Charleston County Parks is launching a brand-new trail race in Mount Pleasant this Saturday, and the prize for winning is dinner. Shake Your Trail Feathers, a 5K, 10K and untimed Kids Dash, debuts Nov. 7 at Laurel Hill County Park, with runners and walkers of all experience levels welcome to lace up on the park's wooded paths and dirt trails.
The inaugural event marks the first time Charleston County Parks has hosted this particular race at Laurel Hill. The 5K and 10K will both start at 9 a.m., while the Kids Dash kicks off slightly earlier at 8:45 a.m., according to WCBD News 2. The Kids Dash is untimed, meant purely for fun rather than competition.
The race is part of a busy fall calendar for Charleston County Parks, which also debuted the Mullet Haul n’ Hustle at Johns Island County Park on Oct. 3. That event offered a marathon relay, half marathon, 5K and Kids Dash, giving the county another new running event at a different park this season. The commission describes its countywide role as operating parks and recreation programs that complement, rather than duplicate, services provided by municipalities and other recreation districts. The new Johns Island race adds a local comparison for Laurel Hill’s debut.
Medals for Everyone, a Feast for the Winners
Every finisher across all three events will walk away with a commemorative medal. But the real prize goes to the race winners, who will take home the fixings for a full Thanksgiving feast — a fitting touch for a race named after the holiday's favorite bird. Costumes are encouraged on the course, and the day wraps with a finish-line celebration featuring music and fall-themed treats.
As first reported by WCBD News 2, the course will run along Laurel Hill County Park's natural wooded paths and dirt trails rather than paved routes. The Post and Courier's account echoes that description, noting the course features a natural, unimproved surface with uneven terrain, roots, hard-packed ground and grass sections — a detail worth keeping in mind for anyone used to road races.
Laurel Hill’s trails sit within a park of roughly 745 acres, with several miles of unpaved paths through woods and open meadows. The property’s history is more complicated than its present-day recreation use: Charleston County Parks’ natural-resource plan says it was a working plantation in the 1700s and 1800s, later used for loblolly pine timber production and a pecan orchard. The commission leased the land in 2011 for use as a passive park, in keeping with the former owner’s wish that it remain as natural as possible. The park’s management plan also notes archaeological sites on the property.
Registration Closes Before Race Day
Registration closes Nov. 4, according to WCBD News 2.
Families bringing younger runners should take note of the age rules. Runners ages 10–15 may register but must be accompanied by a registered adult chaperone, WCBD reports. Since this race is open to all experience levels, including beginners, it's designed to be approachable for newcomers as well as seasoned trail runners.
Getting to the Park on Race Day
Access to Laurel Hill County Park will look different for this event. Attendees must use the special event entrance at 1400 Highway 41 in Mount Pleasant, since access through Park West will not be permitted for Shake Your Trail Feathers. Runners planning their morning should factor in the detour well before the 8:45 a.m. Kids Dash start.
Race-day visitors should also plan for a rustic park setting beyond the unpaved course: Laurel Hill has no restrooms on site, and the county parks listing advises visitors to bring water and sun protection. The park’s trails are designated as natural, unimproved surfaces, underscoring why the article’s warning about roots and uneven ground matters for runners used to paved routes. The park’s visitor information lists walking trails, birding, fishing and mountain biking among its uses.
