Spring is the best time to be on a mountain bike in the Smokies, and WildSide is making 2026 count. The park is hosting two competitive enduro races this April and May, drawing riders from across the region and putting WildSide on the map as a legitimate race venue. Since both events are open to all skill levels, they’re a beginner-friendly option for anyone interested in giving Enduro racing a shot.
If you’re thinking about signing up for an enduro race in 2026 and looking for one near Pigeon Forge, check out our guide to WildSide enduro races.
Key Takeaways
WildSide is hosted two enduro races in spring 2026: the Go Nuts International Enduro on April 19 and the Gravity Carolinas Series Finale on May 3.
Enduro racing is more approachable than it sounds. Only the downhill stages are timed, riders start individually, and the community is genuinely welcoming to newcomers.
Both races use WildSide's full trail network: 11-plus miles of trail across 900 acres of Smoky Mountain terrain with up to 600 feet of elevation change.
Not racing? WildSide's trails, bike rentals, shuttle, and skills instruction are open on regular park days. It's a great way to ride the same terrain the racers will be on.
What Are Enduro Races?
An enduro race combines timed downhill stages with untimed climbing transitions. Only the descents count toward your final combined time.
The format puts a premium on descending skill. During an Enduro race, riders tackle several timed stages and aim for the fastest combined time, while the climbs between stages must be completed within a cutoff window but don’t count toward their score. Events typically cover 15 to 40 miles with three to six timed stages, depending on the venue.
The individual start format is part of what makes enduro accessible. Riders go one at a time, with roughly 30 to 60 seconds between each start, so there’s no mass start chaos. Enduro’s community is also known for being welcoming to newcomers and pros alike, making it a solid entry point into competitive riding at any level.
Enduro Races at WildSide in 2026
WildSide is proud to host two enduro races at our adventure park in 2026. If you’re interested in participating in one of these races or want to come watch one of the best enduro races in the United States, check out our guide to WildSide-hosted enduro races below:
Go Nuts International Enduro: Round 1 at WildSide
Date: April 19, 2026 | Registration Closed April 18
Go Nuts Biking spent years running XC and enduro events across the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic. In 2026, the organizer launched an International Enduro Series, and WildSide hosted the opening round. The series continued with rounds in Ecuador and Arkansas, so riders targeting overall standings raced with a longer season in mind from day one.
The Go Nuts International Enduro course drew from WildSide’s full 11-plus miles of trail across 900 acres of Smoky Mountain terrain. The course also featured advanced descents that offered exactly the kind of terrain enduro stages are built around. For example, Whip-or-Will featured a steep 300-foot drop and a sequence of jumps and berms, while Dolly’s Curves had hipped jumps and stacked berms.
With up to 600 feet of elevation change across the network, the transitions tested riders’ fitness as much as the timed sections tested their skills.
Gravity Carolinas Enduro: Round 5 (Series Finale) at WildSide
Date: May 3, 2026 | Registration Closed April 30
The Gravity Carolinas Series, produced by Dialed Events and billed as the Southeast’s newest dedicated gravity series, closes out its 2026 season at WildSide. By the time Round 5 arrives, the series will have taken riders through Rattlesnake Bike Park, Ride Kanuga, Ride Rock Creek, and Jarrod’s Place. WildSide gets the finale, and riders chasing the overall standings will be showing up with everything on the line.
A series finale carries a different energy than a standalone event. Expect a competitive field, a full day of racing across WildSide’s most technical terrain, and the atmosphere of a season-ending showdown. Riders following the standings will know exactly what’s at stake. Those coming in fresh will find a well-run event on one of the region’s best new courses.
What Makes WildSide a Great Location for Enduro Races?
WildSide’s 900 acres of Smoky Mountain terrain, natural elevation change, and variety of technical descents give race organizers exactly what they need to build strong stages.
The park sits six minutes off the Pigeon Forge parkway and backs directly up to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, putting riders in genuine backcountry terrain without a long drive to get there. Old-growth forest, natural rock features, and tight switchbacks make the trail network feel like it was built for enduro. Descents like Whip-or-Will, Dolly’s Curves, and Chicken of the Woods cover serious vertical and reward the kind of line-reading and bike-handling skills that decide enduro results.
The full network runs 11-plus miles across 20 trails with up to 600 feet of elevation change. Add a bike shuttle to move riders efficiently between stages, and WildSide checks every box a race organizer is looking for.
Does WildSide Let You Mountain Bike on Non-Race Days?
Yes. WildSide’s full trail network is open to the public, with bike rentals, a shuttle, and trail options for every skill level available on regular park days.
Riders can bring their own bike or rent a manual or e-bike from BaseCamp, then head up via shuttle or pedal the climb themselves. Beginner trails like Rod Run offer a smooth, low-pressure introduction to the network, while advanced lines like Whip-or-Will and Dolly’s Curves are there when you’re ready for them. WildSide also offers skills instruction for riders who want to sharpen their technique before stepping into a race environment.
Ready to Race, or Just Looking to Ride?
Registration for Round 1 of the Go Nuts International Enduro is open through April 18 at BikeReg, and Gravity Carolinas Series’s registration closes April 30. Both races are held at WildSide, located at 1099 Laurel Lick Rd, Pigeon Forge, TN. Not racing this spring? WildSide’s trail network, bike rentals, and skills instruction are open to all riders.
Learn more about our MTB trails and rentals today!