2026 Reach the Peaks
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The Reach the Peaks Challenge is the premier single day hiking and trail running challenge in North Carolina. The 2026 Challenge celebrates our 14th year and we’re back to the route that started it all. Beginning at Shelter 4 at Lake Parking, the 11-mile challenge summits the peaks of Hanging Rock, Wolf Rock, House Rock, Cook’s Wall, and Moore’s Knob, before ending back at Shelter 4 where participants can purchase a meal by Kinder’s Kitchen food truck or head to Rocky’s Coffee & Ice Cream Shop in Danbury for a complimentary treat.
Net proceeds from the Reach the Peaks Challenge support Hanging Rock State Park, as well as annual Arts Education Touring Programs in Stokes County Schools, including those by the Winston-Salem Symphony, Piedmont Opera, UNCG Theatre for Young People, UNCG Opera, UNC School of the Arts, Carolina Music Ways, Columbia Marionette Theatre, Shared Radiance Shakespeare, Mike Wiley Productions, Bailey Mountain Cloggers, and others.
Thank you for supporting the 2026 Reach the Peaks Challenge!
REGISTRATION The 2026 Reach the Peaks Challenge will take place on Saturday, October 17.
Advanced Registration is strongly encouraged. The deadline for participants to receive event swag (T-shirt, Farm to Feet Sauratown Mountain Trail Socks, Rocky’s Coffee & Ice Cream Voucher) is Friday, October 2 at 5pm. Advanced Registration fees are $35 per person for adults and $25 for youth age 18 and under. Day of Registration fee is $45 for both adult and youth, with only the Sauratown Mountain Trail Socks and Rocky’s Coffee & Ice Cream Voucher guaranteed.
Dogs are welcome! Well behaved dogs on a maximum 6-foot leash are welcome to participate with you in the challenge at no additional cost. Determining whether your dog is healthy enough to participate is at your own discretion.
ADVANCED PARTICIPANT SWAG PICKUP
Advanced Swag pickup will be available at The Arts Place of Stokes located at 502 N. Main St., Danbury, NC. This year’s swag will include an event t-shirt and Farm to Feet Sauratown Mountain Trail hiking socks. Swag may be picked up in advance of the challenge on Thursday or Friday, Oct. 15 / 16, at The Arts Place, 502 Main Street in Danbury, between the hours of 10am and 5pm, or may be picked up at the time of check-in on the day of the event.
DAY OF THE EVENT CHECK-IN
ALL PARTICIPANTS MUST CHECK-IN AT HANGING ROCK STATE PARK LAKE PARKING SHELTER #4 PRIOR TO BEGINNING THE CHALLENGE.
Participants will check-in between 7:30am – 9am on the day of the challenge, Oct. 17, to sign a liability waiver, receive a participant number, pick up swag and map. After checking-in, participants may begin. All participants must be on the trail no later than 9:15am.
TRAIL ROUTE
The 2026 Reach the Peaks Challenge begins at Lake Parking Lot Shelter #4. Participants will take the Haro Spur located directly across the lake parking lot. At the intersection with the Hanging Rock Trail, turn right. Follow the route to the top of Peak #1, Hanging Rock. Retrace the route and turn left onto Wolf Rock Trail to summit Peak #2, Wolf Rock. Continue on the Wolf Rock Trail until it becomes Cook’s Wall Trail. Summit Peak #3, House Rock, continuing on Cook’s Wall Trail to summit Peak #4, Cook’s Wall. Retrace the Cook’s Wall Trail, turning left onto Magnolia Springs Trail. At the intersection with Moore’s Knob Loop Trail, turn left. Follow the Moore’s Knob Loop Trail until you summit Peak #5, Moore’s Knob. Continue on Moore’s Knob Loop Trail through the campground, past the lake and Historic Bathhouse, returning to Lake Shelter #4, completing the 11-mile route.
FINISHING THE CHALLENGE
Upon completing the 2026 Reach the Peaks Challenge, participants will receive a commemorative “I Conquered Reach the Peaks” patch.
In case of emergency on the trail, participants should call 911 (and may contact park staff at the Hanging Rock State Park Visitor Center at 336-593-8480). Cell phone coverage is not guaranteed throughout the state park.
PLEASE DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE THE CHALLENGE OF THIS EVENT.
WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO EVALUATE YOUR HEALTH AND SAFETY NEEDS AND PLAN ACCORDINGLY.
What to Expect at Reach the Peaks 2026:
1) THE EVENT WILL TAKE PLACE RAIN OR SHINE (Unless Directed by Stokes Emergency Services to cancel due to natural disaster).
2) The Challenge distance is approximately 11 miles.
3)There are NO COMFORT STATIONS on this year’s route. In case of emergency, TEXT or CALL 911! For non-emergency call park staff at the Hanging Rock State Park Visitor Center at 336-593-8480 (cell service may not be available throughout the park).
4) Complimentary water, soft drinks and fruit will be available to participants at the start and finish of the Challenge. Participants may also purchase food at the finish from Kinder’s Kitchen Food Truck from 11am to 3pm.
5) Feel free to take photos at each peak to share with us and your friends!
6) We expect you to respect the state park, the trail, wildlife, other challenge participants and hikers who may not be participating in the challenge. Pack out what you pack in and adhere to all state park rules.
7) This is a hiking/trail running CHALLENGE. It will not be easy, but it will be FUN!
