Umstead State Park - Crazy Eight

Ready for a challenge? This 12 mile trail run combines 5 of the park's trails into one grueling trek that will almost certainly push you to your limit. Start out in the Reedy Creek parking lot and run the Loblolly Trail. When it intersects the Reedy Creek Trail (the bridle trail, not the paved road), turn left and head towards the lake. Take the second right onto Graylyn Trail. At the intersection with the Sycamore Trail, head left and get ready for some fun! This run is called Crazy Eight because, instead of running a loop on the Sycamore Trail, you run the first leg, turn right back onto Graylyn, run back to the trailheads, and then turn left to hop back onto Sycamore. So, you, ultimately, do some backtracking to make a figure eight, of sorts. Once you've done that, hop onto the Company Mill spur off Graylyn (just past the Sycamore trailheads) and make the run up to the parking lot. If you can finish this challenge, you are ready for almost anything.