Trail Races & Routes in North Carolina
Explore 145 trail running and hiking routes across North Carolina. 1 organized races and 144 training routes covering distances from 0.9 mi to 1090.7 mi. Elevation gains range from 23 ft to 60,223 ft. View detailed terrain intelligence for every route.
Key Takeaways
Total Routes
145
Races / Routes
1 / 144
Distance Range
0.9 mi - 1090.7 mi
Elevation Range
23 ft - 60,223 ft
Most Popular Distance
Other (76)
Surface Type
99% Trail
| Route Name | Location | Distance | Elevation Gain | Type | Race Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Umstead 100 | Raleigh, North Carolina | 99.9 mi | 4,257 ft | race | — |
| Long Leaf Trail | Butner-Falls of Neuse Game Land, North Carolina | 0.9 mi | 98 ft | route | — |
| Pinch-In Hiking Trail (NC) | Burke County, North Carolina | 2.2 mi | 1,611 ft | route | — |
| Mt Pisgah (NC) | Haywood County, North Carolina | 2.3 mi | 653 ft | route | — |
| Looking Glass Ascent | Transylvania County, North Carolina | 2.7 mi | 1,652 ft | route | — |
| Celo Knob (NC) | Yancey County, North Carolina | 3.0 mi | 3,038 ft | route | — |
| Woody Ridge Trail | Yancey County, North Carolina | 3.0 mi | 3,038 ft | route | — |
| King's Pinnacle (NC) | Gaston County, North Carolina | 3.8 mi | 809 ft | route | — |
| Wildcat Rock Trail | Henderson County, North Carolina | 3.8 mi | 1,939 ft | route | — |
| Lakeshore Trail | Columbus County, North Carolina | 4.0 mi | 203 ft | route | — |
| Fall Mountain Trail | Morrow Mountain State Park, North Carolina | 4.0 mi | 809 ft | route | — |
| Yadkin Islands Trail | Pilot Mountain State Park, North Carolina | 4.1 mi | 375 ft | route | — |
| Cedar Ridge Trail | Blue Ridge Parkway, North Carolina | 4.3 mi | 2,210 ft | route | — |
| Sugarloaf Mountain Trail | Morrow Mountain State Park, North Carolina | 4.3 mi | 650 ft | route | — |
| 354 Trace Ridge | Pisgah National Forest, North Carolina | 4.4 mi | 1,577 ft | route | — |
| Moores Wall Loop Trail | Hanging Rock State Park, North Carolina | 4.4 mi | 960 ft | route | — |
| Art Loed Trail | Shining Rock Wilderness, North Carolina | 4.5 mi | 653 ft | route | — |
| Graybeard Trail | Buncombe County, North Carolina | 4.5 mi | 2,540 ft | route | — |
| Flat Rock Ridge Trail | Thurmond Chatham Gameland, North Carolina | 4.6 mi | 2,252 ft | route | — |
| Pilot Creek Trail | Pilot Mountain State Park, North Carolina | 4.6 mi | 582 ft | route | — |
| Mountains-to-Sea Trail Alternate | Burke County, North Carolina | 4.6 mi | 740 ft | route | — |
| West Ridge Trail | Asheville Watershed, North Carolina | 4.6 mi | 1,264 ft | route | — |
| Mountains-to-Sea Connector Trail | Pisgah WRC Game Land, North Carolina | 4.8 mi | 535 ft | route | — |
| Little East Fork Trail | Haywood County, North Carolina | 4.8 mi | 45 ft | route | — |
| Mountain Trail | Pilot Mountain State Park, North Carolina | 4.9 mi | 920 ft | route | — |
| Short Loop Trail | Morrow Mountain State Park, North Carolina | 4.9 mi | 592 ft | route | — |
| Fork Ridge Trail | Great Smoky Mountains National Park, North Carolina | 4.9 mi | 23 ft | route | — |
| Farlow Gap | Pisgah National Forest, North Carolina | 5.0 mi | 398 ft | route | — |
| Mountains-to-Sea Trail: Richardson-Taylor Preserve | Richardson-Taylor Preserve, North Carolina | 5.0 mi | 671 ft | route | — |
| Canebrake Trail | Gorges State Park, North Carolina | 5.1 mi | 399 ft | route | — |
| Occoneechee Mountain State Natural Area, Every Single Trail | Orange County, North Carolina | 5.1 mi | 837 ft | route | — |
| Mount Mitchell Trail | Pisgah National Forest, North Carolina | 5.2 mi | 32 ft | route | — |
| French Broad River Greenway West | Asheville, North Carolina | 5.2 mi | 161 ft | route | — |
| Briar Bottom > Mount Mitchell | Yancey County, North Carolina | 5.2 mi | 3,484 ft | route | — |
| Mt Mitchell (NC) | Yancey County, North Carolina | 5.2 mi | 3,484 ft | route | — |
| 5th Street and Campus | Greenville, North Carolina | 5.3 mi | 434 ft | route | — |
| Elliot Coues Trail | Carteret County, North Carolina | 5.4 mi | 70 ft | route | — |
| Big Butt Trail | Big Tom Wilson Preserve, North Carolina | 5.4 mi | 1,108 ft | route | — |
| Sheep Rock | Pisgah National Forest, North Carolina | 5.6 mi | 1,353 ft | route | — |
| Weymouth Nature Preserve All Trails | Moore County, North Carolina | 5.6 mi | 283 ft | route | — |
| Company Mill Trail | William B. Umstead State Park, North Carolina | 5.6 mi | 741 ft | route | — |
| Panthertown Valley Trail | Jackson County, North Carolina | 5.7 mi | 692 ft | route | — |
| Indian Creek Trail | Stokes County, North Carolina | 5.7 mi | 310 ft | route | — |
| Baxter Creek Trail | Great Smoky Mountains National Park, North Carolina | 5.9 mi | 4,158 ft | route | — |
| Old Trestle Road | Montreat, North Carolina | 6.0 mi | 1,579 ft | route | — |
| Grassy Gap Fire Road | Blue Ridge Parkway, North Carolina | 6.0 mi | 2,025 ft | route | — |
| Corridor Trail | Surry County, North Carolina | 6.1 mi | 965 ft | route | — |
| Cat Gap Loop Trail | Pisgah National Forest, North Carolina | 6.2 mi | 1,108 ft | route | — |
| Beaverdam South Loop (NC) | Wake County, North Carolina | 6.3 mi | 613 ft | route | — |
| 121 Laurel Mountain | Pisgah National Forest, North Carolina | 6.3 mi | 2,099 ft | route | — |
| Pink Beds Loop | Pisgah National Forest, North Carolina | 6.7 mi | 530 ft | route | — |
| Auger Hole Trail | Gorges State Park, North Carolina | 6.7 mi | 1,116 ft | route | — |
| Shortoff | Linville Gorge Wilderness, North Carolina | 6.7 mi | 1,023 ft | route | — |
| Laurel Gap Trail | Pisgah National Forest, North Carolina | 6.9 mi | 945 ft | route | — |
| Salem Lake Trail | Forsyth County, North Carolina | 7.1 mi | 175 ft | route | — |
| Bluff Mountain Trail | Blue Ridge Parkway, North Carolina | 7.2 mi | 1,087 ft | route | — |
| Middle Loop Trail | Morrow Mountain State Park, North Carolina | 7.8 mi | 747 ft | route | — |
| Green Mountain Trail | Pisgah National Forest, North Carolina | 7.9 mi | 3,080 ft | route | — |
| Wildcat Rock Trail | Henderson County, North Carolina | 8.2 mi | 2,068 ft | route | — |
| Kitsuma Time Trial | McDowell County, North Carolina | 9.0 mi | 2,398 ft | route | — |
| Mill Creek to Point Lookout Loop | McDowell County, North Carolina | 9.4 mi | 982 ft | route | — |
| Sherman Branch Nature Preserve (NC) | Mecklenburg County, North Carolina | 9.5 mi | 475 ft | route | — |
| Pinchin-Linville River-Conley Cove-Rock Jock Loop (NC) | Burke County, North Carolina | 9.6 mi | 2,615 ft | route | — |
| Mountains-to-Sea/Powhatan Loop (NC) | Buncombe County, North Carolina | 9.6 mi | 1,230 ft | route | — |
| Old Mitchell Toll Road | Buncombe County, North Carolina | 9.6 mi | 2,461 ft | route | — |
| Crowders Mtn (NC) | Gaston County, North Carolina | 9.6 mi | 1,680 ft | route | — |
| Jacob's Branch Loop | Burke County, North Carolina | 10.0 mi | 2,551 ft | route | — |
| Black Mountain Crest Trail | Pisgah National Forest, North Carolina | 10.0 mi | 1,531 ft | route | — |
| Dutchman's Creek Trail | Montgomery County, North Carolina | 10.3 mi | 1,719 ft | route | — |
| Bear Island | Onslow County, North Carolina | 10.5 mi | — | route | — |
| 19E to Hump Mountain (TN, NC) | Avery County, North Carolina | 10.6 mi | 2,674 ft | route | — |
| Forney Creek Trail | Great Smoky Mountains National Park, North Carolina | 10.6 mi | 344 ft | route | — |
| Cape Fear River Trail | Fayetteville, North Carolina | 10.6 mi | 466 ft | route | — |
| Birkhead Mountain Trail | Randolph County, North Carolina | 11.0 mi | 1,381 ft | route | — |
| Tanawha Trail | Grandfather Mountain State Park, North Carolina | 11.6 mi | 1,507 ft | route | — |
| Mt Sterling, Baxter Creek Trail (NC) | Haywood County, North Carolina | 12.1 mi | 4,157 ft | route | — |
| Long Loop Trail | Morrow Mountain State Park, North Carolina | 12.5 mi | 1,178 ft | route | — |
| Through John's Looking Glass | Transylvania County, North Carolina | 13.2 mi | 2,932 ft | route | — |
| Deep Creek Trail | Great Smoky Mountains National Park, North Carolina | 13.3 mi | 3,826 ft | route | — |
| Hard Times Half Marathon | Buncombe County, North Carolina | 13.4 mi | 1,086 ft | route | — |
| Thermal Belt Rail Trail | Spindale, North Carolina | 13.5 mi | 662 ft | route | — |
| Perimeter Trail | Surry County, North Carolina | 14.0 mi | 2,671 ft | route | — |
| Ridgeline Trail | Crowders Mountain State Park, North Carolina | 15.4 mi | 1,521 ft | route | — |
| Table Rock Mtn (NC) | Burke County, North Carolina | 15.7 mi | 4,135 ft | route | — |
| Shut In Ridge Run | Buncombe County, North Carolina | 16.1 mi | 5,126 ft | route | — |
| Buncombe Horse Range Trail | Pisgah National Forest, North Carolina | 16.6 mi | 2,697 ft | route | — |
| Shining Rock Wilderness Ridge (NC) | Haywood County, North Carolina | 17.3 mi | 4,402 ft | route | — |
| North South Greenway | Durham, North Carolina | 18.0 mi | 646 ft | route | — |
| Neusiok Trail | Croatan National Forest, North Carolina | 19.8 mi | 1,101 ft | route | — |
| Sauratown Trail | Stokes County, North Carolina | 20.1 mi | 2,972 ft | route | — |
| Tour de Grandfather | Avery County, North Carolina | 20.6 mi | 5,950 ft | route | — |
| Neusiok Trail Traverse | Craven County, North Carolina | 21.3 mi | 111 ft | route | — |
| Neusiok Trail (North Carolina) | Craven County, North Carolina | 21.3 mi | 111 ft | route | — |
| The Full Crowder | Gaston County, North Carolina | 21.5 mi | 4,696 ft | route | — |
| Plott Balsam Range Traverse (NC) | Jackson County, North Carolina | 22.5 mi | 7,126 ft | route | — |
| Black Mountain Crest Trail (NC) | Yancey County, North Carolina | 22.7 mi | 7,145 ft | route | — |
| Standing Indian Loop (NC) | Macon County, North Carolina | 22.9 mi | 4,314 ft | route | — |
| American Tobacco Trail (NC) | Chatham County, North Carolina | 23.1 mi | 608 ft | route | — |
| Shut-in Trail | Blue Ridge Parkway, North Carolina | 23.1 mi | 4,883 ft | route | — |
| Fires Creek Rim Trail (Counterclockwise) | Clay County, North Carolina | 24.4 mi | 6,706 ft | route | — |
| Haw River Land Trail | Burlington, North Carolina | 25.3 mi | 1,200 ft | route | — |
| Tanawha Marathon (Double Traverse) North-South-North | Caldwell County, North Carolina | 25.7 mi | 3,966 ft | route | — |
| Moses H. Cone - All Carriage Trails | Watauga County, North Carolina | 27.7 mi | 2,665 ft | route | — |
| Clingman's Dome, Noland (NC, TN) | Swain County, North Carolina | 28.4 mi | 6,222 ft | route | — |
| Stone Mountain State Park, Every Single Trail | Wilkes County, North Carolina | 28.6 mi | 10,085 ft | route | — |
| Art Loeb Trail | Brevard, North Carolina | 29.6 mi | 8,364 ft | route | — |
| Art Loeb Trail (NC) | Transylvania County, North Carolina | 29.6 mi | 8,364 ft | route | — |
| Shining Rock Wilderness Circuit | Haywood County, North Carolina | 30.6 mi | 7,141 ft | route | — |
| Medoc Mountain State Park, Every Single Trail | Halifax County, North Carolina | 31.0 mi | 5,099 ft | route | — |
| Holly Shelter Game Land (NC) | Pender County, North Carolina | 32.2 mi | 486 ft | route | — |
| Pilot Mountain State Park, Every Single Trail | Surry County, North Carolina | 32.3 mi | 7,266 ft | route | — |
| Neuse River Trail (NC) | Wake County, North Carolina | 33.1 mi | 614 ft | route | — |
| The Big Creek Rim | Haywood County, North Carolina | 33.4 mi | 8,342 ft | route | — |
| Linville Gorge Hiking Circuit (NC) | Burke County, North Carolina | 33.7 mi | 7,643 ft | route | — |
| Clingman's Dome, Deep Creek (NC, TN) | Swain County, North Carolina | 34.2 mi | 6,777 ft | route | — |
| Eno River Tour | Eno River State Park, North Carolina | 34.8 mi | 4,792 ft | route | — |
| Eno River State Park, Every Single Trail | Orange County, North Carolina | 34.8 mi | 4,792 ft | route | — |
| Sugarlands to Oconaluftee Vistor Center | Swain County, North Carolina | 35.2 mi | 9,274 ft | route | — |
| Mountains-to-Sea Trail: Segment 7 (NC) | Stokes County, North Carolina | 35.6 mi | 4,420 ft | route | — |
| The Doughton Project | Wilkes County, North Carolina | 36.3 mi | 7,638 ft | route | — |
| Raven Rock State Park, Every Single Trail | Harnett County, North Carolina | 37.1 mi | 9,690 ft | route | — |
| Uwharrie Trail (NC) | Montgomery County, North Carolina | 37.7 mi | 5,336 ft | route | — |
| Pitt County N-S (NC) | Pitt County, North Carolina | 38.4 mi | 139 ft | route | — |
| Mountain-to-Sea Trail: Segment 13 | Bladen County, North Carolina | 38.7 mi | 53 ft | route | — |
| Art Loeb Trail | Pisgah National Forest, North Carolina | 39.5 mi | 10,430 ft | route | — |
| Umstead State Park, Every Single Trail (NC) | Wake County, North Carolina | 41.0 mi | 2,975 ft | route | — |
| Hanging Rock State Park, Every Single Trail | Stokes County, North Carolina | 44.6 mi | 13,993 ft | route | — |
| Mountains-to-Sea Trail: Segment 1 (NC) | Swain County, North Carolina | 46.4 mi | 9,774 ft | route | — |
| Raleigh Greenway Loop (NC) | Wake County, North Carolina | 48.9 mi | 2,006 ft | route | — |
| Boone Fork 50 | Watauga County, North Carolina | 51.3 mi | 4,939 ft | route | — |
| Nantahala Adventure Run (NC) | Macon County, North Carolina | 54.9 mi | 13,669 ft | route | — |
| Falls Lake Trail | Rolling View Recreation Area, North Carolina | 57.6 mi | 2,366 ft | route | — |
| Pitchell (NC) | Buncombe County, North Carolina | 62.0 mi | 12,847 ft | route | — |
| Mountains-to-Sea Trail: Segment 3 | Buncombe County, North Carolina | 66.9 mi | 10,377 ft | route | — |
| Mountains-to-Sea Trail: Segment 10 (NC) | Durham County, North Carolina | 73.8 mi | 2,040 ft | route | — |
| Virginia/NC Border to Cape Hatteras Lighthouse | Dare County, North Carolina | 100.2 mi | 142 ft | route | — |
| Stone Mountain - Grandfather Mountain (NC) | Watauga County, North Carolina | 100.5 mi | 18,248 ft | route | — |
| Gritchell (NC) | Burke County, North Carolina | 100.5 mi | 22,979 ft | route | — |
| Project Untamed 100 (NC) | Transylvania County, North Carolina | 101.3 mi | 23,587 ft | route | — |
| Great Smoky Mountains Big Loop (NC, TN) | Swain County, North Carolina | 116.5 mi | 25,966 ft | route | — |
| Tour des Smokies | Swain County, North Carolina | 163.4 mi | 39,949 ft | route | — |
| AT: Springer Mtn - Clingmans Dome (GA, TN, NC) | Clay County, North Carolina | 178.2 mi | 42,030 ft | route | — |
| Grand Mountains to Loeb | McDowell County, North Carolina | 193.4 mi | 38,058 ft | route | — |
| Appalachian High Route | Madison County, North Carolina | 336.0 mi | 31,845 ft | route | — |
| Mountains-to-Sea Trail (NC) | Randolph County, North Carolina | 1090.7 mi | 60,223 ft | route | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many trail races are in North Carolina?
There are 1 organized races and 144 self-supported routes available in North Carolina.
What is the average elevation gain in North Carolina?
The average elevation gain is 4,829 feet, with routes ranging from 23 to 60,223 feet.
What distances are available in North Carolina?
Available distances include: 100 Mile, 5K, 10K, Half Marathon, Marathon, 50K, 50 Mile, 100K, Ultra.
Can these trail routes in North Carolina be used for hiking?
Yes. 99% of these routes are on trail surfaces, making them suitable for both trail running and hiking. The terrain analysis and elevation profiles help hikers plan their adventures just as effectively as runners.
What's the best time of year to run trails in North Carolina?
Trail running conditions in North Carolina vary by season and elevation. Check the race date column for organized events, which are typically scheduled during optimal weather windows. For year-round training routes, elevation profiles help you plan for seasonal conditions.
More Races in North Carolina
Want filters, map view, and route intelligence?
Browse with Interactive Map →