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Sierra Cazorla Trails
Photo: Antonio Esteban (Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0) (opens in a new tab)

Quesada

Sierra Cazorla Trails

Saturday, 17 October 2026

Ultra 65K

65km D+ 3750m

Marathon 42K

42km D+ 2400m

Skyrace 26K

26km D+ 1700m

Trail 15K

15km D+ 800m

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Sierra Cazorla Trails 2026 has already taken placeSee recommended gear

Your checklist for Sierra Cazorla Trails

What you need, category by category, with our #1 pick for this race. Tick what you already have.

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  1. GPS watch

    Garmin Forerunner 265

    Highly accurate dual-frequency multi-band GPS

    Downside: No onboard topo maps

    View on Amazon →(opens in a new tab)

  2. Gear

    Poles strongly recommended on the ultra and the marathon

    Hoka Speedgoat 7

    Max Hoka cushioning: protects your legs over long distances

    Downside: High stack: less stable for those who want more ground feel

    View on Amazon →(opens in a new tab)
    See 7 alternatives Which shoe suits you best? Shoe finder

  3. Nutrition

    Aim for 60-90 g of carbs per hour on the ultra

    Maurten Gel 100

    Hydrogel technology: excellent gastric tolerance

    Downside: High price compared to other gels

    View on Amazon →(opens in a new tab)
    See 7 alternatives

  4. Sun Protection

    SPF 50 on face, neck and arms before the start

    ISDIN Fusion Water Sunscreen SPF 50+

    Ultralight texture, feels invisible on skin

    Downside: Small format (50 ml), may run short on ultras

    View on Amazon →(opens in a new tab)
    See 7 alternatives

  5. Body Care

    Anti-chafe on feet, groin and armpits before starting

    BodyGlide Original Anti-Chafe Balm

    Easy-to-apply stick format, even with sweaty hands

    Downside: Higher price than traditional petroleum jelly

    View on Amazon →(opens in a new tab)
    See 7 alternatives

  6. Car Rental

    Pick up the car at Granada airport or the Linares-Baeza train station

    DRIVALIA CarCloud Country Plus

    View on Amazon →(opens in a new tab)
    See 3 alternatives

  7. Mandatory

    Waterproof jacket

    Mandatory on the ultra and the marathon; the summit wind can be strong.

    Gore Wear R7 GTX Shakedry

    View on Amazon →(opens in a new tab)

  8. Mandatory

    Water reserve

    Long stretches between aid stations on the 65K.

    MARLOAR Soft Flask 500 ml (Pack of 2)

    Two units for the price of one branded flask

    Downside: Silicone is heavier and tastes slightly more than branded TPU flasks

    View on Amazon →(opens in a new tab)

  9. Trip logistics

    Registration, travel and insurance: what you should have sorted before race day.

Affiliate links: if you buy, we earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Seasonal kit

Sierra Cazorla Trails runs into the night: low-light kit

Main and backup headlamp, battery, pre-dawn layers and night-time fuelling.

See the full kit : Night Trail Running Kit: What to Carry in Autumn and Winter Races With Short Daylight

You may also need: Rain and Mud Trail Running Kit 2026: What to Bring to a Wet Race

Mandatory Gear

According to the official race regulations

  • Waterproof jacket

    Mandatory on the ultra and the marathon; the summit wind can be strong.

  • Water reserve

    Long stretches between aid stations on the 65K.

Items tagged “Mandatory” are in the checklist above, with a recommended product.

Race data

Terrain

Ultra Trail

Difficulty

Elite

Distance

4 modalities

Visit official website(opens in a new tab)

  • Ultra 65K

    Distance
    65 km
    Elevation Gain
    D+ 3750m
    Max Time
    14h

  • Marathon 42K

    Distance
    42 km
    Elevation Gain
    D+ 2400m
    Max Time
    9h

  • Skyrace 26K

    Distance
    26 km
    Elevation Gain
    D+ 1700m
    Max Time
    5h30

  • Trail 15K

    Distance
    15 km
    Elevation Gain
    D+ 800m
    Max Time
    3h30
Will your watch battery last the ~16 h of Sierra Cazorla Trails?Worked out for the longest course (65 km). See which watches reach the finish with GPS on and which die on the way.Check my watch

Sierra Cazorla Trails requires mandatory gear: get it sorted early

Buying guides with the best value for money, picked for this kind of terrain.

Swipe to see all 4 comparisons

Historical weather

What to wear at 15 °C: guide and kit →

Typical weather for the race date (10-year average)

Temperature

12°C – 23°C

Rain

13%

Wind

15 km/h

Sunshine hours

10h

Gear recommendations

Sun protection essential (10h sunshine, up to 23°C)

Sierra Cazorla Trails

Sierra Cazorla Trails is the big mountain race of Quesada (Jaén), in the heart of the Cazorla, Segura and Las Villas Natural Park, the largest protected area in Spain and one of the largest in Europe. The eleventh edition (2026) keeps its four-distance format, with a 65-kilometre ultra and 3,750 metres of positive elevation as the queen race, plus a marathon, a 26-kilometre skyrace and a 15-kilometre short trail. The ultra scores for the Copa Andalucía de Ultra Trail.

A 65-kilometre course

The ultra route leaves Quesada and climbs quickly into the sierra on laricio-pine paths and forest track, passing viewpoints over the source of the Guadalquivir, the Cerrada del Utrero and the valley. It links limestone gorges, summits above 1,800 metres and long technical descents. At more than 55 metres of climbing per kilometre and with the demands of the distance, it is a race for runners with ultra mileage in their legs.

Spain’s largest natural park

Cazorla covers 210,000 hectares, with the largest continuous forest in the country, populations of Spanish ibex, red deer and mouflon, and a reintroduced colony of bearded vultures. The Guadalquivir rises here, at the Cañada de las Fuentes, and the park has been a Biosphere Reserve since 1983. Running through it is an immersion in Mediterranean mountain woodland that is hard to match.

Quesada beyond the race

Quesada is the birthplace of the painter Rafael Zabaleta, with a museum devoted to his work, and a gateway to the Tranco reservoir, the Cerrada del Utrero and the Borosa river walk, one of the most beautiful in Andalusia. See more races in Andalusia and plan your weekend with the planner.

360Complete Pack

Sierra Cazorla Trails 2026 registration

Registration

Eleventh edition and a benchmark trail race in Andalusia, with the ultra scoring for the Copa Andalucía de Ultra Trail. Four distances and a limited field on the 65K.

Browse all registration

Tips

  • •Online registration from the official race website
  • •Choose your distance when you register: the ultra and the marathon usually sell out
  • •You need a valid mountain federation licence or one-day insurance
  • •Bib collection on Friday afternoon and very early on Saturday in Quesada

Where to stay for Sierra Cazorla Trails

Accommodation

Quesada and Cazorla have most of the beds; inside the park there are mountain hotels and rural houses, but they fill up fast in October.

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Tips

  • •Quesada, by the start, with hostales and apartments
  • •Cazorla town, 20 minutes away, with more hotels and atmosphere
  • •Hotels and rural complexes around Coto Ríos and Empalme del Valle, inside the park
  • •October is mushroom and deer-rut season: book weeks ahead

Gear for Sierra Cazorla Trails

Gear

Up to 65 km and 3,750 m D+ on forest track, pine-wood path and limestone trail. October in Cazorla: cold dawns at altitude and warm midday in the valleys.

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Tips

  • •Poles strongly recommended on the ultra and the marathon
  • •A waterproof jacket is mandatory: the summit sections catch the wind
  • •Headtorch and battery for anyone tight on the cut-offs in the 65K
Hoka Speedgoat 7

Which shoes for Sierra Cazorla Trails?

Which footwear fits based on the race's terrain and weather

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Garmin Forerunner 265

Which GPS watch for Sierra Cazorla Trails?

Which watch has the battery to last based on your estimated finish time

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Best Neck Gaiter (Buff) for Trail Running 2026: Comparison & Buying Guide

Comparison of the best neck gaiters for trail running in 2026: Buff Original, Midweight, Windproof, DryFlx, CoolNet UV+, Thermonet, HANKER and Salomon Merino. Which to pick based on sun, wind, cold or budget.

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Best Thermal Base Layer for Trail Running 2026: Comparison & Buying Guide

The best thermal base layers for trail running in 2026: Odlo Active Warm Eco, Icebreaker Merino 200 Oasis, Craft Pro Hypervent, Under Armour ColdGear, Salomon Agile LS Tee and Odlo I-Thermic. Which to pick based on cold, sweat management, merino wool, compression or built-in wind protection.

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Best Trail Running Gaiters 2026: 3-Way Comparison

Comparing the 3 best trail running gaiters in 2026: Salomon Trail Gaiters High, Salomon Trail Gaiters Low and TRIWONDER waterproof gaiters. Which to pick by terrain and budget.

→

Nutrition for Sierra Cazorla Trails

Nutrition

From 3 to 14 hours of effort depending on distance. There are aid stations on course, but the 65K demands real self-sufficiency between checkpoints.

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Tips

  • •Aim for 60-90 g of carbs per hour on the ultra
  • •Electrolytes from kilometre 20: the valleys still get warm in October
  • •Carry your own solid food for the long stretches between aid stations

How to get to Quesada

Transport

Quesada is in the Cazorla district, in the south-east of Jaén province, on the edge of the natural park.

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Tips

  • •From Jaén: 1h30 via the A-316 and A-315 through Úbeda and Peal de Becerro
  • •From Granada: 1h45 via the A-44 and A-322
  • •Granada-Jaén airport 1h45 away; Madrid 4h via the A-4

Car rental for the Sierra de Cazorla

Car Rental

The park is huge and public transport almost non-existent: with a car you can link the source of the Guadalquivir, the Tranco reservoir and the viewpoints.

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Tips

  • •Pick up the car at Granada airport or the Linares-Baeza train station
  • •Fill up before entering the park: there are barely any petrol stations inside

Sports insurance for Sierra Cazorla Trails

Insurance

A federated mountain race with high-mountain sections and areas without phone coverage. Insurance is mandatory to take part.

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Tips

  • •Valid FEDME/FAM licence or one-day insurance is mandatory
  • •Registration includes race accident insurance
  • •Rescue cover recommended for the 65K and the marathon

Body care for Sierra Cazorla Trails

Body Care

Many hours of track and long limestone descents: feet and chafe points suffer on the long distances.

Browse all body care

Tips

  • •Anti-chafe on feet, groin and armpits before starting
  • •A change of socks in the ultra drop bag
  • •Compression socks for recovery after the finish

Sun protection for Sierra Cazorla Trails

Sun Protection

The forest-track sections and limestone summits are exposed; at that altitude October radiation is still high.

Browse all sun protectionVer comparativa completa →

Tips

  • •SPF 50 on face, neck and arms before the start
  • •Reapply at the drop bag if you are running the 65K
  • •SPF lip balm for the dry summit wind

Frequently Asked Questions

When is Sierra Cazorla Trails 2026?
Sierra Cazorla Trails 2026 takes place on Saturday, October 17, 2026, starting from the Plaza de la Constitución in Quesada (Jaén). It is the eleventh edition.
What distances does it have?
Four: the 65 km, 3,750 m D+ ultra; the 42 km, 2,400 m D+ marathon; the 26 km, 1,700 m D+ skyrace; and the 15 km, 800 m D+ short trail.
Does it score for any circuit?
Yes, the ultra scores for the Copa Andalucía de Ultra Trail and the race is a fixture on the Andalusian trail calendar.
Where does the course run?
Through the Cazorla, Segura and Las Villas Natural Park, the largest protected area in Spain: laricio pine forests, the source of the Guadalquivir, limestone canyons and summits above 1,800 m.
How do I get to Quesada?
Quesada is in the Cazorla district, in the south-east of Jaén province, 105 km from the capital and about 130 km from Granada via the A-315 and A-322. The nearest airport is Granada-Jaén.

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