Pisgah 12 Hour Adventure Race
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Event overview
The Pisgah 12 Hour Adventure Race is scheduled for Saturday, September 19, 2026, at Lake James State Park in Nebo, North Carolina (Paddy Creek Area, 7321 NC-126). The event is a 12-hour adventure race with entry options for SOLO, 2-person, 3-person, and 4-person teams. Listed registration fee is $150 for each event; the price increases after April 30, 2026.
Course and format
The course includes a bushwhacking O-course, single-track and some road mountain bike sections, and scenic paddling. Teams of one to four travel together along the course. Competitors gather punches from unmanned flag check points; the team with the most points in the least amount of time is the winner. The race is the final event in the organizer's series and is the seventh year the event is held at this state park.
Gear and logistics
Each team or solo racer must provide a canoe or kayak or arrange a rental through the organizer (limited number available). Required individual items include a functional mountain bike, CPSC-marked helmet for bike sections, a Type I/II/III personal flotation device for paddling, food and fluids, a pen or marker, knife, whistle, and an individual headlight with extra batteries. Required team items include a UTM plotter with 1:24,000 scale, compass, watch, cell phone in a waterproof case, and a basic first aid kit. Camping reservations are available through the state park system. Additional information is available from the NCARS organizer. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
