North Carolina
North Carolina Trail Running Calendar 2026-2027
Explore the best trail runs in North Carolina for 2026-2027! Our updated list features 153 exciting trail runs across the region. Find your next trail run in North Carolina below and join the trail community at these great events!
December 2026
Experience the natural beauty of Cedarock Park with a variety of trail races in Burlington. Enjoy twisty single track trails followed by hot soup and a finisher hoodie at this long running December event.
A holiday 5K and 1-mile fun run at Silver Coast Winery with themed course sections, a Santa’s Workshop post-race party, finisher medals, guaranteed shirts for early registrants, and proceeds supporting the Combat Vets Motorcycle Association.
A roughly 5-mile trail race in Lenoir on 12/12/2026 featuring single-track, gravel and short hardtop sections, part of the Foothills Run Series, with early packet pickup, post-race s'mores and awards including Dirty Santa gift selection.
Trail races at Pilot Mountain State Park on December 19, 2026 with 3 mile and 7 mile courses, a 150 runner limit, shirts, awards, and packet pick-up.
January 2027
A weekend of trail races at Salem Lake offering a night 5K, looped 12.5K courses up to a 50K, and a four-person 50K relay, with water stops on looped courses, a seven hour cap for the 50K, finishers swag, and post-race food and beer.
Multi-distance running event in Lake Lure, NC on January 9, 2027, organized by Dirty Wolf Ultras.
Trail races of 50K and 25K in Sapphire NC with looped trail routes, stocked aid station, handmade finish medals, and proceeds to brain deterioration and learning disabilities research.
A winter trail half marathon in South Mountains State Park near Connelly Springs NC with 12.9 miles and about 2,600 feet of climbing.
A multi-day ultrarunning weekend in Wilmington offering 100-mile, 50-mile, 50K and relay options with on-site camping and event amenities.
A January trail event in Gibsonville, NC offering a 13.1 mile half with two river crossings, a 5 mile race, ruck divisions and virtual options. The race includes chip timing, on-course support, a hoodie and finisher medal.
Tsali Ultra is a winter trail event in Bryson City NC offering 8K, 30K, and 50K races. The 50K runs in conjunction with the NC USATF 50 km Trail Championships and aid stations are mostly cupless so bring a container.
A six hour trail event in Concord, NC on private singletrack featuring a 6.2 mile loop, significant elevation gain, aid station provisions, and finisher awards.
February 2027
Trail races in Roaring Gap NC with 50K, 25K and 8 Miler options, aid stations, course tokens for the 50K, and handcrafted finisher medals.
Winter single track trail races of 8, 20 and 40 miles in Uwharrie National Forest on February 6, 2027. Aid stations, finish food, pottery awards, shirts, parking and shuttles are provided.
Experience an epic trail run through Harris Lake County Park at the Viking Dash in Raleigh. Choose between 5K or 10K distances and earn a unique forged finisher medal for completing the journey.
A looped trail event at River Park North offering 50K and 20K options, including relays, with proceeds donated to Heart for ENC.
A trail event at Camp GuilRock in Reidsville, NC offering a 12-hour looped run and a 6-hour weighted ruck on an approximately 3 mile mixed-surface course.
A 15k trail race in Old Fort, NC with a riverside start, a 3.5 mile loop to Catawba Falls, and partnerships supporting local trail conservation.
March 2027
A point to point 30 mile off road training run between UNC Chapel Hill and Duke University, held annually in March and facilitated by a local 501c3.
A multi format endurance event at Sugg Farm Park and Bass Lake on a 4.167 mile trail loop, featuring 12 hour and 24 hour individual races, a 100 mile with a 30 hour cutoff, relays and ruck divisions with mandatory gear checks.