A Hardrock and Western States qualifier through Appalachia's highest peaks
Other trail races within 193 miles
The Hellbender One Hundred is a rugged 100-mile loop through the heart of Southern Appalachia, winding through Western North Carolina's Black Mountain range. Starting and finishing at Camp Grier in Old Fort, the course climbs over Graybeard Mountain (5,408 ft) with sweeping views of Mt. Mitchell — the highest peak east of the Mississippi — and descends through classic East Coast terrain of soft dirt, technical rock, and exposed root. With approximately 20,000 feet of both climbing and descent, the route crosses trail, gravel, and a short section of closed greenway, with 11 staffed aid stations and 4 self-serve water stops. The race serves as both a Hardrock 100 and Western States 100 qualifier, and the 39-hour cutoff demands consistent forward progress through the night. Note: the 2026 course is an alternate route following Hurricane Helene damage to the original course.
Experienced ultrarunners
Old Fort, NC, United StatesMay 08, 2026
Must complete a qualifier within the qualification window
Qualifying window: May 01, 2024 – May 01, 2026
Must have completed a 100K with 10,000' of vertical gain or any 100-miler between May 1, 2024 and May 1, 2026, or the Mount Mitchell Heartbreaker 50-miler. Non-competitive events, FKTs, and adventure runs are accepted with proof (e.g., Strava link).
At least 8 hours of volunteer work must be completed between May 11, 2025 and May 1, 2026. Acceptable activities include trail work, volunteering at a race, race directing, or other trail/running-centered activities. Submit proof to [email protected].
Qualifying period: May 11, 2025 – May 01, 2026
| Location | Mile | Elevation |
|---|---|---|
Start Start | 0.0 | 1,673 ft |
Kitsuma (Aid 1) Aid Station | 7.9 | 2,726 ft |
Bernard Mountain (Self-Serve 1) Aid Station | 12.4 | 1,726 ft |
Graphite (Aid 2) Aid Station | 18.9 | 1,906 ft |
Old Toll Road (Self-Serve 2) Aid Station | 26.0 | 4,590 ft |
Rocky Pipe Spring Resource | 26.3 | 4,925 ft |
Slaty Pipe Spring Resource | 28.4 | 4,377 ft |
Long Gap (Aid 3) Aid Station | 30.3 | 3,707 ft |
Long Gap (Aid 4) Aid Station | 38.5 | 3,707 ft |
Old Toll Road (Self-Serve 3) Aid Station | 43.2 | 4,590 ft |
Graphite (Aid 5) Aid Station | 50.1 | 1,906 ft |
Bernard Mountain (Self-Serve 4) Aid Station | 56.6 | 1,726 ft |
Kitsuma (Aid 6) Aid Station | 61.5 | 2,726 ft |
Old Fort Picnic Area (Aid 7) Aid Station | 65.8 | 1,637 ft |
Jerdon Mountain (Aid 8) Aid Station | 73.4 | 2,300 ft |
Gateway (Self-Serve 5) Aid Station | 79.3 | 1,506 ft |
Camp Grier (Aid 9) Aid Station | 83.4 | 1,670 ft |
Jerdon Mountain (Aid 10) Aid Station | 92.3 | 2,300 ft |
Gateway (Self-Serve 6) Aid Station | 98.2 | 1,506 ft |
Finish Finish | 102.3 | 1,706 ft |
Sign in to see cutoffs, crew access, drop bags, and services for every aid station.
Camp Grier offers bunkhouse rooms, shared cabins, and tent/small RV camping ($25/night, no hookups) — all steps from the start/finish. Bathrooms and showers available. Bring your own linens. Book via campgrier.org.
Unpredictable mountain weather is common in the Black Mountains; mandatory gear includes a seam-sealed waterproof jacket and emergency bivy
Nighttime temperatures in May can drop significantly at elevation; warm hat, gloves, and insulating base layer are required gear
Afternoon thunderstorms are possible on exposed ridgelines during the race season
No required gear specified
No recommended gear specified
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