Shorefire Trail Races - 25K/10K
Schedule
Sun Oct 18 2026 at 08:00 am to 02:00 pm
UTC-04:00Location
2540 State Park Road, Huddleston, VA 24104 | Huddleston, VA
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🔥🌊 Shorefire Trail Races: 25K & 10K 🌊🔥The Shorefire 25K and 10K take runners on a scenic tour linking the Smith Mountain Lake State Park trail system. Expect open stretches of shoreline, expansive lake views, and miles of well-maintained doubletrack winding through native forest. Flat, fast sections are balanced with a few punchy climbs to keep things engaging without being overwhelming. Detailed turn-by-turn directions will be sent to registered runners prior to race day.
25K Course
The 25K starts and finishes at the Beach Pavilion. The first 0.2 miles heads up the main parking lot and along the road, giving runners room to spread out before turning right at the Playground parking lot and settling into a flat, runnable section of trail.
Overall, the 25K is fast and mostly nontechnical, with just over 1800 feet of elevation gain across rolling hills. The biggest challenge may not be the terrain—it’s resisting distraction from the lake views along the way.
Because the park has an extensive trail network with multiple connectors, the course includes several turns and a few lollipop sections. The route will be clearly marked with blue flagging and directional arrows, and an official GPX file will be available for runners who prefer to follow the course on a GPS watch:
https://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/6673167949
As a general rule of thumb, most (though not all) turns are right turns, and runners will spend much of the course with Smith Mountain Lake on their right-hand side.
10K Course
The 10K also starts and finishes at the Beach Pavilion, with about 700 feet of elevation gain. The first 0.2 miles heads up the main parking lot and along the road before turning left across from the Playground parking lot and dropping into Walton Creek Trail.
This early section includes the only technical portion of the 10K, but it’s short-lived. Once runners reach the bottom of the hill, the course opens into flat, runnable doubletrack. The route passes behind the Visitor Center, connects to Five Oaks Trail, and then heads into a 3-mile lollipop loop before returning the same way and climbing back up Walton Creek Trail to the finish.
The 10K course will be marked with pink flagging and directional arrows, and a GPX file will be available for GPS users.
Aid Stations
Several aid stations will be placed along the 25K route. The first is an unmanned, water-only stop; all others will offer runner-friendly fuel including Tailwind, water, bananas, oranges, PB&J, chips, candy, and more.
25K Aid Stations
Mile 3.5: Unmanned water stop
Mile 4.85: Campfire Amphitheater (gorgeous lake views)
Mile 10: Campground
Mile 12: Five Oaks Trail loop
Mile 15: Unmanned water stop
10K Aid Stations
Mile 2.75: Five Oaks Trail aid station
Mile 1.5 and 5: Unmanned water stop where Walton Creek Trail meets the Visitor Center parking lot
Volunteers will be stationed at key junctions, and many aid stations are great spots for friends and family to gather and cheer.
Spectators & Park Amenities
The race begins and ends at the covered Beach Pavilion, with easy access to parking, restrooms, and spectator-friendly areas. Bathrooms are available at the Beach Pavilion, Playground area, Discovery Center, and Visitor Center.
Smith Mountain Lake State Park is very family-friendly, with a playground, picnic areas, and a sandy beach. Please note that no lifeguard is on duty this time of year; swimming is at your own risk.
Charity Partner
Friends of Smith Mountain Lake State Park is the official charity partner for Shorefire. Runners and supporters will have the option to donate directly during registration, supporting park programs, educational events, and trail stewardship.
Parking Info
To avoid congestion at the park entrance on race morning, the state park vehicle entry fee is included in race registration. This allows runners and spectators to drive straight into the park without stopping at the gate. Annual Virginia State Parks pass holders should note that the entry fee is still included and cannot be removed or refunded.
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Where is it happening?
2540 State Park Road, Huddleston, VA 24104, United StatesEvent Location & Nearby Stays:
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