Trail Races & Routes in North Carolina

Explore 30 trail running and hiking routes across North Carolina. 2 organized races and 28 training routes covering distances from 5.0 mi to 99.9 mi. Elevation gains range from 418 ft to 8,386 ft.

Route NameLocationDistanceElevation GainType
Wood Run Road NC 5.0 mi 418 ft race
Umstead 100 Raleigh, North Carolina 99.9 mi 4,257 ft race
Wildcat Rock Trail Henderson County, North Carolina 8.2 mi 2,068 ft route
Laurel Loop Trail NC 8.3 mi 540 ft route
Wine Springs Loop NC 9.0 mi 1,223 ft route
Wayehutta Loop NC 9.0 mi 2,123 ft route
Kitsuma Time Trial McDowell County, North Carolina 9.0 mi 2,405 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 480 ft route
Pinchin-Linville River-Conley Cove-Rock Jock Loop (NC) Burke County, North Carolina 9.6 mi 2,607 ft route
Mountains-to-Sea/Powhatan Loop (NC) Buncombe County, North Carolina 9.6 mi 1,230 ft route
Crowders Mtn (NC) Gaston County, North Carolina 9.6 mi 1,683 ft route
Jacob's Branch Loop Burke County, North Carolina 10.0 mi 2,529 ft route
Birkhead Mountain Trail Randolph County, North Carolina 11.0 mi 1,385 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 2,939 ft route
Hard Times Half Marathon Buncombe County, North Carolina 13.4 mi 1,099 ft route
Table Rock Mtn (NC) Burke County, North Carolina 15.7 mi 4,136 ft route
Shining Rock Wilderness Ridge (NC) Haywood County, North Carolina 17.3 mi 3,177 ft route
Tour de Grandfather Avery County, North Carolina 20.6 mi 5,976 ft route
Linville Gorge Wilderness Loop NC 21.0 mi 4,650 ft route
The Full Crowder Gaston County, North Carolina 21.5 mi 4,718 ft route
Plott Balsam Range Traverse (NC) Jackson County, North Carolina 22.5 mi 7,066 ft route
Black Mountain Crest Trail (NC) Yancey County, North Carolina 22.7 mi 7,176 ft route
Standing Indian Loop (NC) Macon County, North Carolina 22.9 mi 4,314 ft route
Fires Creek Rim Trail (Counterclockwise) Clay County, North Carolina 24.4 mi 6,301 ft route
Tanawha Marathon (Double Traverse) North-South-North Caldwell County, North Carolina 25.7 mi 3,912 ft route
Clingman's Dome, Noland (NC, TN) Swain County, North Carolina 28.4 mi 6,222 ft route
Art Loeb Trail (NC) Transylvania County, North Carolina 29.6 mi 8,386 ft route

Frequently Asked Questions

How many trail races are in North Carolina?

There are 2 organized races and 28 self-supported routes available in North Carolina.

What is the average elevation gain in North Carolina?

The average elevation gain is 3,311 feet, with routes ranging from 418 to 8,386 feet.

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