Umstead Trail Marathon
March 7, 2026
Umstead State Park Raleigh, NC
Course
2025 Umstead Marathon Course
We will be using the same course as 2024 due to the Turkey Creek bridge closer. This increases the number of out and backs along the course, but runner feedback has been positive.
The Umstead Trail Marathon is an unforgettable 26.2-mile challenge contained entirely within the pristine boundaries of William B. Umstead State Park, a sprawling five thousand-acre wilderness nestled between Raleigh, Cary, and Durham. The course is a demanding journey through dense, mature woods, past tranquil lakes and winding streams, and across relentlessly rolling hills. Runners will face a varied terrain: while a small portion involves technical single-trackt, he majority is run on the park’s historic bridle paths. These paths offer the width of a single-lane road, carpeted in fine gravel, providing a runnable surface amidst the scenic beauty.
Be warned: with approximately 2,400 feet of total elevation gain and a strict six-hour cutoff, this is not a casual jog. It is a demanding test of endurance for the serious runner. Conquer the distance and earn a distinctive, commemorative finisher's pint glass featuring the race logo.
