Vertical Mile Challenge

20221223
2025-06-21

Jun 21, 2025 at 8:00 AM

3451 Rocky Face Church Road

Hiddenite NC, 28636

USA

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Entry Fee $45
(Lowest or Early Registration)

Entry Fee 2 $45
(Highest or Late Registration)

Prize Money: no

Distance(s):

Type: Mountain

Percent of the course on un-paved trails: 95%

First Year of the Event: 2019

Men's Record: Vertical Mile – Men’s Record Gavin Coombs – 2:21 (2017)

Masters Men Record: 2019 Brian Marshburn (40) 2:33:18

Women's Record: 2021 Marisa Romeo (27) 2:58:58

Masters Women Record: 2019 Marissa Winstead (41) 3:18:40

Description:

The Vertical Mile Challenge Trail Race is not your average 16+ mile race. The course is approximately a 2-mile loop beginning and ending at the bottom of the rock face, which is directly behind the parking lot at Rocky Face Recreational Area. About a half-mile into the loop, there is a half-mile climb up Stairway to Heaven Trail. Stairway to Heaven Trail is an open rock face climb and at a 20 to 30 degree grade. This section of the course heats up as the temperature rises during the day. Some runners call this section the skillet because it is so hot…others call it brutal! At the top of the climb, runners turn left down Hollow Rocky Trail and it flows downhill to the top of the lower rock face. At this point, runners continue down a steep downhill section followed by 32 steps to the bottom and the end of the loop at the start/finish line. Runners must complete this loop 8 times for 16+ miles and a vertical mile up and a vertical mile down.