Upcoming Trail Running Races in North Carolina

Endurance Grid lists 33 trail running races in North Carolina, from November 2026 to August 2027 across 25 cities.

33
Races
25
Cities

Trail Running Races in North Carolina

The trail running race calendar in North Carolina is busiest in November, January, and March, with races most often in Chapel Hill, Cary, Greenville, and Holly Springs.

What trail running is

Trail running takes the sport off the pavement and onto dirt trails, singletrack, fire roads, and mountain paths. It’s quieter than a road race. Depending on the course, you might spend long stretches alone with the woods and your own breathing.

If you already run roads, trails are a natural next step, but they ask for different things: power on the climbs, control on the descents, and attention to every footfall. There’s a distance for every level, from a rolling trail 5K to 100-mile mountain ultras.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many trail running races are in North Carolina?
Endurance Grid's Race Calendar lists 33 upcoming trail running races in North Carolina across 25 cities, from November 2026 to August 2027.
What trail running distances are offered in North Carolina?
Trail running races in North Carolina include 1 Mile, 10 Mile, 100 Mile, 100K, 10K, 2 Mile / 3K, 4 Mile, 50 Mile, and more distances.
When is trail running season in North Carolina?
Trail Running season in North Carolina runs spring through fall. Of the upcoming trail running races on Endurance Grid's Race Calendar, the most are in November and January.
Which North Carolina cities have trail running races?
Trail running races in North Carolina are held in Chapel Hill, Cary, Greenville, Holly Springs, Jacksonville, Seven Springs, Snow Camp, Boone, Bryson City, and Burlington, plus 15 other cities.

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