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Lake Norman State Park 30K & 50K Trail Race race photo

Lake Norman State Park 30K & 50K Trail Race

The city you want to run becomes your next trip.

USDec 5, 202650km
Dan Paige · YouTube
Race date in 49 days
Dec 5, 2026 Sat
City · Distance
Troutman · 50km
Entry fee
$105Varies by event and entry period
Status
OpenTBD ~ Wed, December 2, 2026See how to enter ↗
Official website ↗D-day as of Oct 17, 2026
Lake Norman State Park 30K & 50K Trail Race race photo
Dan Paige · YouTube
About the raceHow to enterCourseRace PrepTravel
Why you dream of this race

THE DREAM

About Lake Norman State Park 30K & 50K Trail Race — what makes it special

ABOUT THE RACE

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

Held annually at Lake Norman State Park in North Carolina.

The distances are 30K and 50K, and time limit is 9 hours for both.

There are two aid stations on the 30K course and four on the 50K course.

The route follows gently rolling singletrack without repeating the same sections.

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.

Lake Norman State Park 30K & 50K Trail Race 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.

Lake Norman Trail Run (30K & 50K) held on December 4, 2021

Dan Paige

View on YouTube

This may be from a past edition. Check the organizer for this year's course and operations.

The way in that fits you

YOUR ENTRY

How to enter Lake Norman State Park 30K & 50K Trail Race — 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

Lake Norman State Park 30K & 50K Trail Race course map and elevation

Your 50km

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

Runners start · local timeFrom 08:00
Time limit9h
EventStartTime limit
Ultra50km08:009h
Other30km08:009h
START

Lawn behind Lake Norman State Park Visitor Center, 759 State Park Road, Troutman, NC

Start · Google Maps
FINISH

759 State Park Road, Troutman, NC

Finish · Google Maps
Show more

Course runs along the gently undulating singletrack in Lake Norman State Park, and is designed to avoid repeating the same section.

The cumulative elevation gain based on 50k is approximately 1,600 feet, which is relatively gentle.

Among course, No. 1 aid station at the entrance and exit of the Wildlife Loop passes twice at about 6.3 miles and 14.3 miles,

and 50k participants then also pass a hydration station at about mile 18.3 and No. 2 aid station at about mile 24.2, before entering the Monbo Loop.

Typical race-season temperature: around 6°C (42°F)
Long sleeves + a throwaway layer for the start
Aid stations
2 aid stations for 30K · 4 aid stations for 50K

Participant benefits

Event T-shirt

Where and when to collect your Lake Norman State Park 30K & 50K Trail Race 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 startLake Norman State Park Visitor Center area, 759 State Park Rd., Troutman, NC 28166 — 30K/50K runners start…
  • Getting to the finishSame field behind the Visitors Center (30K and 50K both finish here after Laurel · Wildlife
  • Transit cardLake Norman State Park in Troutman, North Carolina sits north of Charlotte; Charlotte's CATS system is…

Source · checked Aug 24, 2026

More details

Getting to the start

Lake Norman State Park Visitor Center area, 759 State Park Rd., Troutman, NC 28166 — 30K/50K runners start in the field behind the Visitors Center

No public transit; car access only. Enter park and drive to the end of the main park road (swim beach area), where it dead-ends into the parking lot adjacent to the race site.

Race date December 5, 2026 confirmed via ultrarunning.

Map

Getting to the finish

Same field behind the Visitors Center (30K and 50K both finish here after Laurel/Wildlife/Fallstown/Fox loop trails)

Finish co-located with start behind the Visitor Center.

Map

Transit card

Lake Norman State Park in Troutman, North Carolina sits north of Charlotte; Charlotte's CATS system is mid-rollout on a fare modernization plan (2026) that will add tap-and-go smart cards and open payment alongside its existing CATS-Pass mobile app. CATS bus/rail service does not reach Troutman or the state park, so a rental car is necessary for this venue.

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.

Both the 30K and 50K have a 9-hour time limit.

There are two aid stations on the 30K and four on the 50K.

Aid stations provide water, soft drinks, and Tailwind electrolyte drink, along with sandwiches, cookies, oranges, bananas, Hammer gels, and potato chips.

Times are local to Troutman. 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

$83

View on Klook

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

Charlotte Historical Shuttle Bus City Tour · $41

View on GetYourGuide

Hotels near the Lake Norman State Park 30K & 50K Trail Race start line in Troutman

Hotels that make race morning easy

View all →

Distances are straight-line from the start/finish area.
Check real travel times and booking terms with each hotel.

The start and finish are in the same place
We picked stays around that one spot.

Lake Norman Home Lake Access with Heated Pool & Hot Tub

Accommodation · 4.8km

View on Booking.com

Swipe sideways to see more hotels.

Trip.comClosest to the start lineView on Trip.com

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

$83

View on Klook

Charlotte: Uptown Charlotte Historian-Guided Tour

Uptown Charlotte Historic Guided Tour · $21

View on GetYourGuide

What to see in Troutman after the race

Seeing Troutman 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
Eating 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 Troutman.

Total cost and budget for Lake Norman State Park 30K & 50K Trail Race

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 Lake Norman State Park 30K & 50K Trail Race

RUN TOGETHER

With runners who dream of
the same start line.

Be the first runner
Leave this room's first post

Troutman runners' room

Frequently asked questions about Lake Norman State Park 30K & 50K Trail Race

FAQ
When does Lake Norman State Park 30K & 50K Trail Race 2026 take place?

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

How much is the Lake Norman State Park 30K & 50K Trail Race 2026 entry fee?

The main event costs $105.

What is the time limit for Lake Norman State Park 30K & 50K Trail Race 2026?

9h.

What distances does Lake Norman State Park 30K & 50K Trail Race 2026 offer?

Ultra.

What time does Lake Norman State Park 30K & 50K Trail Race 2026 start?

The race starts at 08:00.

Where does Lake Norman State Park 30K & 50K Trail Race 2026 start?

Lawn behind Lake Norman State Park Visitor Center, 759 State Park Road, Troutman, NC.

What is the Lake Norman State Park 30K & 50K Trail Race 2026 course like?

Course runs along the gently undulating singletrack in Lake Norman State Park, and is designed to avoid repeating the same section.

The cumulative elevation gain based on 50k is approximately 1,600 feet, which is relatively gentle.

Among course, No. 1 aid station at the entrance and exit of the Wildlife Loop passes…

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