Cycling & running events in Charlottesville, 2026

Charlottesville Base Miles

Running: Locals run the Rivanna Trails when they want a soft-surface loop that circles the city for almost 20 miles, and they use Riverview Park when they want that miraculously flat two-mile blacktop along the Rivanna River. The Monticello Trail climbs for four paved miles toward Monticello, while Saunders Trail gives two crushed-gravel miles up the base of Carter's Mountain. Cou Cou Rachou Run Club meets Thursdays at 6:30 a.m. for three miles, Random Row Run Club meets Mondays at 6 p.m. for a 5K, and CATs heads for Biscuit Run. The Charlottesville Ten Miler, Rocky Ridge 5k & 10k, OH!lly Trail 5K, and the All-Comers Summer Track Meets keep the calendar honest.

Cycling: Locals ride road, gravel, and the kind of steep stuff that makes mountain bike gearing feel smart. Charlottesville Bicycle Club has served the cycling community for more than 30 years, and its 200-plus route library is the go-to forum for base miles, social rides, and bigger days. The Charlottesville Sites Tour runs 29 miles, the Western Albemarle Scenic Tour gives 28.1 road miles, and the Free Union Gravel Loop stretches to 41.8 miles. The east side rolls open, the west side gets hilly and moderately steep, and the Southwest Mountains Gravel Loop climbs over the Southwest Mountains twice.

Season: Spring and fall are the sweet spot, with spring feeling like the season opener and fall giving cool, crisp miles on roads and trails. Summer gets hot and humid, so locals move early, pick shaded singletrack, or join the rare late-morning, heat-of-the-day crew when the schedule demands it. Winter stays cool, snowfall is usually moderate, and snow that falls usually does not sit around long. Runners keep the Z2 work steady on pavement or dirt, while cyclists still get mild days outside and often choose gravel for lower speeds and less wind chill.