🏜️ Welcome to the Sandhills Trail & Ultra Festival! 🏕️

Are you ready to run wild in the heart of South Carolina? Lace up and hit the trails at Sesquicentennial State Park in Columbia, SC – where pine forests meet sandy ridges, and every step brings you closer to nature.🌲 Whether you're tackling a single loop or testing your grit in the 30-hour challenge, the Sandhills Trail Race has something for every trail runner. 

Distance Options

• 🏃‍♀️ 7.5-Mile Fun Loop – One lap of sweet singletrack through forest and lakeside views.

• 🏃 25K (2 Laps) – Perfect for those ready to push past comfort and into the challenge zone.

• 🏃‍♂️ 50K (4 Laps) – A full day of adventure for ultrarunners craving miles and memories.

• 🌙 30-Hour Ultra – How far can you go? Push your limits under sun, stars, and soul.

 
Why You’ll Love It:

• 🏞️ Serene lake views & sandy trails beneath towering pines

• 🏕️ Easy-access personal aid station zone in the open field

• 💫 Camp overnight or relax between laps – it's your race, your pace

• 🎶 Chill trail vibes + post-race hangs with fellow dirt-loving runners

• 🥒 Aid station snacks, cool drinks, and all the good trail feels

• 🥇 Belt buckles for 100-mile finishers (13 laps)

• 📍 Location: Sesquicentennial State Park – 9564 Two Notch Rd, Columbia, SC 29223

• 🕘 Race Start: 9:00 AM (All distances)

• 📦 Packet Pickup: 1 hour before your race at Shelter #1

 
🗺️ Course Highlights - COURSE MAP HERE

• 7.75-mile loop 💫
  
• Soft pine needle-covered singletrack ✅
  
• A few smooth paved sections around the lake 👟
  
• Rolling hills + lake breezes = chef’s kiss 🌬️
  
• Fast, runnable, and beginner-friendly (but the 30-hour? That’s another story 😏)
• 🚗 Parking Info: You’ll enter the park and head to the lake parking lot near the ranger station. Have a state park pass or bring a few bucks for a day pass. If you’re staying the day or overnight, feel free to pop up a 10x10 near the field by the start/finish.

⛺️ 30-Hour Runners: Limited crew/aid support from 10PM–6AM. Timing continues overnight. Take a nap if needed — we get it 😴. Just leave your chip at the table when you're done.

 
🍬 Aid Station Snacks May Include: Pickles, cookies, candy, chips, fig newtons, pretzels, water, Coke, and ginger ale. Want something special? Bring it! This is a cupless event, so bring your own hydration gear 🥤

 
🎉 Whether you're aiming for a PR, your first ultra, or just a fun day in the woods, the Sandhills Trail Race is your ticket to an unforgettable trail experience. Let the sandy paths guide you and the forest fuel your soul 🌳

Race Email Recap

• Date/Time
  • Races Start at 9am / Packet Pickup Starts at 8am
• Address
  • 9564 Two Notch Rd, Columbia, SC 29223
• Parking
  • Follow signs that will sneak you behind the ranger station but lead you to the open field adjacent to the start/finish line where packet pickup will be underneath Picnic Shelter #2 (linked HERE)
• Personal Base Camp 
  • You can setup in that grass field at the start/finish line area. When you arrive in the parking area near the ranger station please be on the lookout for the event parking arrows leading you back behind the ranger station for setup. 
• Early Setup
  • If you want to setup your 10 x 10 on Friday you are permitted but there is still a day use fee to get into the park unless you have a parking pass
• Parking Fee
  • We are still waiting on confirmation on this fee. It is typically $6 per runner unless you have a state park pass but they have also done a February donation drive of a jar of Peanut Butter as the price of admission. 
• Aid Station
  • There is a fully stocked aid station at the start/finish line of the 7.5 mile loop. We welcome any aid station donations or personally prepared/baked items to share with the crowd. We are planning to have 5 gallon jugs at the campground loop around mile marker 5 of the 7.5 mile loop
• Awards/Timing
  • Results will be live, 30 hour runners will post current lap tracking, we will announce overall and age group awards at various intervals based on estimated finish time per distance
    • 7.5 Mile Awards @ 10:30
    • 25k Awards @ 12pm
    • 50k Awards @ 3pm
• Trail Series
  • All participants will be entered into our Age Group Trail Series awards HERE
• Order Apparel
  • Link to order apparel is below
• Course
  • Link to our Strava course is linked in the Race Info above on the registration page
• Weather
  • Rain in the forecast but we are rain or shine. In the event we have a severe wind storm similar to last year with fallen trees we will email/notify participants to clear the trail for safety. This is not a real concern at this time with the estimated weather incoming.