Expected October 2027
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Palmetto Ultras is a trail running series based in the Lowcountry around Charleston, South Carolina, staging races in county parks and along the Palmetto Trail Swamp Fox Passage. The courses wind through flat, peaceful maritime forest, pine flatwoods and swamp margins rather than mountains, and the humid coastal climate means the ground can be soft, rooty and occasionally flooded after heavy rain. Race days are small and welcoming, with aid stations and finish-line food that runners keep coming back for, and a field that mixes first-time trail runners with seasoned ultrarunners. The series puts on everything from 5K and 10K distances through to half marathon and longer ultras, and also runs free weekly group trail runs, course previews and volunteer trail workdays so that newcomers can get comfortable on the trails before race day.
Lowcountry forest singletrack with no mountains and no waterfalls
Peaceful, playful woodland trails around Charleston
Distances from 5K and 10K up to long ultras on the same race day
Courses set in county parks and along the Palmetto Trail
Terrain
Route
Race Day
What you get
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Other questions
Palmetto Ultras was created at the end of 2023, when the race director of Eagle Endurance, Chad Haffa, stepped back and the trail races in the Charleston area were set to disappear. Kayla Fitzgerald took over and rebranded several of Eagle Endurance's most iconic races, starting in January 2024. Kayla lives in Charleston with her husband, two children and a dog, and also runs Endurance Nutrition, where she works as a registered dietitian helping runners fuel properly.
Yes. Palmetto Ultras deliberately includes shorter distances such as 5K and 10K alongside its long ultras so that newcomers can try trail running and get hooked before moving up. The Lowcountry trails are flat and non-technical compared with mountain races, and the atmosphere at the events is relaxed and community-minded.
The races take place in Lowcountry woods around Charleston, in county parks and along the Palmetto Trail. You will not find mountains or waterfalls, but you will find flat, quiet forest singletrack that is soft underfoot and can hold water after rain. Expect roots, pine flatwoods and swampy sections rather than big climbs.
Each race has its own runner guide published as a Canva document, covering race day specifics such as timings, parking and course details. Guides are currently available for Frozen: H3, Hallucination, Hell Hole, Dirt Dash, Swamp Fox and Cannonball, and are linked from the events section of the Palmetto Ultras homepage.
There is no single mandatory kit list covering the whole series. Bring what you normally need for the distance you have entered and check the runner guide for your race, which sets out anything specific to that course. Because the Lowcountry is hot and humid for much of the year, carrying your own water between aid stations is sensible on the longer distances.
Entry fee
Registration isn't open yet. We'll show pricing when the organiser confirms.Charleston, USA
Expected October 2027
Provisional date, around Oct 10Are you the organiser of Palmetto Ultras Trail Running Events?
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