These tough endurance races offer grueling challenges through some of the Blue Ridge’s most scenic terrain
READY TO TEST YOUR LIMITS? The Blue Ridge is full of rugged endurance races that will test the toughest mountain athletes, and we’ve rounded up some of the best. We’ve included mostly ultra-distance trail runs, with a few multi-sport events thrown in for good measure, and we’ve also listed a few great shorter distance options for those who want to ease in. Get your training plan in order and sign up for one of these races that will push your physical boundaries while you bask in some of the best natural scenery the region has to offer.
Ultimate Distance
Rim To River 100
Ultramarathon
Fayetteville, West Virginia
Oct. 25-27
West Virginia’s first and only 100-mile trail race pits brave participants against a hellacious, out-and-back course that carries them deep into the heart of the 70,000-acre New River Gorge National Park & Preserve. The route strings together gnarly singletrack with rail-to-trail connectors that seem to endlessly dip into the 1,600-foot gorge then climb back to surrounding peaks. A hit parade of natural beauty includes tons of bouldery creek crossings, more than a dozen waterfalls, famed whitewater sections on the New, 2,000-foot overlooks, and a jaunt through an abandoned historic mining town. Racers have 32 hours to complete the route, and those that do are awarded with serious bragging rights, a custom belt buckle, and handmade finisher mug. rimtoriverendurance.com
West Virginia Trilogy
Three-day Ultramarathon
Circleville, West Virginia
Oct. 11-13
This epic three-day event in the Monongahela National Forest boasts a triptych of gorgeous trail runs through the high Alleghany Mountains of the 100,000-acre Spruce Knob-Seneca Rocks National Recreation Area, and it’s not for the faint of heart. Day one brings a 50K gauntlet centered around iconic peaks and stunning rock formations at Seneca Rocks. Day two, a 50-miler with more than 8,300 feet of elevation gain through expansive woodlands, high-elevation red spruce forests surrounding the 4,800-foot summit of Spruce Knob, and a stretch on the 311-mile Alleghany Trail. Day three wraps up with an out-and-back half-marathon past Spruce Lake to panoramic, 3,500-foot views from the Gatewood Lookout Tower. wvmtr.org/races/wv-trilogy
Pilot Mountain to Hanging Rock Ultra
Ultramarathon & Relay
Danbury, North Carolina
Sept. 28
Heralded as “one of the most challenging ultramarathons in the southeast,” the 50-miler connects two of North Carolina’s most celebrated state parks via paved country byways and trails on private property and other public lands. The course has a 14-hour time limit, begins at 3,872-acre Pilot Mountain State Park and pursues the Sauratown Mountain range through the tiny community of Pinnacle to end at 9,011-acre Hanging Rock State Park. It brings nearly 8,000 feet of elevation gain, dozens of creek crossings, a hundred-plus-stair climb to the finish, and soaring 2,500-plus-foot overlooks with views of the parks’ namesake rock formations. Racers looking for less distance should check out two more tiers of offerings, including a 50K run and a two-to-four-person 50-mile relay. pm2hrultras.com
Pisgah 555
55.5k Adventure MTB / Running
Pisgah Forest, North Carolina
Oct. 5
Run or pedal 39.7 miles of some of the nation’s most coveted singletrack in North Carolina’s Pisgah National Forest. The race begins and ends across the street from the Davidson River Campground less than five miles from the hip mountain outpost of Brevard. It climbs a rugged 7,325 feet and includes a hit-list of gnarly Pisgah favorites like Black Mountain, Turkey Pen Gap, Laurel Mountain, and Pilot Rock. Cross-country MTB fanatics can up the ante with the event’s infamous sister race, the Pisgah 111, which offers a thigh-crushing 65.1-mile pedal with 10,200 feet of climbing. pisgahproductions.com/events/pisgah-55-5k-mtb-race
Pangorge
Triathlon Adventure Race
Chattanooga, Tennessee
Nov. 16
The unique three-part Pangorge adventure race was founded in 2014 and has since achieved legendary status among in-the-know racers. Participants explore some of the wildest areas in the 26-mile-long Tennessee River Gorge, abutting the vast 24,600-acre Prentice Cooper State Forest. Each gets a map of mandatory mountain biking, trail running, and paddling checkpoints before the race and devises a plan to complete them in whatever order and by whatever route they see fit. To make things more interesting, racers can KO bonus checkpoints of various difficulty levels to subtract minutes and seconds from their final time. The focus on navigational strategy means overall distances can vary dramatically, with 2022 podium takers ranging from 59.26 to 102.6 miles to finish. pangorge.com
Blue Ridge Ultramarathon
50K, 30K, 15K Trail Runs
Blue Ridge, Georgia
Oct. 5
Push your limits among a kaleidoscope of fall foliage in the high Blue Ridge of northeast Georgia’s Chattahoochee National Forest. Start and finish just over the historic Shallow Ford Bridge in the cool little trail town of Blue Ridge. Take on highlights like 8,000 feet of elevation gain along a 23-mile stretch of the Benton MacKaye Trail, followed by seven miles of remote and densely wooded forest roads. The former offers many stream crossings, a beautiful double waterfall, spans of near-magical rhododendron thickets, and glorious 3,000-foot views of surrounding peaks and valleys. warriorraces.com/blueridgeultra
New River Trail Challenge
Triathlon
Galax, Virginia
Sept. 21
The crown jewel of the annual 24-race Virginia State Parks Adventure Series, this legendary Galax-area event is held entirely within the linear, 57-mile-long New River Trail State Park and is the Commonwealth’s longest-running adventure triathlon. Individual racers and teams have tested their mettle since 1999 on a 40-mile, out-and-back bike leg, 12.1-mile downriver paddle—chock full of fun riffles and lowkey rapids—and final half-marathon dash along the New. Expect rural mountain scenery with race amenities like “backyard barbecue style meals” and brews from Creek Bottom Brewing Company. Participation is capped at 250 contestants, so be sure to register early. dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/nrt-challenge
For Rising Racers
Not quite ready for mega miles? No worries. These three races are challenging but less overwhelming favorites that pack plenty of backcountry fun and adventure.
Iron Mountain Trail Run
16-, 30-, 40-, and 50-mile Trail Runs
Damascus, Virginia
Aug. 31
Head to southwest Virginia and post up in the funky Appalachian Trail town of Damascus for an action-packed run in the woods that varies in intensity from over-the-top demanding to tough but doable. The route begins and ends downtown with a beautiful jaunt along and over Laurel Creek via the Virginia Creeper Trail. Next comes a miles-long ascent via winding singletrack along the spine of the Iron Mountain range that carries runners deep into the Jefferson National Forest. The route offers long rocky ridgelines, incredible oak forests and 4,500-foot scenic vistas with jaw-dropping views of the 115,00-acre Mount Rogers National Recreation Area. The 50-miler includes more than 8,000 feet of elevation gain. sites.google.com/site/ironmountaintrailrun
Rugged Red Trail Half Marathon
13.1-mile Trail Run
Slade, Kentucky
Oct. 5
The Rugged Red has been inviting runners to explore the stunning, 29,000-acre Red River Gorge Geological Area and neighboring 2,250-acre Natural Bridge State Resort Park for going on 10 years. Camp or book a room in the lodge at the latter then enjoy a day of running in the Daniel Boone National Forest on one of the most demanding and scenic trail routes this side of the Mississippi. The 13.1-mile loop dips about 1,000 feet into the canyon system, crisscrosses the boulder strewn Red River, passes numerous waterfalls, and ascends to overlooks with views of the park’s famed sandstone cliffs and 150-plus natural stone arches. Shorter-distance runners can take advantage of the Rugged’s sister 5K. redrivergorgevacations.com/events/rugged-red-race-series
Battle of the Terrain Half Marathon Series
Half Marathon Trail and Road Races
Greenville, South Carolina
Oct. 12-13
This two-day event features optional, back-to-back half marathons held in and around South Carolina’s Paris Mountain State Park. Day one boasts a trail run with 2,500 feet of elevation gain that’s designed to highlight some of the state’s most spectacular mountain scenery. It passes through lush forests alongside rushing creeks and tranquil, 13-acre Lake Placid, then climbs a gauntlet of steep switchbacks to panoramic eye candy, including the nearby city of Greenville, from a stone viewing platform atop the park’s namesake 2,500-foot peak. Day two switches gears with a road race with 2,000 feet of elevation gain along scenic byways lined with overlooks of the park and surrounding valleys. runsignup.com/Race/SC/Greenville/ParisMountain
Cover photo: Photo courtesy of Rim to River Endurance Co.
