Umstead Trail Marathon

Umstead Trail Marathon

The Umstead Trail Marathon takes place on March 7, 2026, at William B. Umstead State Park in Raleigh, NC. The event covers 26.2 miles through the park’s 5,000-acre wilderness. The course surface is a mix of approximately 25% technical single-track trails and 75% runnable fine gravel bridle paths. The route includes roughly 2,400 feet of total elevation gain and passes through forested areas, around lakes, and along streams.

Support and logistics

The course has fully supported aid stations providing hydration and fuel approximately every 2–4 miles. Volunteers and course monitors are present along the route. Packet pickup is held on the days before the race and a pre-race briefing is part of the schedule. There is a course cutoff set as a 6-hour limit (14:00 minute/mile). The race is cupless; participants are required to carry a drinking vessel. Post-race amenities include a meal at the finish line, a commemorative race t-shirt, and a finisher’s pint glass. The top 15 male and female overall finishers receive handcrafted, locally sourced awards. All event proceeds support preservation and improvement of Umstead State Park and local running initiatives of the Carolina Godiva Track Club. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.