Extreme Elevation Gain Trail Races in Spain 2026
Extreme elevation gain races exceed 4,000 metres of positive gain and represent the elite of mountain trail running. These are events reserved for experienced runners with years of preparation, where the mountain sets the rules: endless climbs, quad-destroying descents, exposure to changing weather conditions and the need to manage your body for many hours in hostile terrain. In Spain, these elevation gains are reached in the great Pyrenean ultras, complete range traverses and extreme skyrunning races. Every metre of positive gain means a metre of descent, and it is on the downhill where the race is won or lost. These are transformative experiences that require absolute respect for the mountain, meticulous planning and the humility of knowing that finishing is already a triumph.
For cold and dark miles
Headlamp, thermal layer and a good watch: what matters when daylight runs short.
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91
Races
2.9 – 330 km
Distance range
0 – 24,000 D+
Elevation range
Jan – Dec
Race months
Difficulty
Tips
Do not attempt races with more than 4,000 m D+ without first completing at least 2-3 races with more than 2,500 m D+.
Prepare drop bags with hot food, dry clothing and night gear: your body will need much more than gels.
Train mental resilience with long sessions in adverse conditions — extreme mountain is as much psychological as physical.
Memorise the race profile and divide aid stations into intermediate goals: having a plan reduces uncertainty.
Race map
Click a marker to see race details
Race calendar
No races match these filters.
For your vertical km
Poles, grippy shoes and a light vest for a 1,000 m climb.
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For a short race
Shoes, socks and sun protection: just what you need to run fast.
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For a mid-distance race
Shoes, vest and hydration for 21-42 km without suffering.
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For a long race
Vest, headlamp and nutrition for all those hours in the mountains.
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For your ultra
A watch with battery to spare, a powerful headlamp and poles: the gear that can't fail.
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Share this view(opens in a new tab)June2026
3
Festival Cavalls del Vent
Bagà · Catalonia
84 · 38 · 28 kmAdvanced
Recommended gear · Best Overall
Coros Pace 3View on Amazon →(opens in a new tab)Compare with other options →
Ultra Trail Torla-Ordesa
Torla-Ordesa, Huesca · Aragon
50 · 25 · 13 kmAdvanced

GTPE Picos de Europa
Benia de Onís · Asturias
70 · 48 · 35 kmElite
July2026
4
EDP DesafiOSOmiedo
Pola de Somiedo · Asturias
70 · 46 · 24 kmAdvanced

Las 100 Millas de Boñar – Noche Roja
Boñar · Castile and Leon
20 · 47 · 80 kmElite

Trail Vielha-Molières 3010
Vielha · Catalonia
43 · 23 · 13 kmAdvanced

Gran Trail Trangoworld Aneto-Posets
Benasque · Aragon
105 · 55 · 42 kmElite
August2026
2
Grand Raid des Pyrénées
Vielle-Aure · Occitania
160 · 120 · 80 kmElite

L'Échappée Belle
Vizille · Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
152 · 92 · 63 kmElite
Recommended gear · Best Overall
Salomon Sense Ride 5View on Amazon →(opens in a new tab)Compare with other options →September2026
5
Trail Valle de Tena
Panticosa · Aragon
80 · 42.5 · 20 kmElite

Canfranc-Canfranc
Canfranc-Estación · Aragon
100 · 70 · 45 kmElite

Ultra-Trail du Vercors
Villard-de-Lans · Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
84 kmAdvanced

Ultra Montaña Palentina
Camporredondo de Alba, Palencia · Castile and Leon
65 · 44 · 21 kmAdvanced

Nice Côte d'Azur by UTMB
Niza · Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
168 · 113 · 50 kmAdvanced
October2026
9
Ultra-Trail Guara Somontano
Alquézar, Huesca · Aragon
82 · 48 · 30 kmAdvanced

Amer Mallorca 5000 Skyrunning
Sóller, Mallorca · Balearic Islands
72 · 24 kmElite

Gran Trail de Peñalara
Navacerrada · Community of Madrid
104 · 61 · 11 kmElite
Recommended gear · Best Overall
Black Diamond Distance Carbon ZView on Amazon →(opens in a new tab)Compare with other options →
Grand Raid de La Réunion
Saint-Pierre · Réunion
180 kmElite

Brama Stage Run
Ribes de Freser · Catalonia
100 · 80 · 60 kmAdvanced

Festival des Templiers
Millau · Occitania
100 · 80.7 · 62.6 kmAdvanced

Grand Raid des Cathares
Carcassonne · Occitania
161 · 101 · 85 kmElite

WOP Challenge Bilbao-Bizkaia
Bilbao · Basque Country
224 · 50 kmIntermediate

Mallorca by UTMB
Sóller, Mallorca · Balearic Islands
138 · 104 · 56 kmElite
November2026
6
360º The Challenge Gran Canaria
Gáldar · Canary Islands
260 kmElite

Topo Athletic Bibracte Ultra-Trail
Saint-Léger-sous-Beuvray · Bourgogne-Franche-Comté
185 · 100 · 63 kmElite
Recommended gear · Best Overall
Salomon ADV Skin 12 SetView on Amazon →(opens in a new tab)Compare with other options →
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

SaintéLyon
Saint-Étienne · Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
160 · 80 · 45 kmAdvanced

Trail Minero Santa Bárbara
Aller · Asturias
42 · 16 kmElite
February2027
2
Marbella Epic Trail
Marbella · Andalusia
65.9 · 41.5 · 35.3 kmAdvanced

Transgrancanaria
Las Palmas de Gran Canaria · Canary Islands
128 · 83 · 44 kmElite
Recommended gear · Best Overall
Coros Pace 3View on Amazon →(opens in a new tab)Compare with other options →March2027
5
100 Millas Sierras del Bandolero
Prado del Rey · Andalusia
160 kmElite

Céven'Trail
Le Vigan · Occitania
101 · 63 · 42 kmAdvanced

Trail de la Sainte-Baume
Cuges-les-Pins · Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
100 · 55 · 26 kmAdvanced

Trail del Marganai
Buggerru · Sardinia
100 · 47 · 25 kmAdvanced

Chianti Ultra Trail by UTMB
Radda in Chianti · Tuscany
123 · 73 · 46 kmAdvanced
April2027
11
Grand Trail des Cadourques
Cahors · Occitania
120 · 64 · 30 kmAdvanced

Ultra Sierra Nevada
Granada · Andalusia
100 · 42 · 21 kmAdvanced

Reventón Trail
El Paso, La Palma · Canary Islands
70.5 · 42.2 · 31.8 kmAdvanced
Recommended gear · Best Overall
Salomon Sense Ride 5View on Amazon →(opens in a new tab)Compare with other options →
Tenerife by UTMB
Puerto de la Cruz · Canary Islands
110 · 82 · 68 kmElite

Ultra Montseny
Viladrau · Catalonia
80 · 55 · 32 kmAdvanced

Ultra 100K Sierra de Gata
Sierra de Gata · Extremadura
100 · 20 kmElite

Tuscany Crossing
Castiglione d'Orcia · Tuscany
161 · 103 · 53 kmElite

Costa Brava Stage Run
Blanes · Catalonia
125 · 87 kmAdvanced

Grand Raid Ventoux by UTMB
Malaucène · Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
125 · 87 · 51 kmAdvanced

Penyagolosa Trails
Castellón de la Plana · Valencian Community
106 · 60 kmElite

GR 322 Nafarroa Xtrem
Zubiri · Navarre
68 · 22 kmAdvanced
May2027
9
UTLAC - Ultra Trail Lago di Como
Lecco · Lombardy
259 · 122 · 62.5 kmElite

Ultra Trail du Temple
San Vito Lo Capo · Sicily
100 · 60 · 35 kmAdvanced

Ultra-Trail des Cirques
Salazie · Réunion
80 kmAdvanced

XtremeLagos
Cangas de Onís · Asturias
42 · 14 · 4 kmAdvanced

XtremeLagos de Covadonga
Covadonga · Asturias
42 · 14 kmElite

Transvulcania
Los Llanos de Aridane, La Palma · Canary Islands
73 · 43 · 25 kmElite

Trail Alsace Grand Est by UTMB
Orschwiller · Grand Est
116 kmAdvanced

Garda Trentino Trail
Arco · Trentino-South Tyrol
100 · 75 · 42 kmAdvanced

Lozère Trail
Chanac · Occitania
110 · 52 · 25 kmAdvanced
Featured races

Trail Loja - Abades Stone Race
Loja, Granada
35 km with 4,038 m D+ through the karst landscapes of Loja (Granada)
Photo: Desafío Ultra El CainejoDesafío Ultra El Cainejo
Caín de Valdeón, León
52K, 35K and 19K through Picos de Europa from Caín de Valdeón — one of Spain's most technical trail races
Photo: Cavalls del VentFestival Cavalls del Vent
Bagà
84K, 38K, and 28K through the Cadí-Moixeró linking eight mountain huts — mountain trail in the Catalan Pyrenees from Bagà

Ultra Trail Torla-Ordesa
Torla-Ordesa, Huesca
From 2.9K to 50K in Ordesa National Park: trail running at the foot of Monte Perdido
FeaturedGTPE Picos de Europa
Benia de Onís
5 distances (70K to 10K) through the western massif of Picos de Europa from Benia de Onís
Photo: Desafío SomiedoEDP DesafiOSOmiedo
Pola de Somiedo
70K, 46K and 24K through Somiedo Natural Park, home of the Cantabrian brown bear
Photo: Noche Roja BoñarLas 100 Millas de Boñar – Noche Roja
Boñar
Free backyard ultra in the Alto Porma — 6.7 km loops every hour for up to 24 laps in 24 hours

Trail Vielha-Molières 3010
Vielha
43K, 23K, and 13K of pure skyrunning in Val d'Aran — the only race to summit Molières peak at 3,010m

Gran Trail Trangoworld Aneto-Posets
Benasque
From 5K to 105K between the Pyrenean rooftops: Aneto and Posets from the Benasque Valley
FeaturedPhoto: Anthospace / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)Grand Raid des Pyrénées
Vielle-Aure
The great ultra of the French Pyrenees: 160, 120, 80 and 40 km from Vielle-Aure. August.
Photo: PiRGoif / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)L'Échappée Belle
Vizille
The Belledonne traverse: 21 to 152 km with over 11,000 m D+. August.
Photo: Trail Valle de TenaTrail Valle de Tena
Panticosa
80 km, 6,820 m of climbing, and a name that lies: the '8K Trail' of the Huesca Pyrenees
Gear up for the mountains
The right gear makes the difference on race day. Our comparison guides to choose well.
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