Conquer the Rock 25k & 50k 2027
- Date
- Saturday, March 6, 2027
- Start time
- 8:00 AM start (New York)
- Location
- Pickens, South Carolina
- Entry fee
- From $50 · goes up to $60 on Dec 2, 2026
- Included with entry
- Includes socks
- Fundraising
- Takes optional donations when you register
Registration is open.
We earn a small commission when you register through this link, at no cost to you. Details
Official race websiteAdd to calendar: Apple or Outlook · Google
Events and entry fees
| Event | Distance | When | Entry fee | Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bear Crawl 25k | Other | Mar 6, 20278:00 AM | $50$60 after Dec 2, 2026 | – |
| Foothills 50K | 50K | Mar 6, 20278:00 AM | $60$75 after Dec 2, 2026 | – |
Entry fees exclude processing fees. Prices and dates come from the race's registration page and refresh nightly.
The Other fee goes up to $60 on Dec 2, 2026.
Race day planning
Entry fee schedule
- Bear Crawl 25k: $50 until Dec 1, then $60 until Feb 1, then $70 until Mar 6.
- Foothills 50K: $60 until Dec 1, then $75 until Feb 1, then $85 until Mar 6.
Online registration closes Mar 6, 2027, unless the race fills first.
What a typical finish looks like
A typical finisher at a 50K in South Carolina runs 7:58:58, about 15:25 a mile, based on 4 races with published results. Women typically finish in 6:33:42 and men in 6:47:54.
Light and altitude
Sunrise on race morning is at about 6:55 AM, and the Bear Crawl 25k starts at 8:00 AM. The start sits about 1,190 feet above sea level.
Fees exclude processing fees. Comparisons use current entry fees and published results from races nearby.
Start location and course
W. Gate Road, Pickens, SC 29671
The pin marks the address the race lists, which is usually the start. Course maps are the organizers' own.
2026 results
All results (5 years)Bear Crawl 25k
Foothills 50K
Aggregated from official results for Conquer the Rock 25k & 50k. Individual finisher names are not stored here.
How fast do you need to be at Conquer the Rock 25k & 50k?
At the 2026 Bear Crawl 25k, the fastest tenth finished in 3:20:29 or better, the top quarter in 3:35:19, and half the field in 4:05:46; the last tenth came in after 5:07:46.
At the 2026 Foothills 50K, the fastest tenth finished in 6:52:11 or better, the top quarter in 7:23:14, and half the field in 7:58:58; the last tenth came in after 9:40:40.
| Age | Women | Men |
|---|---|---|
| 20-29 | 3:35:42 | 3:24:16 |
| 30-39 | 3:27:32 | 3:07:38 |
| 40-49 | 3:57:03 | 3:18:16 |
| 50-59 | 5:01:01 | 3:43:46 |
| 60-69 | n/a | 4:38:52 |
Groups with fewer than five finishers are left out. Awards vary by race; check the race's rules.
What would my time get me?
Where a finish time would have placed in 2026.
Finishers by year
Down 8 percent since 2022.
All events combined, from official results.
Conquer the Rock 25k & 50k Other year by year
From 2022 to 2026, the field went from 167 to 191 finishers, and the median time dropped from 4:20:48 to 4:05:46.
| Year | Finishers | Median | Fastest tenth | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 191 (+54%) | 4:05:46 | under 3:20:29 | 2:26:08 |
| 2025 | 124 (-16%) | 4:06:21 | under 3:05:20 | 2:05:03 |
| 2024 | 148 (+19%) | 4:20:38 | under 3:13:25 | 2:20:26 |
| 2023 | 124 (-26%) | 4:08:22 | under 3:22:17 | 2:25:34 |
| 2022 | 167 | 4:20:48 | under 3:17:57 | 2:37:51 |
From each year's official results for the Other; virtual options are left out.
How fast is it?
Slower than most US trail 50Ks
The fastest quarter of the 2026 50K field finished under 7:23:14, against 6:08:34 in a typical US trail 50K, so times here run 20 percent slower.
Compares the fastest quarter of each field, so walkers and first-timers do not skew it. It reflects the course and the field together: a flat course, cool weather, or a competitive crowd all make times faster.
Typical race-day weather
Around March 6 the day usually runs from 44°F at dawn to 64°F in the afternoon, with measurable rain on about 28% of days. Cold snaps dip to 33°F and hot years reach 75°F.
Based on 76 days within a week of the date over the last 5 years, from historical weather for the start area. Not a forecast.
Race details
- Where
- W. Gate Road, Pickens, SC 29671Map
- Course
- Trail
- Start elevation
- About 1,190 feet
- Included with entry
- Event Socks
- Donations
- Accepted when you register
- Distances
- 50K, Other
- Editions
- 2027 (Mar 6, 2027), 2026 (Mar 7, 2026), 2025 (Mar 1, 2025), 2024 (Mar 2, 2024), 2023 (Mar 4, 2023), 2022 (Mar 5, 2022)
Organize this race? Add details or a correction
Plan your race
Quick answers
- When is Conquer the Rock 25k & 50k?
- Saturday, March 6, 2027, starting at 8:00 AM.
- How much does it cost?
- Entry starts at $50 before processing fees, and rises to $60 on Dec 2, 2026.
- When does registration close?
- Online registration closes Mar 6, 2027, unless the race fills first.
- Do runners get a shirt or medal?
- Entry includes socks, according to the race's registration page. Check it for sizes and whether kids' races get the same.
- Can I donate to a cause when I register?
- Yes. The registration form offers an optional donation, usually for the charity or nonprofit the race supports. The race's own page names the cause.
- What distances can I run?
- 50K, Other.
- How big is it, and how fast?
- In 2026, 191 runners finished the Bear Crawl 25k; the median finish was 4:05:46 and the winner ran 2:26:08.
- Is it a fast course?
- The fastest quarter of the 2026 50K field finished under 7:23:14, against 6:08:34 in a typical US trail 50K, so times here run 20 percent slower.
- Where does it start?
- W. Gate Road, Pickens, SC 29671.
- Is there a course map?
- Yes, the organizers publish the route on Strava; the link is under Start location and course.
From the organizers
Upstate Race Series
Conquer the Rock 25K & 50K
Table Rock State Park · Pickens, SC
Not for the faint of heart, but the conquer is worth the climb ⛰️
Participant Feedback
“
Steep, rocky, and relentless, over the summits of Pinnacle and Table Rock, with 16,000 feet of elevation change waiting for the runners who take on both laps. The Bear Crawl 25K is one brutal loop. The Foothills 50K is two soul-shaping laps. We call it the toughest trail race in South Carolina and nobody who has finished it has argued with us yet.
Course or Race Highlight