Trail races in Basque Country 2026

The Atlantic climate means frequent rain year-round, but also mountains that are always green and mild temperatures. There's no truly bad season for running, though November to February combines rain with short days. From May to September days are long and temperatures pleasant (15-25 °C), though rain can appear without warning. Running here always requires a waterproof jacket in your pack — but that mud and mist are part of the Basque character.

The Basque Country has a deeply rooted mountaineering tradition. Basque mountaineers have been traversing these summits for over a century, and that culture transitioned naturally into trail running. Zegama-Aizkorri, born in 2002, put Spanish skyrunning on the world map and turned a village of 300 inhabitants into an international reference every June. The Ehunmilak (168 km), one of Europe's toughest ultras, was also born here. Mountain clubs are the social fabric of Basque trail running: they organize group training sessions, popular races and a culture of camaraderie that moves from the ridges to the village bar.