Black Mountain Marathon

The Black Mountain Marathon and Mount Mitchell Challenge is a trail marathon and ultramarathon held in Black Mountain, North Carolina, in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Both races start together in downtown Black Mountain and share the first 13 miles to an overlook on the Blue Ridge Parkway before diverging: marathon runners turn back for a 26.2-mile route with about 3,000 feet of elevation gain, while Mount Mitchell Challenge runners continue 36 miles with about 4,500 feet of gain to the 6,684-foot summit of Mount Mitchell, the highest peak in the eastern United States. Both courses finish at Lake Tomahawk in Black Mountain.