High Country Turkey Trot 5K & 10K
About this race
We are back on the Boone Greenway Trail for the 16th Annual High Country Turkey Trot! Choose from a 5K or 10K timed race or an untimed Fun Run/Walk.
Taking place on Thanksgiving morning, The High Country Turkey Trot is open to competitive runners, casual joggers, walkers, and fun runners. Far from just a race, the event is fun for the entire family and includes a live DJ, photo-staging area, costumes, and a picnic shed full of food and hot drinks.
NEW FOR 2026: We've updated the course route by reducing elevation gain and improving the terrain. That means less hill climbs and more stable footing! The 5K and 10K races will take you on a scenic trip over mixed terrain (gravel, grass, and paved) through the woods via The Greenway and Kennedy Trails. Official course map to be revealed soon!
The Fun Run/Walk will utilize all paved trails throughout the park - making it accessible to everyone, including leashed dogs, strollers, wagons, wheelchairs, and other mobility aids.
The High Country Turkey Trot offers prizes for top 3 Men's & Women's finishers in the 5k & 10k timed runs, Finisher Medals for all runners in the 5K and 10K timed runs, and custom High Country Turkey Trot T-Shirts for all entrants*.
All participants are asked to bring non-perishable boxes or canned food items!
The High Country Turkey Trot is LARGEST 5K & 10K in North Carolina's High Country. Join the fun on Thanksgiving morning 2026!
START TIME- 10K Timed Race Start Time: 8:50
- 5K Timed Race Start Time: 9:00
- Fun Run/Walk Start Time: 9:10
ROUTE TERRAIN
- INTERACTIVE COURSE MAPS: CLICK HERE
- 5K & 10K RACE: Greenway Trail + Path – partially paved, mostly grass and wooded trail/dirt.
- FUN RUN / WALK: Greenway Trail - 100% paved
AWARDS All finishers will received a custom High Country Turkey Trot finisher medal! Overall Winners: Top 3 overall men and women will receive custom HCTT swag and a Stick Boy Bread Co. pumpkin pie! Age Groups: Top 3 in each age group will receive custom HCTT swag! Age groups are as follows: 9 & Under, 10-14, 15-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70+
FIRST AID PROVIDED BY: Watauga Rescue, stationed at the start/finish line.
Pick your distance
Trail running
5K Timed Race
10K Timed Trail Race
Running
Fun Run/Walk
Typical race-day weather
Based on 3 years of Open-Meteo archive data for this event's race dates in Boone, plus the 3 days either side.
The sun rises at 7:14 AM and sets at 5:13 PM local time (EST) in Boone on November 26, 2026 — 9h 58m of daylight.
Course
No course map published yet.
The organizer hasn't released a route for this event, and we don't publish guesses. If you're the organizer, send us a GPX file and we'll draw the profile.
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Results — High Country Turkey Trot 5K & 10K
Other races near Boone
Different organizers, within 40 miles, in the next three months
Haunted 5K & 10K 13.1 & 26.2 at Boone, NC (43)
Miles with Mallory
Gobbler 5K & 10K 13.1 & 26.2 at Boone, NC (48)
Holiday 5K, 10K & 13.1M at Boone, NC (52)
Where this page comes from. Race details were last updated on . We re-check listings regularly and again in the week before race day.
- Entries, prices, waves and inclusions — the event's official registration page
- Temperature and humidity — Copernicus ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0)
- Elevation and terrain relief — Copernicus DEM GLO-90, ESA (CC BY 4.0)
- Comparisons and counts — Race Discovery calendar, 16 Boone events
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