pacertrip.Races
PACERTRIP CITY EDITIONUS / RACE GUIDE
HAROC (aka Hanging Rock Challenge) race photo

HAROC (aka Hanging Rock Challenge)

The city you want to run becomes your next trip.

USDec 5, 202650km
Dmadeo · CC BY-SA 4.0
Race date in 54 days
Dec 5, 2026 Sat
City · Distance
Danbury · 50km
Entry fee
$110Varies by event and entry period
Status
OpenTBD ~ Wed, December 2, 2026See how to enter ↗
Official website ↗D-day as of Oct 12, 2026
HAROC (aka Hanging Rock Challenge) race photo
Dmadeo · CC BY-SA 4.0
About the raceHow to enterCourseRace PrepTravel
Why you dream of this race

THE DREAM

About HAROC (aka Hanging Rock Challenge) — what makes it special

ABOUT THE RACE

A day you'll remember,
long past the finish line.

Held in a park with a mix of rugged mountain trails and gentle rolling hills.

The course includes a balanced mix of climbs, descents, and flat sections,

with both technical terrain and great scenery, making it enjoyable for runners of all levels.

The road to your own record

Picture the course in advance
and find the pace that fits you.

When the city cheers

Streets lined with cheers, runners all around.
You'll be part of that scene.

The trip that follows the run

Take it slow with the finish still in you,
and meet the city all over again.

HAROC (aka Hanging Rock Challenge) runner reviews and race reports

Stories from runners who've been there.

From the joy of finishing to the tough moments — read what runners wrote themselves.

No runner reports yet. We'll add them here as they come in.

See it on video,
feel it through their stories.

Preview the course and read what runners who went before you wrote.

We haven't found a video for this race yet. We'll add one when we do.

The way in that fits you

YOUR ENTRY

How to enter HAROC (aka Hanging Rock Challenge) — registration routes

How to reach the start line —
start with what fits you.

Here are the ways to enter and what each requires.
Check the organizer's page for whether entries are open.

Official race websiteEntry options
From the start line to the finish

RACE WEEK

HAROC (aka Hanging Rock Challenge) course map and elevation

Your 50km

Know the course and time limit, and race day comes into focus.

Runners start · local timeFrom 08:00
EventStartTime limit
Other25km09:006h
Other30.6km08:009.5h
START

Hanging Rock State Park, Danbury, NC

Start · Google Maps

The 25K and 50K are held together.

Start line is located in Danbury, NC, and the start time is 8:00 a.m. local time.

Typical race-season temperature: around 4°C (39°F)
Long sleeves + a throwaway layer for the start
Terrain
Singletrack, including technical sections; waterfalls, rock faces, cliffs, and a fire lookout tower
Elevation gain
50k: approx. 5,000 ft · 25k: approx. 2,500 ft

Participant benefits

Not yet confirmed in the official race guide

Where and when to collect your HAROC (aka Hanging Rock Challenge) race bib

To the start line,
step by step.

Pick up your bib, check your wave.
So on race morning, you can just run.

From the 2025 edition

Pick up your bib at the expo

Packet pickup information has not yet been announced.
For small trail races, race-morning on-site pickup is common; check the registration page announcement for details.

Stations & transport near the venue

  • Getting to the startNo public transit.
  • Getting to the finishSame location — upper Lake parking lot · Shelter #4 at Hanging Rock State Park.
  • Transit cardHAROC is held at Hanging Rock State Park near Danbury, NC, a rural venue with no dedicated transit card…

Source · checked Aug 24, 2026

More details

Getting to the start

No public transit. Start/finish is at Hanging Rock State Park, upper Lake parking lot near Shelter #4, 1790 Hanging Rock Park Road, Danbury, NC 27016.

Stated on the race operator's site (Tanawha Adventures); Rural NC state park, no public transit — car access only. A backup/rain date of January 25, 2027 also referenced (weather-contingency date, not a conflict).

Map

Getting to the finish

Same location — upper Lake parking lot / Shelter #4 at Hanging Rock State Park.

Per race operator's site.

Map

Transit card

HAROC is held at Hanging Rock State Park near Danbury, NC, a rural venue with no dedicated transit card system. There's no local bus network serving the park, so visitors should plan to drive or arrange a rideshare from Winston-Salem (roughly 30-40 minutes away).

Source · checked Aug 24, 2026
READY TO RUN

From race morning to after the finish.

Your start time, fuel and bag drop.
Know them ahead and the run feels easier.

Registration is handled through UltraSignup, and entries are nonrefundable.

The entry package includes a shirt, custom finisher medal, and post-race food.

Aid stations are spaced approximately 6–7.5 miles apart and generally provide water, Skratch Labs electrolyte drink,

bananas, orange slices, potato chips, pretzels, peanut-butter-and-jelly, pickles, and candy.

Some stations also offer hot and cold food.

February 14 is designated as a backup date in case of heavy snow or icy conditions.

Times are local to Danbury. Check the latest official information before the race.

A trip built around the race

STAY A LITTLE

MAKE IT A RUNTRIP

The race is one day,
the trip can be longer.

From a hotel that makes race morning easy,
to the meals and views you'll enjoy with the medal on.

Charlotte: Uncover the Queen City's Black Legacy Walking Tour

Queen City Black Heritage Walking Tour · $27

View on GetYourGuide

Charlotte｜Private airport pickup/drop-off service at Charlotte Douglas International Airport

$82

View on Klook

The Queen City Experience: 90-min Historical City Bus Tour

Charlotte Historical Shuttle Bus City Tour · $41

View on GetYourGuide

Charlotte's Best Historic City Tour (Eco-Friendly Electric Cart Ride)

$43

View on Klook

Time for you, before and after the finish

View all →

Rest a little, wander a little.
Pick what suits you and whoever you're with.

Charlotte: Uncover the Queen City's Black Legacy Walking Tour

Queen City Black Heritage Walking Tour · $27

View on GetYourGuide

Charlotte｜Private airport pickup/drop-off service at Charlotte Douglas International Airport

$82

View on Klook

Charlotte: Uptown Charlotte Historian-Guided Tour

Uptown Charlotte Historic Guided Tour · $21

View on GetYourGuide

What to see in Danbury after the race

Seeing Danbury with the medal on

View all →

The city you ran — this time, a little slower.

The Queen City Experience: 90-min Historical City Bus Tour

Charlotte Historical Shuttle Bus City Tour · $41

View on GetYourGuide

Charlotte's Best Historic City Tour (Eco-Friendly Electric Cart Ride)

$43

View on Klook
Hotels that make race morning easyDistances are straight-line from the start.View on mapEating well is part of the tripA meal before the race, a dinner to celebrate the finish.View on map

Hotel distances are straight-line from the start. Experiences, food and sights are travel products in Danbury.

Total cost and budget for HAROC (aka Hanging Rock Challenge)

TRAVEL ESSENTIALS

Trip prep too,
light and in one place.

ChecklistLocal eSIM · Trip.comFlight delay or cancellation compensation · AirHelpPace calculator

Once saved, you can open this page without an internet connection

Runner stories and questions about HAROC (aka Hanging Rock Challenge)

RUN TOGETHER

With runners who dream of
the same start line.

Be the first runner
Leave this room's first post

Danbury runners' room

Frequently asked questions about HAROC (aka Hanging Rock Challenge)

FAQ
When does HAROC (aka Hanging Rock Challenge) 2026 take place?

It takes place on Sat, December 5, 2026 in Danbury, NC, United States.

How much is the HAROC (aka Hanging Rock Challenge) 2026 entry fee?

The main event costs $110.

What distances does HAROC (aka Hanging Rock Challenge) 2026 offer?

Ultra.

What time does HAROC (aka Hanging Rock Challenge) 2026 start?

The race starts at 08:00.

Where does HAROC (aka Hanging Rock Challenge) 2026 start?

Hanging Rock State Park, Danbury, NC.

PacerTrip connects you to races, stays, flights and tours. You book and pay on each service; when you go through these links we earn a commission.