High Country Turkey Trot 5K & 10K

About the Event

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 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.

Races Offered

10K Timed Trail Race

Nov 26, 2026

straighten

Distance — 10K

terrain

Type — Running

timer

08:50

sell

$30.00

5K Timed Race

Nov 26, 2026

straighten

Distance — 5K

terrain

Type — Running

timer

09:00

sell

$30.00

Sleep In - Shirt Only!

Nov 26, 2026

straighten

Distance — Sleep In - Shirt Only!

terrain

Type — Running

timer

09:00

sell

$40.00

Fun Run/Walk

Nov 26, 2026

straighten

Distance — 5K

terrain

Type — Running

timer

09:15

sell

$30.00

Weather History

These values represent the 3-year monthly averages for November in Boone.

thermostat Temperature

3.0° / 11.5°

wb_sunny Feels like

-2.0° / 7.4°

light_mode Avg sunshine hours

7h 37m

water_drop Avg rainfall

1.7 mm

ac_unit Avg snowfall

0.1 cm

air Avg wind speed

14.8 km/h (Gentle breeze)

opacity Sweat loss rate

Low

terrain Course conditions

Firm and slightly soft

sunny Max UV Index

Low (2.0)

humidity_mid Humidity

71.6%

wb_twilight Sunrise

08:04

nightlight Sunset

18:18

About Boone

Learn more about the host city, Boone.

Boone is a town in Watauga County nestled in the North Carolina Mountains, part of Appalachia. It is the home of Appalachian State University and is the county seat.

Hotels & Places to Stay

Race Results

Official finishing times from previous editions of High Country Turkey Trot 5K & 10K.

Place	Name	Gender	Age	City	Time
🥇	Rien Freeman	M	21	Boone, NC	18:00.6
🥈	Korben Anderson	M	21	Blowing Rock, NC	18:30.5
🥉	Calvin Zwetsloot	M	16	Boone, NC	18:37.6
4	Gordon Badgett	M	33	Pensacola, FL	19:20.32
5	Ethan Turner	M	21	Boone, NC	19:38.24
6	Gabe Hunt	M	20	Boone, NC	19:46.71
7	Owen Traynum	M	17	Charlotte, NC	19:52.09
8	Daniel Osborne	M	31	Raleigh, NC	19:54.56
9	Collin Anderson	M	18	Blowing Rock, NC	20:01.65
10	michael Pearson	M	42	Boone, NC	20:33.35
11	Jonah Pearson	M	14	Shreveport, LA	20:52.24
12	Travis Livermon	M	36	Vilas, NC	21:15.06
13	Jack Pugh	M	17	Fleming Island, FL	21:31.26
14	Zachary Barricklow	M	42	Wilkesboro, NC	21:51.41
15	Abbey Cooper	F	32	Boone, NC	21:55.24
16	Eli Woods	M	16	Chapel Hill, NC	21:55.62
17	Holden Womack	M	16	Boone, NC	22:24.5
18	Steve Morley	M	46	Greensboro, NC	22:35.97
19	Jacob Morley	M	17	Greensboro, NC	22:56.49
20	Caspian Miller	M	18	Boone, NC	23:14.91
21	Bruce Vestal	M	16	Charlotte, NC	23:25.8
22	Will Ambler	M	24	BOONE, NC	23:28.08
23	Sydney Blume	F	28	Boone, NC	23:29.69
24	Kate James Moore	F	13	Boone, NC	23:33.7
25	Jonathan Swafford	M	34	Middletown, RI	23:35.22
26	Zack Stone	M	35	Raleigh, NC	23:41.42
27	Katherine Pearson	F	43	Todd, NC	23:59.62
28	Carolyn Brice	F	36	Wilmington, NC	23:59.67
29	JT Helms	M	33	Durham, NC	24:08.74
30	C. van der Westhuizen	M	10	Boone, NC	24:10.11
31	Dean Barricklow	M	16	Wake Forest, NC	24:12.28
32	Thomas Andrews	M	32	Raleigh, NC	24:15.57
33	Hunter McConeghy	M	14	Charlotte, NC	24:18.72
34	Chris Martin	M	48	West Jefferson, NC	24:18.74
35	L. Perry	M	10	Boone, NC	24:26.65
36	J. Kennedy	M	12	Raleigh, NC	24:31.53
37	Anna Duke	F	26	Raleigh, NC	24:32.11
38	Meagan Stone	F	34	Raleigh, NC	24:37.4
39	Asa Markus	M	21	Sugar Grove, NC	24:38.64
40	Riley Kennedy	F	16	Raleigh, NC	24:41.34
41	Will Curtis	M	20	Boone, NC	24:44.27
42	Samuel Osmond	M	24	Boone, NC	24:44.43
43	Jacob Abernethy	M	15	Kennesaw, GA	24:46.37
44	Brianna Anderson	F	19	Blowing Rock, NC	24:46.51
45	Leo McEvoy	M	17	Boone, NC	24:59.32
46	J. Adams	M	11	Wilmette, IL	25:08.64
47	Mitchell Andrews	M	28	Raleigh, NC	25:14.68
48	C. Schurman	M	10	Boone, NC	25:16.81
49	David Durham	M	19	Monroe, NC	25:20.5
50	Bijoy Kharkar	M	26	Cape Canaveral, FL	25:24.72

Place	Name	Gender	Age	City	Time
🥇	Nicholas Huger	M	21	Sanford, NC	38:34.88
🥈	Brian Ulrich	M	36	Jefferson, NC	39:33.4
🥉	Drew Baker	M	27	Boone, NC	42:14.37
4	Ollie Rupp	M	19	Boone, NC	42:42.53
5	Mason Illich	M	30	Boone, NC	42:44.89
6	Jeremy Jones	M	46	Boone, NC	42:46.47
7	Isaiah Franks	M	38	Banner Elk, NC	43:00.51
8	Christopher Burns	M	16	CHARLOTTE, NC	43:58.04
9	Bob Swarthout	M	43	Vilas, NC	44:00.99
10	Sean Keefe	M	46	Fort Novosel, AL	44:41.08
11	Laura Clarke	F	42	lenoir, NC	45:05.3
12	Matthew Rupp	M	50	Boone, NC	45:25.6
13	James Slauson	M	31	Boone, NC	46:17.84
14	Brandon Weaver	M	35	North Wilkesboro, NC	46:40.15
15	Larry Brittain	M	27	Lenoir, NC	47:07.24
16	Sarah Sandreuter	F	23	Vilas, NC	47:25.64
17	Jill Konkol	F	39	Lenoir, NC	47:59.92
18	Joe Wellborn	M	42	Deep Gap, NC	48:45.3
19	Andrew Gedgoudas	M	25	Boone, NC	49:03.26
20	Michael Stout	M	41	Morganton, NC	49:15.57
21	Brian Higgins	M	54	Jacksonville, FL	49:22.83
22	Courtney Kapral	F	27	Arlington, VA	49:25.39
23	Matthew Tupper	M	54	Blowing Rock, NC	49:37.89
24	Daniel Rupp	M	48	Boone, NC	49:53.92
25	David Cole	M	45	Newland, NC	50:26.48
26	Andrew Saltz	M	35	Laurel Springs, NC	50:48.38
27	Neil Amato	M	54	Apex, NC	51:06.58
28	Rick Woods	M	48	Chapel Hill, NC	51:22.37
29	Ben Robertson	M	33	Atlanta, GA	51:41.18
30	Zachery Wills	M	32	New York, NY	52:02.99
31	Germaine Tupper	F	52	Blowing Rock, NC	52:16.34
32	Megan Barbero	F	45	Chevy Chase, MD	52:41.9
33	Brian Rekuc	M	33	Brooklyn, NY	52:59.47
34	Amanda Adams	F	41	Wilmette, IL	53:08.26
35	William Randolph	M	37	Boone, NC	53:32.53
36	Ty Hargrove	M	16	Jacksonville, FL	53:39.5
37	Justin Moretz	M	28	Zionville, NC	53:49.64
38	Ava Curtis	F	17	Boone, NC	53:58.83
39	Chloe Moretz	F	28	Littleton, CO	54:11.48
40	NICK RUPP	M	54	Greenville, NC	54:11.86
41	Hannah Curtis	F	23	Boone, NC	54:12.7
42	Zane Reynolds	M	39	Lynchburg, VA	54:17.7
43	Matt Wiggs	M	39	Raleigh, NC	54:54.42
44	Madeline Schaefer	F	16	Raleigh, NC	55:09.19
45	Sophie Schaefer	F	20	Raleigh, NC	55:09.68
46	Dylan Morris	M	39	Charlotte, NC	55:20.75
47	Warren Beck	M	38	Littleton, CO	55:21.41
48	Andriana Rink	F	19	Boone, NC	55:36.22
49	Liane Miller	F	39	Silver Spring, MD	55:52.49
50	Athanasia Beasley	F	28	Boone, NC	56:03.52

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About the Event

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.

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.

Races Offered

10K Timed Trail Race

5K Timed Race

Sleep In - Shirt Only!

Fun Run/Walk

Weather History

About Boone

Hotels & Places to Stay

Race Results

Runner Reviews

No reviews yet

Nearby Races

Medal Madness 5K, 10K & 13.1M at Boone, NC (26)

Rhododendron 10K Run

Defender of Men 5K & 1 Mile Fun Run

2026 Tour de Mountains

Recommended for You

2026 Tour de Mountains

Muddy Kids - Raleigh, NC

Muddy Dash | Charlotte 2026

Muddy Kids - Charlotte, NC

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