South Mountains Marathons
Connelly Springs, United States • 10 Jan 2026
Event overview
South Mountains Marathons is a set of trail races held in South Mountains State Park in North Carolina. For 2026 the event will include only the half marathon due to trail closures from Hurricane Helene. The organizer is Tanawha Adventures. Entry is limited to 200 entrants per day and registration opens August 15. Registration closes January 8.
Half marathon details
Distance: 12.9 miles. Elevation gain: ~ 2,600 ft. Time limit: 4.5 hours. Trail mileage: ~ 12.4 miles of trail and 0.5 mile of pavement. The course uses a mix of wide double track and tighter singletrack, includes steep sections and two creek crossings. There is one full aid station on course. Aid station supplies include water, Gatorade, assorted soft drinks, bananas, chips, pretzels, cookies, M&Ms, gummi bears, Goldfish, trail mix, and PB&J.
Dates, refunds and contingencies
The scheduled race date is January 10, 2026. If conditions produce significant ice or snow, the race may be postponed to January 24. If the event must be canceled for other reasons and cannot be rescheduled, the organizer may run the event virtually on the actual course; no refunds, transfers, or deferments are allowed in that case. Refunds of 75% of the entry fee are available through October 15 and 50% through December 15; no refunds after December 15. Fees for the half are $75 until October 16 and $85 thereafter. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.