensive trail and park damage. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.