54 routes · Hiking · Mountain Biking · Trail Running
Trail Running in North Carolina
Go trail running in North Carolina with curated guides of the best trail runs across the region. With over 230 3D trail maps in FATMAP, you can easily discover and navigate the best trails in North Carolina.
No matter what your next adventure has in store, you can find a guide on FATMAP to help you plan your next epic trip.
Get a top trail running recommendation in North Carolina from one of our 38 guidebooks, or get inspired by the 230 local adventures uploaded by the FATMAP community. Start exploring now!
Trail Running Destinations in North Carolina
35 routes · Hiking · Trail Running
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Trail Running Routes in North Carolina
American Tobacco Trail
This is a beautiful rails-to-trails route that follows the former railroad corridor of the American Tobacco Company.
Easy Trail Running
- Distance
- 36 km
- Ascent
- 284 m
- Descent
- 307 m
Linville Gorge Circuit
An epic 22-mile adventure run touring the best of Linville Gorge.
Difficult Trail Running
- Distance
- 32 km
- Ascent
- 1.6 km
- Descent
- 1.6 km
S.C.A.R. (Smokies Challenge Adventure Run)
An stunning section of the Appalachian Trail idolized by trail and ultra runners.
Difficult Trail Running
- Distance
- 115 km
- Ascent
- 5.2 km
- Descent
- 5.1 km
Pitchell
A highly-acclaimed trail run starting at the top of Mount Pisgah, and ending at Mount Mitchell, the highest point east of the Rockies.
Difficult Trail Running
- Distance
- 98 km
- Ascent
- 3.9 km
- Descent
- 3.6 km
William B. Umstead State Park Long Loop
A long, mostly-gravel run through William B. Umstead State Park that follows trails used in both the Umstead Trail Marathon and Umstead 100.
Difficult Trail Running
- Distance
- 20 km
- Ascent
- 328 m
- Descent
- 328 m
Mount Sterling Loop
An epic backcountry trail run to an abandoned mountain top fire tower resting at 5,850'.
Difficult Trail Running
- Distance
- 27 km
- Ascent
- 1.3 km
- Descent
- 1.3 km
Mount Kephart / Charlies Bunion Loop
A epic trail run with spectacular views from Charlies Bunion and the iconic "Jump Off" on the AT.
Difficult Trail Running
- Distance
- 24 km
- Ascent
- 1.3 km
- Descent
- 1.3 km
Hemphill Bald Loop
A classic 13-mile trail run loaded with views, plus the potential to view the famous elk herd that roams throughout the Smokies.
Difficult Trail Running
- Distance
- 21 km
- Ascent
- 906 m
- Descent
- 906 m
Trail Running Guidebooks in North Carolina
12 routes · Trail Running
Classic Trail Runs on the Blue Ridge Parkway, NC
11 routes · Hiking · Trail Running
Blue Ridge Mtns: Top Trail Running Routes in Ellijay, GA
8 routes · Hiking · Trail Running
Classic Hikes Paired with Local Breweries in WNC
6 routes · Trail Running
Beer City USA: 6 Must-Do Trail Runs and Local Breweries
4 routes · Trail Running
The 4 Most Epic Trail Runs in the Great Smoky Mountains
17 routes · Hiking · Trail Running
I-40 Itinerary: Rad Trail Runs for Your Next Road Trip
10 routes · Trail Running