Alto Rey Trail

Alto Rey Trail

Alto Rey Trail is a mountain race held every year on the summer solstice from Bustares, a small village in the Sierra Norte de Guadalajara, Spain. Organised by the Asociación Cultural La Hincadera, the race summits Alto Rey peak (1,850m), one of the highest points in the province.

The course

Both distances start from Bustares and climb to the summit of Alto Rey via the Santa Coloma meadow. From the top, on clear days, you can see the towers of Madrid to the south and Moncayo to the north. The terrain combines mountain trails, oak forests, holm oak woodland and the characteristic dry stone walls of the area — Bustares has over 336 km of these traditional constructions.

The distances

The Alto Rey Trail 21K (1,082m D+) is a circular mountain half marathon that, after summiting Alto Rey, descends via Peña de los Gavilanes and Collado del Mediodía to Pradena de Atienza and Gascueña de Bornova before returning to Bustares. The Alto Rey Trail 11K (586m D+) shares the summit climb and descends through the Val de Cabañas valley directly to Bustares.

The solstice race

The 5:00 PM start on June 21 makes this a unique experience: the longest day of the year, with evening light sweeping across the Castilian mountains. The contrast between the heat of the early hours and the cool at higher elevations (up to 1,850m) demands smart hydration and gear management.

Bustares and the Sierra Norte

Bustares lies within the Sierra Norte de Guadalajara Natural Park, one of Spain’s most depopulated areas yet with exceptional natural and architectural heritage. The dry stone walls, centuries-old oak groves and the black architecture villages of the area make the trip an experience that goes well beyond the race itself.

Check our gear checklist to prepare for mountain conditions, and explore more races in Castilla-La Mancha.