Trail races in Germany
Germany offers a very varied trail running scene: from the forested mid-mountains of the Black Forest and the Harz to the Bavarian Alps, with century-old races and a deeply rooted hiking and mountain culture.
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“From the Black Forest to the Alps: trail with century-old tradition”
2.962 m
Zugspitze, Germany's highest point
16
Federal states
May – Oct
Race season
+50 años
History of mountain marathons
Terrain
Southern Germany, on the Austrian border, holds the high mountains: the Bavarian Alps reach the country's highest point at the Zugspitze (2,962 m) and offer genuine alpine trail around Berchtesgaden and the Watzmann. Further north, the Black Forest and the Harz are forested mid-mountains with moderate but constant elevation gain, ideal for historic mountain marathons. The Rennsteig, in Thuringia, traces a forested ridge over 100 km long that has been the cradle of German trail running since the 1970s.
Key areas
Climate & best season
Trail season in Germany runs from May to October, peaking in summer when alpine passes are free of snow. September and October offer mild temperatures and autumn colours, much valued for the mid-distance mountain marathons. In winter, snow closes much of the mountain trails, though some Nordic trail and snowshoe events persist.
Trail culture
Germany has one of Europe's oldest hiking and mountain running cultures, with mountain marathons that have been held since the 1960s and 70s. The country also hosts the Zugspitz Ultra Trail, a UTMB World Series race in the Bavarian Alps, and the Rennsteiglauf, one of the continent's largest and most veteran mountain cross races. The German trail community combines organisational rigour with strong local roots: many races are annual events for an entire town or region.
Iconic races
Regions
Photo: Daniel Seßler / Unsplash
Baden-Württemberg
Baden-Württemberg is home to the Black Forest, a forested mid-mountain range in southwest Germany topped by the Feldberg (1,493 m). Home of the Schwarzwald-Marathon, one of Europe's oldest mountain marathons.
1 race
Photo: Philip Jahn / Unsplash
Bavaria
Bavaria concentrates the German Alps, with the Watzmann and the Berchtesgaden region as the epicentre of genuine alpine trail: glacial lakes, exposed ridges, and Germany's highest point, the Zugspitze.
1 race
Photo: Marina Reich / Unsplash
Saxony-Anhalt
Saxony-Anhalt hosts the main flank of the Harz, a mid-mountain massif with the Brocken (1,141 m) as its legendary summit. Home of the Harz-Gebirgslauf, northern Germany's most demanding mountain marathon.
1 race
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Photo: Schwarzwald-MarathonSchwarzwald-Marathon
Bräunlingen
58ª edición en 2026: el maratón de bosque más veterano del planeta, con +620 m de desnivel entre pinares de la Selva Negra.
Photo: RunThroughRunThrough Trails Berchtesgaden
Berchtesgaden
Estreno de RunThrough en Alemania: 44K de trail alpino puro entre el Watzmann y el lago Königssee, con +2.200 m de desnivel.
Photo: Harz-GebirgslaufHarz-Gebirgslauf (Brocken-Marathon)
Wernigerode
48ª edición en 2026: el maratón más exigente del norte de Alemania, con ascenso al legendario Brocken (1.141 m).
Gear up for the mountains
The right gear makes the difference on race day. Our comparison guides to choose well.
Top trail running gear for this country
Best-selling gear among mountain runners
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.
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.
New Balance
New Balance Fresh Foam X Hierro v9
The model breaking into Spain's best-seller charts. Fresh Foam X midsole with a solid balance between cushioning and ground feel, a Vibram Megagrip outsole, and a comfortable last suited to wide feet. A reliable all-rounder for training runs and mountain races of any distance.
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