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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

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91

Races

2.9 – 330 km

Distance range

0 – 24,000 D+

Elevation range

Jan – Dec

Race months

Intermediate (5)Advanced (39)Elite (47)

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

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Race calendar

April2027

11
Grand Trail des Cadourques
Fri 2 Apr

Grand Trail des Cadourques

Cahors · Occitania

120 · 64 · 30 kmAdvanced

Ultra Sierra Nevada
Sat 3 Apr★ Featured· Registration closed

Ultra Sierra Nevada

Granada · Andalusia

100 · 42 · 21 kmAdvanced

Reventón Trail
Sat 3 Apr

Reventón Trail

El Paso, La Palma · Canary Islands

70.5 · 42.2 · 31.8 kmAdvanced

Tenerife by UTMB
Thu 8 Apr★ Featured

Tenerife by UTMB

Puerto de la Cruz · Canary Islands

110 · 82 · 68 kmElite

Ultra Montseny
Sat 10 Apr★ Featured

Ultra Montseny

Viladrau · Catalonia

80 · 55 · 32 kmAdvanced

Ultra 100K Sierra de Gata
Sat 10 Apr

Ultra 100K Sierra de Gata

Sierra de Gata · Extremadura

100 · 20 kmElite

Tuscany Crossing
Fri 16 Apr★ Featured

Tuscany Crossing

Castiglione d'Orcia · Tuscany

161 · 103 · 53 kmElite

Costa Brava Stage Run
Fri 16 Apr

Costa Brava Stage Run

Blanes · Catalonia

125 · 87 kmAdvanced

Grand Raid Ventoux by UTMB
Fri 23 Apr★ Featured

Grand Raid Ventoux by UTMB

Malaucène · Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur

125 · 87 · 51 kmAdvanced

Penyagolosa Trails
Sat 24 Apr

Penyagolosa Trails

Castellón de la Plana · Valencian Community

106 · 60 kmElite

GR 322 Nafarroa Xtrem
Sat 24 Apr

GR 322 Nafarroa Xtrem

Zubiri · Navarre

68 · 22 kmAdvanced

Featured races

Trail Loja - Abades Stone Race
19 Apr 2026Race finished

Trail Loja - Abades Stone Race

Loja, Granada

35 km with 4,038 m D+ through the karst landscapes of Loja (Granada)

34.92kmD+ 4038mAdvanced
View Pack 360
Desafío Ultra El CainejoPhoto: Desafío Ultra El Cainejo
23 May 2026Race finished

Desafío 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

52kmD+ 5500mUTMB 100K100KElite
View Pack 360
Festival Cavalls del VentPhoto: Cavalls del Vent
20 Jun 2026Race finished

Festival Cavalls del Vent

Bagà

84K, 38K, and 28K through the Cadí-Moixeró linking eight mountain huts — mountain trail in the Catalan Pyrenees from Bagà

84kmD+ 5600mITRA 4UTMB 100K100KAdvanced
View Pack 360
Ultra Trail Torla-Ordesa
27 Jun 2026Race finished

Ultra Trail Torla-Ordesa

Torla-Ordesa, Huesca

From 2.9K to 50K in Ordesa National Park: trail running at the foot of Monte Perdido

50kmD+ 4100mAdvanced
View Pack 360
GTPE Picos de EuropaFeatured
27 Jun 2026Race finished

GTPE Picos de Europa

Benia de Onís

5 distances (70K to 10K) through the western massif of Picos de Europa from Benia de Onís

70kmD+ 5300mElite
View Pack 360
EDP DesafiOSOmiedoPhoto: Desafío Somiedo
4 Jul 2026Race finished

EDP DesafiOSOmiedo

Pola de Somiedo

70K, 46K and 24K through Somiedo Natural Park, home of the Cantabrian brown bear

70kmD+ 8000mAdvanced
View Pack 360
Las 100 Millas de Boñar – Noche RojaPhoto: Noche Roja Boñar
4 Jul 2026Race finished

Las 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

20kmD+ 570mElite
View Pack 360
Trail Vielha-Molières 3010
11 Jul 2026Race finished

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

43kmD+ 4200mAdvanced
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Gran Trail Trangoworld Aneto-Posets
16 Jul 2026Race finished

Gran Trail Trangoworld Aneto-Posets

Benasque

From 5K to 105K between the Pyrenean rooftops: Aneto and Posets from the Benasque Valley

105kmD+ 6760mUTMB 100M100MElite
View Pack 360
Grand Raid des PyrénéesFeaturedPhoto: Anthospace / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
19 Aug 2026Race finished

Grand Raid des Pyrénées

Vielle-Aure

The great ultra of the French Pyrenees: 160, 120, 80 and 40 km from Vielle-Aure. August.

160kmD+ 10000mElite
View Pack 360
L'Échappée BellePhoto: PiRGoif / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
20 Aug 2026Race finished

L'Échappée Belle

Vizille

The Belledonne traverse: 21 to 152 km with over 11,000 m D+. August.

152kmD+ 11390mElite
View Pack 360
Trail Valle de TenaPhoto: Trail Valle de Tena
5 Sept 2026Race finished

Trail Valle de Tena

Panticosa

80 km, 6,820 m of climbing, and a name that lies: the '8K Trail' of the Huesca Pyrenees

80kmD+ 6820mElite
View Pack 360

Gear up for the mountains

The right gear makes the difference on race day. Our comparison guides to choose well.

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Your first trail race?8-week plan, week by week, with the gear for each stage.See the plan

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