Photo: Alejandro Piñero Amerio / Unsplash Trail races in Community of Madrid 2026
The Community of Madrid hosts Sierra de Guadarrama and its National Park. Gran Trail Peñalara and Madrona Trail are flagship races, directly accessible from the capital.
View on map“Mountains at the capital's doorstep”
2.428 m
Peñalara, Madrid's summit
< 1 hora
From central Madrid
Abr – Nov
Main season
La Pedriza
Unique granite labyrinth
9
Races
5 – 104 km
Distance range
200 – 5100 D+
Elevation range
Apr – Nov
Race months
Difficulty
Terrain
Sierra de Guadarrama, less than an hour from Madrid, is a granite massif reaching 2,428 meters at Peñalara. The trails combine Scots pine forests, ridgeline traverses with views of both Castiles, and the rock formations of La Pedriza, a granite labyrinth unique in the Peninsula. Cuerda Larga offers a spectacular ridge traverse, while the Fuenfría and Lozoya valleys allow more sheltered routes through pine and oak forests.
Key areas
Climate & best season
Cold winters with frequent snow on the peaks from December to March. Summers are hot at lower elevations, though above 1,800 meters temperatures become pleasant. Spring and autumn are ideal: the sierra's pine forests glow with golden light, temperatures are perfect for running and the trails are in great condition. Proximity to Madrid means trails can be crowded on weekends.
Trail culture
Madrid is, by population, Spain's largest breeding ground for trail runners. Sierra de Guadarrama serves as a natural gym for millions: every weekend thousands of runners head up to train at Navacerrada, La Pedriza or Puerto de Cotos. Gran Trail de Peñalara has established itself as the sierra's benchmark race, while Maratón Alpino Madrileño has been an institution for decades. The Madrid trail scene is vibrant, with clubs like Tierra Trágame, Todovertical and Trailxtrem organizing group training and social races every week.
Iconic races in the region
Race map
Click on the map to enable scroll zoom.
Race calendar
Mayo 2026
Junio 2026
Septiembre 2026
Octubre 2026
Races
Photo: Only One Race / Backyard Ultra Aranjuez Backyard Ultra Aranjuez
Aranjuez, Madrid
Backyard ultra in Aranjuez — 6.7 km loops with 200 m D+ along the Tagus river, Big's Backyard Ultra format
Cross de Cuerda Larga
Miraflores de la Sierra
Classic Sierra de Guadarrama traverse: 26 km and 1,500 m D+ along the Cuerda Larga ridge between Morcuera and Navacerrada, with summits above 2,000 m
Cross de la Pedriza
Manzanares el Real
Legendary race through La Pedriza: 25 km and 1,600 m D+ across the most spectacular granite landscape of the Sierra de Guadarrama, scoring for the Copa de Hierro
Cross de Las Dehesas
Cercedilla
Sierra de Guadarrama classic: 29 km and 1,900 m D+ through Siete Picos, Montón de Trigo and Guadarrama National Park summits
Cross de los 3 Refugios
Manzanares el Real
Legendary Sierra de Guadarrama traverse: 24 km and 1,700 m D+ from Manzanares el Real to Puerto de Navacerrada through La Pedriza and La Maliciosa
Gran Trail de Peñalara
Navacerrada
The full loop around the Sierra de Guadarrama: 104 km and 5,100 m D+ from Navacerrada
Kilómetro Vertical de la Barranca
Navacerrada
Classic Madrid vertical race: 7.3 km and 1,010 m D+ from the Barranca Valley to the Bola del Mundo summit (2,267 m)
Photo: Maratón Alpino Madrileño Madrid Alpine Marathon
Cercedilla
44 km high-mountain race through Sierra de Guadarrama from Cercedilla, via Siete Picos, Bola del Mundo, and Peñalara
Trail Mina de la Plata de Bustarviejo
Bustarviejo
Trail running in Madrid's Sierra Norte: 3 distances through the historic silver mine trails of Bustarviejo
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