North Carolina · Trail
Trail Races in North Carolina
North Carolina currently has 26 upcoming trail races with a confirmed date listed in RaceRove. Chapel Hill, Winston Salem, Durham and Jacksonville have the most.
Among them, 17 offer a 5K, 7 a 10K, 6 a half marathon, 2 a marathon and 6 an ultra distance (50K and beyond, or a timed race). An event with several distances counts once for each.
January (6), November (6) and April (4) are the busiest months for trail races here. Another 16 annual trail races are waiting for next year's date to be announced.
This page is the same for everyone, so it can't know where you are. Open the race search from here, which starts with North Carolina's trail races, and set its Near filter to your city to keep only the ones around you.
- Upcoming, date confirmed
- 26
- Active listings
- 42
- Cities with trail races
- 30
Upcoming trail races in North Carolina
All 26 with a confirmed date, soonest first.
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Whiskey Tango Foxtrot Trail Half Marathon & 5 MileGibsonville, NCHalf Marathon5K5 Miles ~50 runners
Dates come from each race's own listing. Always confirm on the organiser's site before you book travel.
Largest trail races in North Carolina
By estimated field size across all distances at the event.
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Salem Lake Trail Runs 30K/7 Mile/5KWinston Salem, NC Usually held in September · next date not announced30K7 Miles5K ~13,200 runners
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Rootrock Trail Run - 5K/10K/Half MarathonChapel Hill, NC Usually held in October · next date not announced5K10KHalf Marathon ~1,200 runners
Trail ultramarathons in North Carolina
Trail races with a distance of 50K or more, a fixed-time format, or billed as an ultra (the race search's Ultra filter): confirmed dates first, soonest first.
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HKY 100 Mile Ultra Trail RaceHickory, NC Usually held in October · next date not announced100 Miler ~598 runners
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Uwharrie 100 Mile and 100K Trail RunTroy, NC Usually held in October · next date not announced100 Miler100K ~150 runners
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Trick or Trail 5k & 1 MileHendersonville, NC Usually held in October · next date not announced1 Mile (in-person & un-timed)5k Run (in-person)5k Run (virtual) - NOT PARTICIPATING IN PERSON
When trail races happen in North Carolina
- January
- 6 upcoming trail races
- February
- 3 upcoming trail races
- April
- 4 upcoming trail races
- August
- 1 upcoming trail race
- October
- 2 upcoming trail races
- November
- 6 upcoming trail races
- December
- 4 upcoming trail races
North Carolina cities with the most trail races
- Chapel Hill
- 2 upcoming trail races
- Winston Salem
- 2 upcoming trail races
- Durham
- 2 upcoming trail races
- Jacksonville
- 2 upcoming trail races
- Hendersonville
- 1 upcoming trail race
- Gastonia
- 1 upcoming trail race
- Monroe
- 1 upcoming trail race
- Pittsboro
- 1 upcoming trail race
Annual trail races awaiting their next date
These trail races are held every year, but the next date isn't in the listing yet. The month shown is when each is usually held.
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Salem Lake Trail Runs 30K/7 Mile/5KWinston Salem, NC Usually held in September · next date not announced30K7 Miles5K ~13,200 runners
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Rootrock Trail Run - 5K/10K/Half MarathonChapel Hill, NC Usually held in October · next date not announced5K10KHalf Marathon ~1,200 runners
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To The Good Times Trail RunBelmont, NC Usually held in October · next date not announced5K10K ~1,000 runners
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HKY 100 Mile Ultra Trail RaceHickory, NC Usually held in October · next date not announced100 Miler ~598 runners
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Medoc Trail RacesHollister, NC Usually held in October · next date not announced5 Miles10 Miles ~500 runners
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Twilight Trail 5kHendersonville, NC Usually held in August · next date not announcedIn-Person 5kVirtual 5k ~300 runners
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Deerfly Trail RaceFayetteville, NC Usually held in October · next date not announced6.8 Miles4.01 Miles ~200 runners
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Three Little Pigs 5K Trail RunPittsboro, NC Usually held in October · next date not announced3.2 Miles ~200 runners
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Uwharrie 100 Mile and 100K Trail RunTroy, NC Usually held in October · next date not announced100 Miler100K ~150 runners
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Papertown Trail RacesCanton, NC Usually held in October · next date not announcedLong Race (~20K/9mi)Short Race (10K/6.2mi)
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Shining Hope Farms Salute Trail RunConover, NC Usually held in September · next date not announced1 Mile Kids Run10K Trail Run5K Trail Run
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The DeAngelo Williams Foundation 53 Strong DeAthlonMonroe, NC Usually held in August · next date not announced20 Mile Tiger Trail Bike3.4 Mile Run34 Mile Carolina Cruise Bike53 Mile Legacy Bike +1 more
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Trick or Trail 5k & 1 MileHendersonville, NC Usually held in October · next date not announced1 Mile (in-person & un-timed)5k Run (in-person)5k Run (virtual) - NOT PARTICIPATING IN PERSON
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Triple Lakes Trail RaceGreensboro, NC Usually held in October · next date not announced5K10K40 Miles5 Miles
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Warlick Family YMCA Trick or Trail 5 K and 1 Mile Fun RunGastonia, NC Usually held in October · next date not announced5K1 Mile
More ways to browse North Carolina
Trail races in nearby states
How RaceRove picks trail races
A race is on these pages when its name, its list of distances or its listing's notes say "trail". That is the rule the Trail filter in RaceRove's race search uses, so a race is a trail race on both or on neither. A race on dirt roads or mountain paths that doesn't call itself a trail race isn't counted, and neither is one whose only mention of a trail is in its description.
Trail races come in every length, from a few miles in a city park to 100 miles in the mountains. Off the road, the same distance usually takes longer: read each race's course description for its climbing, its footing and any cut-off times before you register, and plan your pace from those rather than from a road time.
Mud runs and obstacle races aren't a category of their own in RaceRove; one is on these pages only when its listing says trail. To get ready for one, the obstacle course race training guide covers Spartan, Tough Mudder and mud-run preparation. Thinking about a first ultramarathon? The ultramarathon and trail training plans run from 50K to 100 miles, and the Ultra Classics list gathers the best-known ultras.
Guides from the RaceRove blog
- 9 min read Obstacle Course Race Training: How to Prepare for Spartan Race, Tough Mudder and Mud Runs How OCR training differs from a running plan: building grip strength, upper-body pulling power and running fitness for Spartan Race, Tough Mudder and local mud runs.
- 9 min read Ultramarathon and Trail Training Plans: 50K to 100 Miles How ultra training differs from marathon training, phase-by-phase 50K and 100-mile plans, gear and fueling basics, and how to pick your first ultramarathon.
- Blog All guides Planning advice for finding, choosing and travelling to races.
Trail Races in North Carolina: common questions
- How many trail races are there in North Carolina?
- RaceRove currently lists 26 upcoming trail races in North Carolina with a confirmed date, plus 16 annual trail races whose next date hasn't been announced yet.
- What counts as a trail race on RaceRove?
- A race whose name, list of distances or listing notes say "trail": the same rule as the Trail filter in RaceRove's race search, so a race is a trail race on both or on neither. A race whose only mention of a trail is in its description isn't counted, and neither is one on dirt roads or mountain paths that doesn't call itself a trail race.
- Which North Carolina cities have the most trail races?
- By upcoming trail races listed in RaceRove: Chapel Hill (2), Winston Salem (2), Durham (2), Jacksonville (2) and Hendersonville (1).
- When is trail race season in North Carolina?
- Of the upcoming trail races listed, the busiest months are January (6), November (6) and April (4).
- What is the biggest trail race in North Carolina?
- By estimated field size, the largest trail race listed in North Carolina is the Salem Lake Trail Runs 30K/7 Mile/5K, with about 13,200 runners across all of its distances.
- Are there trail ultramarathons in North Carolina?
- Yes: 6 upcoming trail races in North Carolina with a distance of 50K or more, a fixed-time format, or billed as an ultra (the race search's Ultra filter).
- How do I find trail runs near me in North Carolina?
- Open the race search from this page: it starts with North Carolina's trail races. Set its Near filter to your city and how far you'll travel, and only the ones around you are left. This page can't see where you are.
Search every trail race in North Carolina
The race search with this state and its Trail filter on: set Near to your city and a radius, then narrow by month, distance and field size.