Trail Arróniz

Trail Arróniz: Montejurra as the judge

Trail Arróniz is the mountain race of Arróniz, a village of barely a thousand people in Tierra Estella known for its protected-origin olive oil. Organized by Club Deportivo Kirol Taldea Arróniz, the race reaches its 9th edition in 2026 and has become the reference end-of-season event for runners in western Navarra.

The undisputed star is Montejurra (Jurramendi), the 1,044-metre mountain that dominates the skyline of Estella and carries centuries of Carlist history. Climbing it in a race, with the vineyards and olive groves below and the first autumn mists rolling in, is what gives this trail its character.

A course of 23 km and 1,300 m of climbing

The long trail is 23 km with 1,300 m of positive elevation gain. It leaves the Arróniz sports hall at 9:30 AM, crosses the patchwork of crops in the valley and takes on the climb to Montejurra along limestone trails and forest tracks. The descent, technical and often muddy in November, demands both legs and a cool head before the final stretch back to the village.

• 23 km with 1,300 m of gain (long course)
• 10 km with 250 m of gain (short course, ideal for first-timers)
• Start and finish at the Arróniz sports hall
• Limestone mid-mountain terrain: trails, singletrack, forest tracks and some linking tarmac

The 10 km short trail shares the atmosphere and aid stations but stays at the base of the mountain: a perfect entry point into trail running for anyone who wants a taste without committing to Montejurra’s climb.

November in Tierra Estella: cold and mud

The date shapes the race as much as the elevation. In early November, mornings start near 5 °C, humidity is high and the limestone terrain turns slippery. The organization usually makes a windbreaker mandatory, and it is worth starting with thin gloves and arm sleeves you can take off once you warm up. This is a race to enjoy the Navarrese autumn, not to chase a personal best.

Arróniz and Tierra Estella beyond the race

Arróniz lives off Arróniz olive oil, a native variety you can buy in the village itself and at the mills around the region. Eight kilometres away, Estella-Lizarra is an essential stop on the Camino de Santiago, with its medieval old town, the wine fountain at Irache and the Iratxe monastery at the foot of Montejurra. The area pairs well with a weekend getaway, with Rioja Alavesa and Navarra wineries less than half an hour away.

Check out the rest of the races in Navarra and plan your calendar with the planner.