Trail races in France
France is the birthplace of modern trail running: the French Alps host the UTMB, the world's most famous mountain race, and the Causses de Millau are home to the Templiers, another founding classic. Alpine high mountains, technical limestone plateaus, and urban city trail coexist in a calendar with over 1,900 races a year.
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“The birthplace of trail: from the UTMB to the Templiers”
4.809 m
Mont Blanc, highest point in France and the Alps
UTMB
Birthplace of the UTMB World Series
+1.900
Trail races per year
1995
First Festival des Templiers
Terrain
French trail is split between three very different landscapes. In the Alps, Chamonix and Annecy offer world-reference alpine high mountains: peaks over 4,000 m, glaciers, and elevation gains of several thousand metres per race. In the south, the Causses de Millau are a technical limestone plateau, with rocky trails, canyons, and a continental Mediterranean climate. And in Paris, urban trail runs along the Seine and iconic landmarks, a booming format that attracts runners who have never set foot on a mountain.
Key areas
Climate & best season
The alpine season runs from June to September, when high mountain passes are free of snow. The Causses, further south, allow running from April to November, though summer can be very hot. Paris has trail year-round, with flagship events in spring.
Trail culture
France invented modern trail running as we know it: the UTMB, born in Chamonix in 2003, is the most famous mountain race on the planet and the flagship of the UTMB World Series, with satellite races across the country. The Festival des Templiers, in Millau since 1995, is the other founding pillar, with over 13,000 runners every October. On top of that sits a very mature trail culture: thousands of races a year, from alpine ultra-distance to urban trail in major cities, with Annecy and its lake as one of the most photogenic settings on the European calendar.
Iconic races
Regions
Photo: Daniel J. Schwarz / Unsplash
Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
The world epicentre of high-mountain trail: Chamonix, at the foot of Mont Blanc, is the birthplace of the UTMB; Annecy, by its turquoise lake, hosts the Maxi-Race. Brutal elevation gain, glaciers, and some of the most photographed alpine landscapes in Europe.
2 races
Photo: Carnet de Voyage d'Alex / Unsplash
Occitania
The limestone south of France: the Causses de Millau are a technical limestone plateau, canyons, and continental Mediterranean climate, home to the Festival des Templiers, one of Europe's most crowded trail events.
1 race
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FeaturedPhoto: Morgan Bodet / Marathon du Mont-BlancMarathon du Mont-Blanc
Chamonix-Mont-Blanc
La carrera alpina más icónica de Europa: 42km alrededor del Mont-Blanc con 2.730m D+, ultratrail de 88km y distancias cortas. 25-28 junio 2026.
Photo: Unsplash / UnsplashMaxi-Race Annecy
Annecy
Circuito de 100-103 km (5.400m D+) alrededor del lago de Annecy por las Alpes francesas, con opciones de 56 km, 40 km y 20 km
Photo: Festival des TempliersFestival des Templiers
Millau
32ª edición: el festival trail más grande de Francia con 13.000 corredores, 18 distancias (8km-100km) en las Causses de Millau. Grand Trail des Templiers 80.7km (3.443m D+), octubre.
Gear up for the mountains
The right gear makes the difference on race day. Our comparison guides to choose well.
Top trail running gear for this country
Best-selling gear among mountain runners
Black Diamond
Black Diamond Distance Carbon Z
Ultralight carbon Z-pole foldable trekking poles. 137 g per pole in 110 cm length, 33 cm folded. EVA grip and adjustable strap. The trail running reference.
Hoka
Hoka Speedgoat 7
The best-selling trail shoe in the US and an absolute ultra-trail classic. Max Hoka cushioning, a Vibram Megagrip outsole with 5 mm lugs for grip in mud and technical terrain, and a snug Matryx upper. Built to eat up kilometres without punishing your legs in long races.
Icebreaker
Icebreaker Merino 200 Oasis LS Crewe
Long-sleeve thermal top in 100% merino wool (200g). Natural temperature regulation, genuine multi-day odor resistance and a soft, non-itch handfeel from the fine merino yarn.
Altra
Altra Lone Peak 9
Trail running shoe with zero drop and wide FootShape toe box that allows natural toe splay. 25 mm stack with EGO foam for balanced cushioning without losing ground contact. MaxTrac outsole with 3.5 mm lugs, ideal for non-technical trails, forest tracks and long-distance paths.
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