Hickory 5K Series

Easter Egg Scramble - Hickory City Park/River Walk Trail - 1581 12th St. Dr. NW, Hickory, NC 28601

This race takes place on portions of the Hickory Riverwalk Trail and Geitner Trail.  You'll have a chance to run/walk across the River Walk bridge from the wooded trails of Hickory City Park and portions of Geitner Park. Hopping onto Peter Cotton Tail's trail will take you to the scenic overlook of Lake Hickory. 

Aviation 5K - Winkler Park/L.P. Frans Stadium, 2500 Clement Blvd. NW, Hickory

This course is nearly all on the Aviation Trail and has a little bit of a challenge to it. The challenge being elevation. The course takes you up to the Hickory Regional Airport then makes a u-turn and back down past the Crawdad's stadium along the Aviation Trail out to the NEW Hickory pedestrian bridge (over Route 321). Once you get to the opposite side of the bridge you'll make your way to the New picnic shelter where you'll make another u-turn and run back to the Finish Line in front of the Crawdad Stadium.  

Lightning Bug Boogie Night Trail Race/Run - Hickory City Park, 1581 12th St. Dr. NW, Hickory, NC

LOOK for reflective arrow signs as you run the trails...

This course starts out on the Geitner paved trail runs slightly downhill to the main trail head area then turns right passing the "Butterfly Garden" and going down a single track trail (Springs Loop backwards). Run on Springs Loop trail until it takes you back out to Geitner paved trail (a right turn) for a short distance, taking a left onto Broyhill Trail. You'll take Broyhill Trail for a short distance then back onto Geitner paved trail. Take a left at the downhill Boyscout Hut driveway and an immediate right back onto the trails until you go under the River Walk trail and loop back to the right onto the River Walk trail. After a short stint on the River Walk trail you'll be directed back onto the Broyhill trail to Elevator trail taking you back up to the Pump Track and Main trail head where you will finish on the paved section of Geitner trail.   

then making a right onto "Springs Loop" trail following it until the next trail head opening. There you'll take a left across the paved trail back into the woods on an unnamed trail. This unnamed trail loops back up to Geitner paved trail. Then you will take a series of on-and-off single track and paved trail efforts until you reach, "The Wall." This 30 foot long scramble (25% grade) puts you back onto the Gietner paved trail for the final 1/4 mile stretch to the finishline. 

At the bottom of the "Elevator" trail you will then ascend up to a portion of the "Broyhill" trail until it dumps out onto the Geitner paved trail (going hard left)

This challenging course demands that you have a good head lamp and if you're compelled an extra chest light or hand-held flash light.  

This course is VERY FUN especially if it's a full moon or there are few clouds in the sky. 

In case of rain we will evaluate the course conditions and abbreviate anywhere we feel is unfit for running. If necessary we will run an out-and-back on the paved trail only. 

Ruff, Ruff, Run 5k - Winkler Park, 2500 Clement Blvd. NW, Hickory, NC

This course is a fun course for both you and your dog. We'll start and finish at the front of the Crawdad's stadium. The majority of this course you have the option of running on the sidewalk or on the grass. There is a single track trail section which goes for approximately 1/2 mile. Two laps are required to complete 3.10 miles or 5K.  

Trick or Trot 5K Highland Recreation Center, 1541 8th St. Dr. NE, Hickory, NC

 The course starts out as it always has, in front of Highland Recreation Center then turns back and runs behind the facility back out toward 8th Street Dr. NE making a left onto the sidewalk. Travelling up the hill, making a left onto 19th Ave NE, then making a slight right turn onto 11th St. NW over to where you'll make a left onto 21st Ave. NE. Running on the sidewalk make a left onto 5th St. NE. Follow that past the new housing development to 12th Ave. NE. make a left and go down the hill. Make another left onto 13th Ave. NE. Go around the blind corner and make a left into the Stanford Park (Highland Rec. Center) back entrance. Run that slight 1/4 mile incline to the Finish Line!