Desafío Ultra El Cainejo vs Gran Trail de Peñalara
Desafío Ultra El Cainejo (52km, 5500m D+) vs Gran Trail de Peñalara (104km, 5100m D+). Side-by-side comparison: distances, elevation, difficulty, mandatory gear and registration. Which one suits you best?
Elite Desafío Ultra El Cainejo
Caín de Valdeón, León, Castile and Leon
Elite Physical profile
| Desafío Ultra El Cainejo | Gran Trail de Peñalara | |
|---|---|---|
| Date | 23 May 2026 | 9 October 2026 |
| Terrain | Mountain | Mountain |
| Difficulty | Elite | Elite |
| Max elevation gain | 5,500m D+ | 5,100m D+ |
| UTMB Category | 100K | — |
Distances — Desafío Ultra El Cainejo
| Name | Km | D+ | Max Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Desafío Ultra 52K | 52 | 5,500 | 16h |
| Cainejo 35K | 35.7 | 3,200 | 12h |
| Cainejín 19K | 19.5 | 1,800 | 6h |
Distances — Gran Trail de Peñalara
| Name | Km | D+ | Max Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| GTP 104K | 104 | 5,100 | 24h30 |
| TP60 | 61 | 2,700 | 13h |
| Cross Nocturno Navacerrada | 11 | 450 | — |
Logistics & costs
| Desafío Ultra El Cainejo | Gran Trail de Peñalara | |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Caín de Valdeón, León, Castile and Leon | Navacerrada, Community of Madrid |
| Distance between venues | 273 km | |
| Registration opens | 5 December 2025 | 10 February 2026 |
| Registration closes | 18 May 2026 | — |
| Mandatory Gear | 6 mandatory items | 9 mandatory items |
| Official website | Visit | Visit |
Pack 360 — Services
Registration
Desafío Ultra El Cainejo
No recommendations
Gran Trail de Peñalara
No recommendations
Accommodation
Desafío Ultra El Cainejo
No recommendations
Gran Trail de Peñalara
No recommendations
Gear
Desafío Ultra El Cainejo
-
Salomon Speedcross 6Recommended for bothSalomon
-
Petzl Actik CoreRecommended for bothPetzl
-
-
Gore Wear R7 GTX ShakedryRecommended for bothGore Wear
Gran Trail de Peñalara
- Salomon Speedcross 6Recommended for both
Salomon
- Petzl Actik CoreRecommended for both
Petzl
- Gore Wear R7 GTX ShakedryRecommended for both
Gore Wear
Nutrition
Desafío Ultra El Cainejo
-
Maurten Gel 100Recommended for bothMaurten
-
Precision Fuel & Hydration PH 1500Precision Fuel & Hydration
-
-
Bocadillo de Guayaba Gourmet LatinoRecommended for bothGourmet Latino
Gran Trail de Peñalara
- Maurten Gel 100Recommended for both
Maurten
- Bocadillo de Guayaba Gourmet LatinoRecommended for both
Gourmet Latino
Transport
Desafío Ultra El Cainejo
No recommendations
Gran Trail de Peñalara
No recommendations
Car Rental
Desafío Ultra El Cainejo
-
Recommended for both -
Recommended for both
Gran Trail de Peñalara
- Recommended for both
- Recommended for both
Insurance
Desafío Ultra El Cainejo
No recommendations
Gran Trail de Peñalara
No recommendations
Body Care
Desafío Ultra El Cainejo
-
After Bite Xtra GelAfter Bite
-
Buff CoolNet UV+Buff
Gran Trail de Peñalara
No recommendations
Sun Protection
Desafío Ultra El Cainejo
-
-
Piz Buin Mountain SPF 50+Piz Buin
-
Gran Trail de Peñalara
No recommendations
Summary
If you're looking for a longer distance, Gran Trail de Peñalara is the choice. If you prefer a shorter and more accessible race, consider Desafío Ultra El Cainejo. In terms of elevation gain, Desafío Ultra El Cainejo is the more demanding option. Both races offer a complete Pack 360 with everything you need for race day.
Frequently asked questions
Which is harder, Desafío Ultra El Cainejo or Gran Trail de Peñalara?
When does each race take place?
How many distances does each race offer?
What type of terrain does each race have?
Do I need the same mandatory gear for both?
Plan your race
Compare Spain's best trail running races side by side. Analyze distances, elevation, registration prices, mandatory gear and the complete Pack 360 to make the best decision.