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.
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220
Races
1 – 175 km
Distance range
0 – 1,960 D+
Elevation range
Jan – Dec
Race months
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
Click a marker to see race details
Race calendar
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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)March2026
7
El Valle Trail
Murcia · Region of Murcia
26 · 18 kmIntermediate
Recommended gear · Best Overall
Coros Pace 3View on Amazon →(opens in a new tab)Compare with other options →
Subbética Trail
Zuheros · Andalusia
29 · 18 kmIntermediate

Kilómetro Vertical Media Legua Gruesa
Purchena · Andalusia
5 kmAdvanced

CxM Alfarnat Trail
Alfarnate · Andalusia
23 · 14 kmIntermediate

Petaca Trail
Cabezarrubias del Puerto, Ciudad Real · Castile-La Mancha
25 · 14 · 11 kmIntermediate

Trail Cova da Bruxa
Muros, A Coruña · Galicia
26 · 15 · 9 kmIntermediate

Trail Covatelles
Oliva · Valencian Community
23 · 13 kmIntermediate
April2026
12
CxM Villa de Casares
Casares · Andalusia
21 · 14 kmIntermediate

Volta Peramola
Peramola · Catalonia
25 · 10 · 5 kmIntermediate
Recommended gear · Best Overall
Salomon Sense Ride 5View on Amazon →(opens in a new tab)Compare with other options →
IV CxM Silvia Lara
Cazorla · Andalusia
21 · 12 kmIntermediate

Trail Cabo de Ajo
Ajo, Bareyo · Cantabria
22 · 20 kmIntermediate

Aoiz Mountain Race
Aoiz · Navarre
14 kmIntermediate

VIII Trail El Calvario del Dragón
Osuna · Andalusia
23 · 12 kmIntermediate

Arganza Trail — Cañón del Río Lobos
San Leonardo de Yagüe · Castile and Leon
33 · 21 · 10 kmIntermediate

Bera Mountain Half Marathon
Bera · Navarre
21.8 kmIntermediate

Trail Tierra de Ibias
San Antolín de Ibias · Asturias
21.9 · 12.7 · 8.5 kmIntermediate

X CxM Deportes Parra Hervás
Hervás, Cáceres · Extremadura
21.5 · 10.5 kmIntermediate
Recommended gear · Best Overall
Black Diamond Distance Carbon ZView on Amazon →(opens in a new tab)Compare with other options →
Trail Mina de la Plata de Bustarviejo
Bustarviejo · Community of Madrid
20 · 14 · 8 kmIntermediate

Aloñako Igoera
Oñati, Gipuzkoa · Basque Country
22.6 kmAdvanced
May2026
12
CxM Trabuco Trail
Villanueva del Trabuco · Andalusia
23.5 · 13 kmAdvanced

X CxM Sierro
Sierro · Andalusia
24 · 12 kmAdvanced

Xtreme Higa de Monreal
Monreal · Navarre
21 · 12 kmIntermediate

Berroeta Mendi Maratoi Erdia
Berroeta · Navarre
21.6 · 15 · 10 kmIntermediate

Trail Vila de Cuntis
Cuntis, Pontevedra · Galicia
21 · 15 · 10 kmIntermediate

Cross de la Pedriza
Manzanares el Real · Community of Madrid
25 · 18 · 12 kmAdvanced
Recommended gear · Best Overall
Salomon ADV Skin 12 SetView on Amazon →(opens in a new tab)Compare with other options →
Haritzen Mendi Lasterketa
Unzué · Navarre
24.3 · 11 kmAdvanced

Neveros Vertical
Ágreda, Soria · Castile and Leon
5 kmAdvanced

Mitxarro Bira
Araia · Basque Country
27.5 · 14 kmIntermediate

XVII CxM Carrera Pencona
Aldeanueva de la Vera, Cáceres · Extremadura
21 · 11 kmAdvanced

Cross de Cuerda Larga
Miraflores de la Sierra · Community of Madrid
26 kmAdvanced

Lakuntza-Aralar Mendi Lasterketa
Lakuntza · Navarre
26 · 13 kmIntermediate
June2026
7
KM Vertical Fuente Dé
Fuente Dé, Camaleño · Cantabria
2.6 kmAdvanced

CxM El Fuerte de Frigiliana
Frigiliana · Andalusia
21 · 13 kmAdvanced
Recommended gear · Best Overall
Coros Pace 3View on Amazon →(opens in a new tab)Compare with other options →
Mazucator Sky
Villa de Mazo, La Palma · Canary Islands
25 · 20 · 8 kmAdvanced

Kilómetro Vertical de la Barranca
Navacerrada · Community of Madrid
7.3 kmAdvanced

Desafío Galayos 2026
Arenas de San Pedro, Ávila · Castile and Leon
20 kmIntermediate

Trail Heróica Sacra
Chantada, Lugo · Galicia
33 · 23 · 12 kmAdvanced

Triku Trail
Etxarri-Aranatz · Navarre
21 · 10 kmIntermediate
July2026
2August2026
3
La Esquilaera – Puertu de Ruenes
Ruenes · Asturias
12 kmAdvanced
Recommended gear · Best Overall
Salomon Sense Ride 5View on Amazon →(opens in a new tab)Compare with other options →
Peón Trail
Peón · Asturias
18 · 9 kmIntermediate

Trail de Ubiña
Tuiza de Arriba · Asturias
21 · 15 kmIntermediate
September2026
15
Carreña Trail
Carreña de Cabrales · Asturias
30 · 9 · 4.5 kmAdvanced

Burriac ATAC!
Vilassar de Mar · Catalonia
21.3 · 15.4 kmAdvanced

Trail La Grajera
Lantueno, Santiurde de Reinosa · Cantabria
21 · 13 kmAdvanced

Ardisana Trail
Ardisana · Asturias
15 kmAdvanced

Cursa Ibérica Figueroles
Figueroles · Valencian Community
17 kmIntermediate

XXVI Pujada al Montcabrer
Alcoy · Valencian Community
19 kmIntermediate

Axari Trail
Idiazabal · Basque Country
25 · 16 kmAdvanced

Desafío Las Reliquias
Oviedo · Asturias
27 · 11 kmAdvanced

Vitoria-Gasteiz Trail
Vitoria-Gasteiz · Basque Country
26 · 16 · 16 kmIntermediate

Trail L'Albiol
L'Albiol · Catalonia
22.2 · 12.8 · 6 kmIntermediate

Uharte-Arakil Beriain Km Bertikala
Uharte-Arakil · Navarre
5 kmAdvanced

X Trail de Jalance
Jalance · Valencian Community
12.8 · 20.5 kmIntermediate

Carrera de Montaña Picu Turbina
Rozagás · Asturias
12 kmAdvanced

Trail Indiano
Somao · Asturias
20 · 13 kmIntermediate

Cross de Las Dehesas
Cercedilla · Community of Madrid
29 · 15.2 kmAdvanced
Featured races
Photo: Asociación Cultural La HincaderaAlto Rey Trail
Bustares, Guadalajara
Solstice trail in Guadalajara: 21K and 11K summiting Alto Rey (1,850m) from Bustares
Photo: Organisation Trail Desafío del CarbónTrail Desafío del Carbón - Urbiés
Urbiés
21K with 1,360m D+ and a 12K SpeedTrail along the mining paths of Urbiés
Photo: El Valle TrailEl Valle Trail
Murcia
26K and 18K through El Valle and Carrascoy Regional Park, at the gates of Murcia

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

Kilómetro Vertical Media Legua Gruesa
Purchena
5 km and 900m elevation gain through Barranco de Geva in Purchena (Almería)

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

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

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

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

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

IV CxM Silvia Lara
Cazorla
21K and 12K through the Sierra de Cazorla trails from the heart of Jaén
Gear up for the mountains
The right gear makes the difference on race day. Our comparison guides to choose well.
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