Skip to main content

Moderate Elevation Gain Trail Races in Spain 2026

Moderate elevation gain races, between 800 and 2,000 metres of positive gain, make up the bulk of the trail running calendar in Spain. These are events that combine demanding climbs with technical sections and stretches where you can open your stride and enjoy running. This elevation range forces you to manage effort between ascent and descent: knowing how to fast-hike uphill and release your legs on descents makes the difference. The Pyrenees, Cantabrian Range, Central System and Mediterranean sierras offer hundreds of races in this range, with varied profiles from gentle valleys to the most iconic mountain passes. It is the category where most trail runners find their comfort zone and where technical and physical improvement shows race after race.

For cold and dark miles

Headlamp, thermal layer and a good watch: what matters when daylight runs short.

Compare with other options →

Some links are affiliate links. If you buy through them, we earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

220

Races

1 – 175 km

Distance range

0 – 1,960 D+

Elevation range

Jan – Dec

Race months

Beginner (1)Intermediate (146)Advanced (73)

Difficulty

Tips

Alternate between running and fast hiking on climbs: the power hiking technique saves energy for descents.

Train technical descents frequently — moderate elevation means long downhills that can punish your legs.

Carry poles if the course has sustained climbs of more than 400 m D+ in a row.

Practise the climb-to-descent transition in training: switching modes quickly is key on rolling profiles.

Race map

Loading map...

Click a marker to see race details

Race calendar

April2026

12
CxM Villa de Casares
Sat 4 Apr

CxM Villa de Casares

Casares · Andalusia

21 · 14 kmIntermediate

Volta Peramola
Sat 4 Apr· Registration closed

Volta Peramola

Peramola · Catalonia

25 · 10 · 5 kmIntermediate

IV CxM Silvia Lara
Sat 11 Apr

IV CxM Silvia Lara

Cazorla · Andalusia

21 · 12 kmIntermediate

Trail Cabo de Ajo
Sat 11 Apr

Trail Cabo de Ajo

Ajo, Bareyo · Cantabria

22 · 20 kmIntermediate

Aoiz Mountain Race
Sat 11 Apr· Registration closed

Aoiz Mountain Race

Aoiz · Navarre

14 kmIntermediate

VIII Trail El Calvario del Dragón
Sun 12 Apr

VIII Trail El Calvario del Dragón

Osuna · Andalusia

23 · 12 kmIntermediate

Arganza Trail — Cañón del Río Lobos
Sun 12 Apr

Arganza Trail — Cañón del Río Lobos

San Leonardo de Yagüe · Castile and Leon

33 · 21 · 10 kmIntermediate

Bera Mountain Half Marathon
Sun 19 Apr

Bera Mountain Half Marathon

Bera · Navarre

21.8 kmIntermediate

Trail Tierra de Ibias
Sat 25 Apr

Trail Tierra de Ibias

San Antolín de Ibias · Asturias

21.9 · 12.7 · 8.5 kmIntermediate

X CxM Deportes Parra Hervás
Sun 26 Apr

X CxM Deportes Parra Hervás

Hervás, Cáceres · Extremadura

21.5 · 10.5 kmIntermediate

Trail Mina de la Plata de Bustarviejo
Sun 26 Apr· Registration closed

Trail Mina de la Plata de Bustarviejo

Bustarviejo · Community of Madrid

20 · 14 · 8 kmIntermediate

Aloñako Igoera
Sun 26 Apr

Aloñako Igoera

Oñati, Gipuzkoa · Basque Country

22.6 kmAdvanced

May2026

12
CxM Trabuco Trail
Sat 2 May· Registration closed

CxM Trabuco Trail

Villanueva del Trabuco · Andalusia

23.5 · 13 kmAdvanced

X CxM Sierro
Sun 3 May· Registration closed

X CxM Sierro

Sierro · Andalusia

24 · 12 kmAdvanced

Xtreme Higa de Monreal
Sun 3 May· Registration closed

Xtreme Higa de Monreal

Monreal · Navarre

21 · 12 kmIntermediate

Berroeta Mendi Maratoi Erdia
Sat 9 May· Registration closed

Berroeta Mendi Maratoi Erdia

Berroeta · Navarre

21.6 · 15 · 10 kmIntermediate

Trail Vila de Cuntis
Sun 10 May

Trail Vila de Cuntis

Cuntis, Pontevedra · Galicia

21 · 15 · 10 kmIntermediate

Cross de la Pedriza
Sun 10 May· Registration closed

Cross de la Pedriza

Manzanares el Real · Community of Madrid

25 · 18 · 12 kmAdvanced

Haritzen Mendi Lasterketa
Sat 16 May· Registration closed

Haritzen Mendi Lasterketa

Unzué · Navarre

24.3 · 11 kmAdvanced

Neveros Vertical
Sat 30 May

Neveros Vertical

Ágreda, Soria · Castile and Leon

5 kmAdvanced

Mitxarro Bira
Sat 30 May· Registration closed

Mitxarro Bira

Araia · Basque Country

27.5 · 14 kmIntermediate

XVII CxM Carrera Pencona
Sun 31 May

XVII CxM Carrera Pencona

Aldeanueva de la Vera, Cáceres · Extremadura

21 · 11 kmAdvanced

Cross de Cuerda Larga
Sun 31 May· Registration closed

Cross de Cuerda Larga

Miraflores de la Sierra · Community of Madrid

26 kmAdvanced

Lakuntza-Aralar Mendi Lasterketa
Sun 31 May

Lakuntza-Aralar Mendi Lasterketa

Lakuntza · Navarre

26 · 13 kmIntermediate

September2026

15
Carreña Trail
Sat 5 Sept

Carreña Trail

Carreña de Cabrales · Asturias

30 · 9 · 4.5 kmAdvanced

Burriac ATAC!
Sat 5 Sept

Burriac ATAC!

Vilassar de Mar · Catalonia

21.3 · 15.4 kmAdvanced

Trail La Grajera
Sun 6 Sept

Trail La Grajera

Lantueno, Santiurde de Reinosa · Cantabria

21 · 13 kmAdvanced

Ardisana Trail
Sat 12 Sept

Ardisana Trail

Ardisana · Asturias

15 kmAdvanced

Cursa Ibérica Figueroles
Sun 13 Sept

Cursa Ibérica Figueroles

Figueroles · Valencian Community

17 kmIntermediate

XXVI Pujada al Montcabrer
Sun 13 Sept

XXVI Pujada al Montcabrer

Alcoy · Valencian Community

19 kmIntermediate

Axari Trail
Sun 13 Sept

Axari Trail

Idiazabal · Basque Country

25 · 16 kmAdvanced

Desafío Las Reliquias
Sat 19 Sept

Desafío Las Reliquias

Oviedo · Asturias

27 · 11 kmAdvanced

Vitoria-Gasteiz Trail
Sat 19 Sept

Vitoria-Gasteiz Trail

Vitoria-Gasteiz · Basque Country

26 · 16 · 16 kmIntermediate

Trail L'Albiol
Sun 20 Sept

Trail L'Albiol

L'Albiol · Catalonia

22.2 · 12.8 · 6 kmIntermediate

Uharte-Arakil Beriain Km Bertikala
Sun 20 Sept· Registration closed

Uharte-Arakil Beriain Km Bertikala

Uharte-Arakil · Navarre

5 kmAdvanced

X Trail de Jalance
Wed 23 Sept

X Trail de Jalance

Jalance · Valencian Community

12.8 · 20.5 kmIntermediate

Carrera de Montaña Picu Turbina
Sat 26 Sept

Carrera de Montaña Picu Turbina

Rozagás · Asturias

12 kmAdvanced

Trail Indiano
Sat 26 Sept

Trail Indiano

Somao · Asturias

20 · 13 kmIntermediate

Cross de Las Dehesas
Sun 27 Sept· Registration closed

Cross de Las Dehesas

Cercedilla · Community of Madrid

29 · 15.2 kmAdvanced

Featured races

Alto Rey TrailPhoto: Asociación Cultural La Hincadera
21 Jun 2025Race finished

Alto Rey Trail

Bustares, Guadalajara

Solstice trail in Guadalajara: 21K and 11K summiting Alto Rey (1,850m) from Bustares

21.7kmD+ 1082mIntermediate
View Pack 360
Trail Desafío del Carbón - UrbiésPhoto: Organisation Trail Desafío del Carbón
8 Feb 2026Race finished

Trail Desafío del Carbón - Urbiés

Urbiés

21K with 1,360m D+ and a 12K SpeedTrail along the mining paths of Urbiés

21kmD+ 1360mIntermediate
View Pack 360
El Valle TrailPhoto: El Valle Trail
14 Mar 2026Race finished

El Valle Trail

Murcia

26K and 18K through El Valle and Carrascoy Regional Park, at the gates of Murcia

26kmD+ 1600mIntermediate
View Pack 360
Subbética Trail
21 Mar 2026Race finished

Subbética Trail

Zuheros

29K and 18K through the Sierras Subbéticas Natural Park (Córdoba)

29kmD+ 1400mIntermediate
View Pack 360
Kilómetro Vertical Media Legua Gruesa
22 Mar 2026Race finished

Kilómetro Vertical Media Legua Gruesa

Purchena

5 km and 900m elevation gain through Barranco de Geva in Purchena (Almería)

5kmD+ 900mAdvanced
View Pack 360
CxM Alfarnat Trail
28 Mar 2026Race finished

CxM Alfarnat Trail

Alfarnate

23K and 14K through the Axarquía mountains from Alfarnate, Málaga

23kmD+ 1450mIntermediate
View Pack 360
Petaca Trail
29 Mar 2026Race finished

Petaca Trail

Cabezarrubias del Puerto, Ciudad Real

12th Petaca Trail — 25K / 14K / 11K through the Valle de Alcudia in Cabezarrubias del Puerto, Ciudad Real

25kmD+ 1200mIntermediate
View Pack 360
Trail Cova da BruxaPhoto: Trail Cova da Bruxa
29 Mar 2026Race finished

Trail Cova da Bruxa

Muros, A Coruña

V Trail Cova da Bruxa — 26K, 15K, 9K and vertical race in the mountains of Muros, Galician Atlantic coast

26kmD+ 1600mIntermediate
View Pack 360
Trail Covatelles
30 Mar 2026Race finished

Trail Covatelles

Oliva

23K with 1,000m D+ through Sierra de la Safor from Oliva, Valencia

23kmD+ 1000mIntermediate
View Pack 360
CxM Villa de Casares
4 Apr 2026Race finished

CxM Villa de Casares

Casares

21K and 14K through Sierra Crestellina from Casares (Malaga)

21kmD+ 1094mIntermediate
View Pack 360
Volta Peramola
4 Apr 2026Race finished

Volta Peramola

Peramola

25K, 10K and 5K Hike through the Catalan Pre-Pyrenees from Peramola (Lleida)

25kmD+ 1613mIntermediate
View Pack 360
IV CxM Silvia Lara
11 Apr 2026Race finished

IV CxM Silvia Lara

Cazorla

21K and 12K through the Sierra de Cazorla trails from the heart of Jaén

21kmD+ 1291mIntermediate
View Pack 360

Gear up for the mountains

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

Swipe to see all 4 categories

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

Some links are affiliate links. If you buy through them, we earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Explore more