Gare di trail in Germania

Trail season in Germany runs from May to October, peaking in summer when alpine passes are free of snow. September and October offer mild temperatures and autumn colours, much valued for the mid-distance mountain marathons. In winter, snow closes much of the mountain trails, though some Nordic trail and snowshoe events persist.

Germany has one of Europe's oldest hiking and mountain running cultures, with mountain marathons that have been held since the 1960s and 70s. The country also hosts the Zugspitz Ultra Trail, a UTMB World Series race in the Bavarian Alps, and the Rennsteiglauf, one of the continent's largest and most veteran mountain cross races. The German trail community combines organisational rigour with strong local roots: many races are annual events for an entire town or region.