Switzerland

Switzerland is, broadly-speaking, often less technical than Italy or France, making it a good place to learn how to trail run in the mountains or take on your first trail race. The Berner Oberland is ideal in this regard and home to our introductory trail running tours. The country is home to the oldest trail race in the Alps, the Dents du Midi race (DDM Trail), which goes back more than 50 years. The Swiss Alps have several long distance routes that are great for trail running, notably the Haute Route, which now has the Via Valais, a trail runner’s version of the iconic Chamonix to Zermatt hike and ski,

Some of the better-known trail races in Switzerland include the Swiss Peaks Trail, Sierre-Zinal, and the Eiger Ultra Trail, but much of Switzerland’s unique charm comes from its local races. These races are friendly, low-key and often come with tasty post-race meals and wheels of cheese as prizes. The Valais canton, with over 100 trail races, is a great example of this scene, with a long-time Valais Cup race series consisting of dozens of local races. Switzerland is also home to what is widely considered the world’s fastest Vertical Kilometer course at Fully with 1000 meters of climbing in 1.92 kilometers.

France

France is home to the mountain town of Chamonix, a global trail running hub. Chamonix hosts some of the biggest trail racing events in the world, including UTMB Mont Blanc and Mont Blanc Marathon. Chamonix also has CMBM, which, with 300 members and twice-weekly trainings that include professional coaches, is one of the largest and most active trail running clubs anywhere. Other notable races include the Trails des Aiguilles Rouges in the fall and Argentrail in July. Many pro trail runners call Chamonix home in the summer months, with a smaller number having relocated from around the world to live there year-round. ITRA, the International Trail Running Association, is a Swiss non-profit but has its offices in Chamonix.

Aside from busy Chamonix, there are dozens of more remote and quieter areas to trail run around France. In recent years, trail runners have been gravitating towards the area around Annecy, the Beaufortain region, the Val d’Isere area, Ecrins National Park and the Maritime Alps region, to name just a few.

Italy

Perhaps because of its place in trail running history as the home of highly technical Skyrunning, Italy may be best known for its technical trail races. While you can find beginner-friendly races like the Gran Trail Courmayeur series hosted by Val d’Aosta Trailers in Courmayeur, you’ll find plenty of technical races that mix climbing with trail running, like the legendary once-every-two-years Trofeo-Kima race and the Monte Rosa Skymarathon. Other notable Italian trail races include the Lavaredo Ultra Trail, Dolomyths, and the epic 330-km long Tor des Geants, which has expanded into a broader series of now four races.

Italy is also the birthplace of the Vertical Kilometer, created by the International Skyrunning Federation, which is based in Biella.