Sat, Sep 19, 2026

Pilot Mountain to Hanging Rock Ultra

Danbury, NC

Registration openAnnual since at least 2015

50 Miles50K

About the Pilot Mountain to Hanging Rock Ultra

This is a point-to-point trail race that starts at Pilot Mountain State Park and finishes at Hanging Rock State Park, traveling through the Sauratown Mountains between them. The terrain mixes singletrack with fire roads, and the climbing is serious in both directions, with steep ascents and descents throughout. Solo runners and relay teams both have options here.

Parking at the start areas is limited, and a pre-race shuttle departs from the Stokes County Government Center to both start lines before dawn. Packet pickup runs the evening before at Green Heron Ale House in Danbury, with race-morning pickup at the respective start lines. A complimentary shuttle runs from the finish back to the Government Center after the race.

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Finish-Time Stats

Going by the 2025 results, this is a small, friendly field, with a competitive front end and a big recreational middle.

50K · 2025 results

189finishers

4:53:35winner

8:06:10median

12:24:50cutoff

Top 3: Rhett Bolick (4:53:35) · Eli Roberson (5:10:39) · John Loeser (5:16:11)

50 Miles · 2025 results

89finishers

9:46:00winner

12:47:01median

14:23:09cutoff

Top 3: Bren Case (9:46:00) · Curtis Bowden (10:07:16) · Anonymous Anonymous (10:29:19)

The Pilot Mountain to Hanging Rock Ultra has been held every year since at least 2015. That is as far back as RunSignup's records for this race go, so it may well be older.

Where Would You Finish?

Enter a finish time to see where it lands against the most recent 50K results.

Median

See how your time stacks up nationally →

How we calculate these stats: RunSesh calculates these figures from the most recent published results of past editions, sourced from RunSignup. We show aggregates only: field size, winning and median times, and the cutoff. We never publish individual finisher tables. Last updated Jul 27, 2026.

Distances & Start Times

50 Miles9/19/2026 06:00$180

50K9/19/2026 07:45$145

50 Miles9/19/2026 06:00$115

50 Miles9/19/2026 06:00$50

50K9/19/2026 06:00$50

Pacer9/19/2026 06:00Free

Going for a Time?

Set a goal and get a pace band: every mile split on a card sized for your phone lock screen, so race morning needs no math.

Plan Your Trip

Where to Stay

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Common Questions About the Pilot Mountain to Hanging Rock Ultra

Will I finish last at the Pilot Mountain to Hanging Rock Ultra?

Almost certainly not. Half the 50K field finished slower than 8:06:10, and the last recorded finisher came in around 12:24:50, so there is a long tail of runners behind the middle of the pack. Most fields are far slower than people expect.

Is the Pilot Mountain to Hanging Rock Ultra a good first 50K?

It is a small race (189 finishers), which is friendlier and less intimidating than a big-city event, though the field thins out. There is no qualifying time, and the finish-time spread above shows how varied the field really is. If it is your first 50K, that spread matters more than the winner's time.

How competitive is the Pilot Mountain to Hanging Rock Ultra?

The 50K winner ran 4:53:35 while the median finisher took 8:06:10. That spread points to a mixed field, with a competitive front and a big recreational middle.