Virginia · Trail

Trail Races in Virginia

Virginia currently has 17 upcoming trail races with a confirmed date listed in RaceRove. King George, Williamsburg, Clifton and Cumberland have the most.

Among them, 3 offer a 5K, 1 a 10K, 4 a half marathon, 1 a marathon and 6 an ultra distance (50K and beyond, or a timed race). An event with several distances counts once for each.

November (4), January (2) and April (2) are the busiest months for trail races here. Another 19 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 Virginia's trail races, and set its Near filter to your city to keep only the ones around you.

Upcoming, date confirmed
17
Active listings
36
Cities with trail races
28

Upcoming trail races in Virginia

All 17 with a confirmed date, soonest first.

Dates come from each race's own listing. Always confirm on the organiser's site before you book travel.

Largest trail races in Virginia

By estimated field size across all distances at the event.

Trail ultramarathons in Virginia

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.

When trail races happen in Virginia

January
2 upcoming trail races
February
1 upcoming trail race
April
2 upcoming trail races
May
1 upcoming trail race
July
1 upcoming trail race
August
2 upcoming trail races
September
1 upcoming trail race
October
2 upcoming trail races
November
4 upcoming trail races
December
1 upcoming trail race

Virginia cities with the most trail races

King George
3 upcoming trail races
Williamsburg
1 upcoming trail race
Clifton
1 upcoming trail race
Cumberland
1 upcoming trail race
Fairfax Station
1 upcoming trail race
Gladstone
1 upcoming trail race
Great Falls
1 upcoming trail race
Huddleston
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.

More ways to browse Virginia

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

Trail Races in Virginia: common questions

How many trail races are there in Virginia?
RaceRove currently lists 17 upcoming trail races in Virginia with a confirmed date, plus 19 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 Virginia cities have the most trail races?
By upcoming trail races listed in RaceRove: King George (3), Williamsburg (1), Clifton (1), Cumberland (1) and Fairfax Station (1).
When is trail race season in Virginia?
Of the upcoming trail races listed, the busiest months are November (4), January (2) and April (2).
What is the biggest trail race in Virginia?
By estimated field size, the largest trail race listed in Virginia is the Chessie Trail Marathon, Half Marathon, 10K, 5K, & 26.2 Relay, with about 5,947 runners across all of its distances.
Are there trail ultramarathons in Virginia?
Yes: 6 upcoming trail races in Virginia 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 Virginia?
Open the race search from this page: it starts with Virginia'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.