Toughest trail races 2027
If you want a serious challenge, these are the 49 elite difficulty races of 2027 on our calendar. Each race page includes its Pack 360 with the technical gear and nutrition a race like this demands.
49 races in 23 regions
No races match these filters.
For your vertical km
Poles, grippy shoes and a light vest for a 1,000 m climb.
#1 · Best OverallBlack Diamond Distance Carbon ZView on Amazon →(opens in a new tab)
#2 · Best OverallSalomon Sense Ride 5View on Amazon →(opens in a new tab)
#3 · Best OverallSalomon ADV Skin 12 SetView on Amazon →(opens in a new tab)
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For a short race
Shoes, socks and sun protection: just what you need to run fast.
- #1 · Best OverallSalomon Sense Ride 5View on Amazon →(opens in a new tab)
#2 · Best OverallCompressport Pro Racing Socks V3.0 TrailView on Amazon →(opens in a new tab)
#3 · Best OverallISDIN Fusion Water Sunscreen SPF 50+View on Amazon →(opens in a new tab)
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For a mid-distance race
Shoes, vest and hydration for 21-42 km without suffering.
- #1 · Best OverallSalomon Sense Ride 5View on Amazon →(opens in a new tab)
- #2 · Best OverallSalomon ADV Skin 12 SetView on Amazon →(opens in a new tab)
#3 · Best Gel OverallMaurten Gel 100View on Amazon →(opens in a new tab)
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For a long race
Vest, headlamp and nutrition for all those hours in the mountains.
- #1 · Best OverallSalomon ADV Skin 12 SetView on Amazon →(opens in a new tab)
#2 · Best OverallPetzl Iko CoreView on Amazon →(opens in a new tab)- #3 · Best Gel OverallMaurten Gel 100View on Amazon →(opens in a new tab)
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For your ultra
A watch with battery to spare, a powerful headlamp and poles: the gear that can't fail.
#1 · Best OverallCoros Pace 3View on Amazon →(opens in a new tab)- #2 · Best OverallPetzl Iko CoreView on Amazon →(opens in a new tab)
- #3 · Best OverallBlack Diamond Distance Carbon ZView on Amazon →(opens in a new tab)
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Who would you run them with? Send them this list.
Share this view(opens in a new tab)January2027
3
ElCid TrailXtrem
Petrer · Valencian Community
67.5 kmElite
UltraMediterrània
Alcoy, Alicante · Valencian Community
162 · 90 · 55 kmElite
El Último León
Melilla · Melilla
6.7 kmElite
Recommended gear · Best Overall
Coros Pace 3View on Amazon →(opens in a new tab)Compare with other options →
April2027
4
Tenerife by UTMB
Puerto de la Cruz · Canary Islands
110 · 82 · 68 kmElite
Ultra 100K Sierra de Gata
Sierra de Gata · Extremadura
100 · 20 kmElite
Penyagolosa Trails
Castellón de la Plana · Valencian Community
106 · 60 kmElite
Trail Menorca Camí de Cavalls
Ciutadella de Menorca · Balearic Islands
185 · 100 · 85 kmElite
May2027
4
Transvulcania
Los Llanos de Aridane, La Palma · Canary Islands
73 · 43 · 25 kmElite
Desafío Ultra El Cainejo
Caín de Valdeón, León · Castile and Leon
52 · 35.7 · 19.5 kmElite
Recommended gear · Best Overall
Salomon Sense Ride 5View on Amazon →(opens in a new tab)Compare with other options →
Spain Backyard Ultra
Castro Caldelas, Ourense · Galicia
6.7 kmElite
OTSO Travessa d'Encamp
Encamp · Andorra
84 · 42 kmElite
June2027
8
Zegama-Aizkorri
Zegama · Basque Country
42 · 4.5 kmElite
Backyard Ultra Aranjuez
Aranjuez, Madrid · Community of Madrid
6.7 kmElite
Travesera Picos de Europa
Arenas de Cabrales · Asturias
74 kmElite
Zugspitz Ultratrail by UTMB
Garmisch-Partenkirchen · Bavaria
167 · 107 · 86 kmElite
Garmin Epic Trail Vall de Boí
Barruera, Vall de Boí · Catalonia
42 · 24 · 12 kmElite
Marathon du Mont-Blanc
Chamonix-Mont-Blanc · Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
88 · 42 · 23 kmElite
Recommended gear · Best Overall
Black Diamond Distance Carbon ZView on Amazon →(opens in a new tab)Compare with other options →
Backyard Ultra Montgrí
Torroella de Montgrí, Girona · Catalonia
6.7 kmElite
GTPE Picos de Europa
Benia de Onís · Asturias
70 · 48 · 35 kmElite
July2027
5
Las 100 Millas de Boñar – Noche Roja
Boñar · Castile and Leon
20 · 47 · 80 kmElite
Restonica Trail by UTMB
Corte · Corsica
110 · 69 · 33 kmElite
HOKA Val d'Aran by UTMB
Vielha · Catalonia
163 · 110 · 75 kmElite
Ultra Tour des 4 Massifs
Grenoble · Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
176 · 94 · 44 kmElite
Gran Trail Trangoworld Aneto-Posets
Benasque · Aragon
105 · 55 · 42 kmElite
August2027
6
Mongolia Trail Run
Karakórum · Central Mongolia
170 · 90 kmElite
Recommended gear · Best Overall
Salomon ADV Skin 12 SetView on Amazon →(opens in a new tab)Compare with other options →
Grand Raid des Pyrénées
Vielle-Aure · Occitania
160 · 120 · 80 kmElite
L'Échappée Belle
Vizille · Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
152 · 92 · 63 kmElite
Trofeo Kima
Val Masino · Lombardy
52 kmElite
UTMB Mont-Blanc
Chamonix-Mont-Blanc · Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
174 · 145 · 100 kmElite
Backyard Haciendo Sed Burgos
Sedano, Burgos · Castile and Leon
6.7 kmElite
September2027
5
Trail Valle de Tena
Panticosa · Aragon
80 · 42.5 · 20 kmElite
Canfranc-Canfranc
Canfranc-Estación · Aragon
100 · 70 · 45 kmElite
Backyard Baltasara
Mieres · Asturias
6.7 kmElite
Recommended gear · Best Overall
Coros Pace 3View on Amazon →(opens in a new tab)Compare with other options →
Tor des Géants
Courmayeur · Aosta Valley
330 kmElite
Mañaritik Atxetara
Mañaria, Vizcaya · Basque Country
43 · 22 · 13 kmElite
October2027
9
Backyard MGI Ronda
Ronda, Málaga · Andalusia
6.7 kmElite
Peña Prieta SkyRace
Vega de Liébana · Cantabria
36 · 8 · 8 kmElite
Ultra Pirineu
Bagà · Catalonia
100 · 54 · 30 kmElite
Gran Trail de Peñalara
Navacerrada · Community of Madrid
104 · 61 · 11 kmElite
Trail Ribeira Sacra
Nogueira de Ramuín · Galicia
48 kmElite
Grand Raid de La Réunion
Saint-Pierre · Réunion
180 kmElite
Recommended gear · Best Overall
Salomon Sense Ride 5View on Amazon →(opens in a new tab)Compare with other options →
Quebrapates Peñamea
Pola de Laviana · Asturias
33 · 13 kmElite
Sobrescobio Redes Trail
Rioseco · Asturias
31 · 17.5 kmElite
Mallorca by UTMB
Sóller, Mallorca · Balearic Islands
138 · 104 · 56 kmElite
November2027
3
Costa Blanca Trails
Finestrat, Alicante · Valencian Community
102 · 66 · 41 kmElite
Ultra Trail Gran Vuelta al Valle del Genal
Parauta, Málaga · Andalusia
129 · 167 · 53 kmElite
Trail Minero Santa Bárbara
Aller · Asturias
42 · 16 kmElite
Explore by country, month and goal
Essential trail running gear
Must-have gear to prepare for your mountain races
Black Diamond
Black Diamond Distance Carbon Z
Ultralight carbon Z-pole foldable trekking poles. 137 g per pole in 110 cm length, 33 cm folded. EVA grip and adjustable strap. The trail running reference.
Hoka
Hoka Speedgoat 7
The best-selling trail shoe in the US and an absolute ultra-trail classic. Max Hoka cushioning, a Vibram Megagrip outsole with 5 mm lugs for grip in mud and technical terrain, and a snug Matryx upper. Built to eat up kilometres without punishing your legs in long races.
Icebreaker
Icebreaker Merino 200 Oasis LS Crewe
Long-sleeve thermal top in 100% merino wool (200g). Natural temperature regulation, genuine multi-day odor resistance and a soft, non-itch handfeel from the fine merino yarn.
Altra
Altra Lone Peak 9
Trail running shoe with zero drop and wide FootShape toe box that allows natural toe splay. 25 mm stack with EGO foam for balanced cushioning without losing ground contact. MaxTrac outsole with 3.5 mm lugs, ideal for non-technical trails, forest tracks and long-distance paths.
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