Neck of the Woods Adventure Race
- Date Sat 25th October 2025
- Time 7:30AM EDT
- Location Huntersville, North Carolina
- Price $38.10
- Races 1 race
- Distances Ultra
Event summary
Get ready for an unforgettable adventure at the 2nd Annual Neck of the Woods Adventure Race, taking place on Saturday, October 25, 2025, in the beautiful Huntersville, Mecklenburg. This exciting event invites both seasoned adventure racers and newcomers to join in on a thrilling 5-hour scavenger hunt-style race, either solo or in teams of up to four. Participants will navigate through a mix of biking and trekking, covering approximately 25 miles of biking and 5-6 miles of trekking if they aim for all checkpoints, or a minimum of 14-15 miles of biking and 3-4 miles of trekking for those focusing on mandatory checkpoints.
The race kicks off with a mandatory pre-race briefing at 7:00 AM, followed by the launch at 7:30 AM, and all teams must finish by 12:30 PM. Each team will rely on their wits and teamwork to find pre-plotted checkpoints and earn points, with the ultimate goal of completing the course in the least amount of time. Whether you're riding paved roads or tackling single-track trails, this event is designed to test your navigation skills and endurance. Don’t miss the chance to participate in this exhilarating race that promises surprises along the way
The race kicks off with a mandatory pre-race briefing at 7:00 AM, followed by the launch at 7:30 AM, and all teams must finish by 12:30 PM. Each team will rely on their wits and teamwork to find pre-plotted checkpoints and earn points, with the ultimate goal of completing the course in the least amount of time. Whether you're riding paved roads or tackling single-track trails, this event is designed to test your navigation skills and endurance. Don’t miss the chance to participate in this exhilarating race that promises surprises along the way
Organiser's Description
ANNOUNCEMENT VIDEO: ANNOUNCEMENT [https://youtu.be/4cOlDXpakV0?si=HUnYnz7YuojtzfxU]
Whether you've never heard of adventure racing or are a seasoned pro looking for a partial-day challenge, this event is for you.
WHAT: 2nd Annual Neck of the Woods Adventure Race (5-hour). Solo or teams of up to 4 persons (1,2,3 or 4 on a team)
WHEN: October 25th, 2025 0700 mandatory pre-race briefing, 0730 launch time, must finish by 1230
WHERE: Huntersville, NC
COST: $35/person
This adventure race will be like a scavenger hunt on bike and on foot (no paddle/swim/water section). That doesn't necessarily mean you won't get wet.
All maps are preplotted with possible checkpoints to find. Each checkpoint you find earns you points. The team/solo with the most points in the least amount of time wins (Solo & Team category awards). All mandatory checkpoints and most of the other checkpoints are easily found near paths/creeks/intersections/features. A few optional checkpoints may be a little trickier to find. Team members stay together and work together the entire race. You can choose to go all out and attempt every checkpoint OR you can just get the mandatory checkpoints OR any number of checkpoints between. There is a 5-hour time limit. There is no set route. There is no sequence to the checkpoints. You decide your route and manage your own time. This can be by yourself, with your family, your friends, your coworkers, etc (teams of 1-4).
Mandatory Supplies for each participant: Bike, Bike Helmet, blinking rear bike light, Food/Nutrition, Water
Mandatory Team Supplies carried at all times: Compass, Phone (waterproof container), Pen/Sharpie
Distances are approximate and depend on your race strategy. However, teams that make it to every checkpoint and bonus point with no navigation errors should plan on about 25 miles of biking and 5-6 miles of trekking. The minimum distance if you only get the mandatory checkpoints is about 14-15 miles of biking and 3-4 miles of trekking. The miles are not continuous as the race has separate sections and you are constantly navigating and renegotiating routes.
You will be responsible for your own nutrition and hydration throughout the race. There will be a transition area with water and Gatorade, but will obviously not be accessible while you are out hunting for checkpoints.
The bike sections are mostly paved roads and greenways with some single-track trails. A mountain bike would work best. However, if you only have (or need to borrow from a friend) a road bike or even a beach cruiser, you can access all the mandatory points, just not all the optional ones. Helmets and blinking bike lights are required at all times while on the bikes.
There are always race day surprises as part of the fun, but here are a couple hints to the day. There will be more than one map. You will have to earn each of your maps at different times throughout the race. Some of the farther checkpoints marked as bonus will have descriptions of possible bonus points you can find close by. NEW THIS YEAR: A NON-MANDATORY ORIENTEERING SECTION WORTH LOTS OF POINTS...PRACTICE BASIC COMPASS SKILLS AND ESTIMATING DISTANCE TO STAY COMPETITIVE. HERE IS A VIDEO TO SHOW YOU HOW EASY IT WILL BE:
COMPASS HEADING [https://youtu.be/9T1Ug0rt7Cg?feature=shared]
TRAINING TIPS: Get some miles on the bike you will be using for the race. Get some foot miles on a trails or gravel paths. On your training rides and runs, carry the pack you will use for water and nutrition at the event. Practice transitioning from miles on a bike to miles on foot and vice versa. Know how to read a compass (basic North, East, South & West for most points AND headings/distances for maximum points).
REGISTRATION ENDS 10/24. REGISTER BY 10/9 TO GUARANTEE A T-SHIRT
Whether you've never heard of adventure racing or are a seasoned pro looking for a partial-day challenge, this event is for you.
WHAT: 2nd Annual Neck of the Woods Adventure Race (5-hour). Solo or teams of up to 4 persons (1,2,3 or 4 on a team)
WHEN: October 25th, 2025 0700 mandatory pre-race briefing, 0730 launch time, must finish by 1230
WHERE: Huntersville, NC
COST: $35/person
This adventure race will be like a scavenger hunt on bike and on foot (no paddle/swim/water section). That doesn't necessarily mean you won't get wet.
All maps are preplotted with possible checkpoints to find. Each checkpoint you find earns you points. The team/solo with the most points in the least amount of time wins (Solo & Team category awards). All mandatory checkpoints and most of the other checkpoints are easily found near paths/creeks/intersections/features. A few optional checkpoints may be a little trickier to find. Team members stay together and work together the entire race. You can choose to go all out and attempt every checkpoint OR you can just get the mandatory checkpoints OR any number of checkpoints between. There is a 5-hour time limit. There is no set route. There is no sequence to the checkpoints. You decide your route and manage your own time. This can be by yourself, with your family, your friends, your coworkers, etc (teams of 1-4).
Mandatory Supplies for each participant: Bike, Bike Helmet, blinking rear bike light, Food/Nutrition, Water
Mandatory Team Supplies carried at all times: Compass, Phone (waterproof container), Pen/Sharpie
Distances are approximate and depend on your race strategy. However, teams that make it to every checkpoint and bonus point with no navigation errors should plan on about 25 miles of biking and 5-6 miles of trekking. The minimum distance if you only get the mandatory checkpoints is about 14-15 miles of biking and 3-4 miles of trekking. The miles are not continuous as the race has separate sections and you are constantly navigating and renegotiating routes.
You will be responsible for your own nutrition and hydration throughout the race. There will be a transition area with water and Gatorade, but will obviously not be accessible while you are out hunting for checkpoints.
The bike sections are mostly paved roads and greenways with some single-track trails. A mountain bike would work best. However, if you only have (or need to borrow from a friend) a road bike or even a beach cruiser, you can access all the mandatory points, just not all the optional ones. Helmets and blinking bike lights are required at all times while on the bikes.
There are always race day surprises as part of the fun, but here are a couple hints to the day. There will be more than one map. You will have to earn each of your maps at different times throughout the race. Some of the farther checkpoints marked as bonus will have descriptions of possible bonus points you can find close by. NEW THIS YEAR: A NON-MANDATORY ORIENTEERING SECTION WORTH LOTS OF POINTS...PRACTICE BASIC COMPASS SKILLS AND ESTIMATING DISTANCE TO STAY COMPETITIVE. HERE IS A VIDEO TO SHOW YOU HOW EASY IT WILL BE:
COMPASS HEADING [https://youtu.be/9T1Ug0rt7Cg?feature=shared]
TRAINING TIPS: Get some miles on the bike you will be using for the race. Get some foot miles on a trails or gravel paths. On your training rides and runs, carry the pack you will use for water and nutrition at the event. Practice transitioning from miles on a bike to miles on foot and vice versa. Know how to read a compass (basic North, East, South & West for most points AND headings/distances for maximum points).
REGISTRATION ENDS 10/24. REGISTER BY 10/9 TO GUARANTEE A T-SHIRT
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Neck of the Woods Adventure Race
