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Sandhills 30 Hour
Sandhills 50k
Sesqui 25k
Sesqui 7.5 Mile
Sandhills Trail & Ultra Festival
Sesquicentennial State Park
A course with a bit of everything
Welcome to the Sandhills Trail & Ultra Series, where the terrain is soft, the grind is real, and Sesquicentennial State Park serves up a sandy little reality check in the best way possible. 🌲
Your race isn’t just a run, it’s a guided tour of Sesqui, loop by loop, mile by mile, as you chase your own finish line through pines, sand, and that sneaky stretch that feels like it’s gently trying to steal your quads. When you toe the line, you’ll be rocking a custom race bib as your trail badge of proof, and when you earn your way back to the finish, you’ll claim a finisher medal that says, loud and clear: yep, I did that. 🥇
And because this is the Sandhills, we keep it fun and a little feral, too: you’ll get a custom race tattoo to wear it proud and run it loud, plus event-themed giveaways that feel like surprises from the trail gods. Add in a race sticker for your bottle, cooler, or trailhead shrine, and you’ve got the full experience packed into your post-race haul.
Going big? If you’re one of the brave souls who locks in the full 100-mile finish, you’ll earn the kind of hardware that doesn’t whisper, it clanks: belt buckles for those who go the distance. 🥃
We’ll have chip timing with split tracking so every loop counts and every milestone gets logged, complimentary race photos so your victory doesn’t live only in your memory, and a music-filled post-race hangout with vibes, snacks, and trail talk while the sand slowly evacuates your shoes. 🎶📸⏱️
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 and 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 and 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)
Event Details
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
View course map
- 7.5-mile loop, mostly soft pine needle-covered singletrack with a few smooth paved sections around the lake
- Rolling hills and lake breezes make for a scenic run
- Fast, runnable, and beginner-friendly — though the 30-hour distance is another stor
30-Hour Runners
Limited crew and aid support from 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM. Timing continues overnight, so take a nap if you need one — 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.
Camping Reservations & Admissions - HERE
The course will run right through both campsite locations! Sesquicentennial State Park, affectionately known to locals as "Sesqui," is a spacious, green getaway in the heart of the Sandhills region. With Camping and Day Use rentals available, a stay at Sesqui is enjoyable. Once you're immersed in the 1,400 acres of pines, you forget just how close you are to bustling, downtown Columbia, South Carolina. - $6 adults - $3.75 SC seniors - $3.50 children age 6-15 - age 5 & younger are free
Sesquicentennial State Park
Sesqui State Park
9564 Two Notch Rd
Columbia, SC 29223 US
View Location on Map
Parking: Enter the park and head to the lake parking lot near the ranger station. You can either park in the main lot bit if you would like to be right at the action follow the signs behind the ranger station to the open field parking lot where the race starts and loops through the finish. If you're staying the day or overnight, feel free to set up a 10x10 near the field by the start/finish.
🏆 Race Awards & Age Group Trail Series
🎖️ Top 3 Overall (Male & Female)
The fastest three finishers will each receive a trophy to honor their achievement at the front of the pack!
🥇 Age Group Awards (Male & Female)
The 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place finishers in each age group will earn an Age Group Series Medal 🏅—a custom piece to add to your finisher’s lanyard at the end of the event.
🌲 Upstate Trail Series Recognition
Our Age Group Trail Series highlights consistency and performance across the season!🏆 The Top 3 Male & Female in each age group will be recognized for total points earned throughout the series at our annual awards ceremony.
Age Group Categories:
- 0–9
- 10–12
- 13–16
- 17–19
- 20–29
- 30–34
- 35–39
- 40–44
- 45–49
- 50–54
- 55–59
- 60–64
- 65–69
- 70–79
- 80+
Race Day Countdown
Any questions? Contact us today!
If you have any questions about this race, click the button below.
Yes
32 Hours to complete all distances.
Yes
No
Picnic Shelter # 2
- 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)
Yes you can register on your personal mobile device on race day
There is an open field adjacent to the Start/Finish Line. To get there you must take the "hidden" alleyway next to the main parking lot between the Ranger Station and the Splash Pad.
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)
No but you will pay that Special Use Permit fee during registration so that when you arrive you can roll right in. That fee is $5
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)
You can leave things under the Picnic Shelter # 2
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)
We will only have a fully stocked aid station every 7.5 miles at the start/finish line
Yes there will be bathrooms at the start/finish line as well as around the campground loop that runners pass by each time.
Yes all finishers get a medal.
All participants can purcahse apparel during registration that will be available on race day or you can utilize our apparel now site to have apparel items shipped directly to you
