The Best Trail Running Destinations In Europe 

Trail running is more popular than ever, with global search interest in the sport up 119% compared to this time last year and it's easy to see why. It gets you off the pavement and into nature and you can go at whatever pace suits you. All it takes to get started is a pair of trail running shoes with enough grip for the terrain.

Trail running holidays are booming too, with global search interest up 868% over the same period. But with thousands of trails spread across the Alps, the Pyrenees and Europe's other mountain ranges, deciding where to go can be tricky. So which destinations are the best for a trail running holiday in Europe?

To find out, we analysed 90 trail running destinations across 21 European countries, covering 9,003 trail running routes.

Each one was scored on eight factors, starting with the number of trails and the average rating of trails in the area. We also looked at how many trails are graded easy or moderate for beginner and intermediate runners, the variety of scenery and the number of runs that pass cultural and historical sites. Finally, we factored in the average price of a 3-star hotel, along with average monthly rainfall and windspeed.

Which European Destinations Are Best For A Trail Running Holiday? 

Topping the list is Manzanares el Real, where trails climb into the granite towers of La Pedriza in Spain's Sierra de Guadarrama. Zakopane, the main gateway to the Polish Tatras, takes second place, and Cauterets rounds out the top three with trails leading into the Pyrenees National Park.

Germany has the most entries in the top 20, with six, while the Lake District is the only UK region to rank. Lesser-known spots place above some of the biggest names in trail running. For example, world-famous Chamonix places 14th, held back by high hotel prices and a lack of easier routes. The same factors keep Cortina d'Ampezzo, the Dolomites' highest entry, just outside the top 20.

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Europe’s Top 20 Trail Running Destinations 

1. Manzanares el Real - Sierra de Guadarrama, Spain 

Trail Running Score: 100/100 

Photo by Raphael Nicolas on Unsplash

Manzanares el Real tops the ranking by scoring well on almost every measure. It has 229 off-road trail runs, and users rate the trails in the area 4.6 out of 5. Hotels average £96 a night and it also has some of the lowest rainfall on the list. At around 50km from Madrid, the town sits at the foot of La Pedriza, a maze of granite boulders and towers in the Sierra de Guadarrama National Park. The Yelmo de la Pedriza y el Tolmo circuit from Canto Cochino (9.35km, 580m of climbing) heads for El Yelmo, the most famous of those towers. Back in town, the 15th-century Mendoza castle is the best-preserved castle in the Community of Madrid.  

2. Zakopane - Tatra Mountains, Poland 

Trail Running Score: 96.8/100 

Photo by Mateusz Bajdak on Unsplash

No destination in the top 20 has more varied scenery than Zakopane, the main gateway to the Polish Tatras. Most of its 88 trail runs go through forests and more than half pass a lake or river or reach a summit. The Wielka Krokiew to Strążyska Valley loop (9.06km, 150m of climbing) is graded moderate and would be a good place to start. The route passes the Wielka Krokiew ski jump, a regular Ski Jumping World Cup venue. Many of the runs like this go into Tatra National Park, which does charge a small entry fee. 

3. Cauterets - Hautes-Pyrénées, France 

Trail Running Score: 93.6/100 

Photo by Damien Petit on Unsplash

Cauterets is an old spa town in a narrow valley of the Hautes-Pyrénées, on the edge of the Pyrenees National Park. It ranks third thanks to its 206 trail runs, an average trail rating of 4.6, and 3-star hotels costing around £89 a night. For a full day out, the Marcadau Valley Lakes Loop starts at Pont d'Espagne and climbs 1,390m over 25.5km inside the Pyrenees National Park. The terrain is serious, with 86% of trails graded hard, so Cauterets suits runners with some mountain experience already. 

4. Wernigerode - Harz Mountains, Germany 

Trail Running Score: 89.4/100 

Photo by Marina Reich on Unsplash

Sitting on the northern edge of the Harz Mountains in Saxony-Anhalt is Wernigerode, known for its colourful half-timbered houses and the castle that looks down over the town. It has the second-most trail runs in the ranking (483) and it’s great for beginners as more than half of its trails are graded easy or moderate. 

For a gentle start, try the moderate loop from town to the Schwengskopf viewpoint (12km, 300m of climbing). When you're ready for a bigger challenge, the Brocken summit and Steinerne Renne waterfall loop covers 44.2km with 1,190m of climbing. The Brocken is the highest peak in northern Germany and its summit is considered the windiest place in Germany and Central Europe, with hurricane-force gusts on more than 100 days per year. Pack a warm layer and stick to marked paths in bad weather.  

5. Courmayeur - Aosta Valley, Italy 

Trail Running Score: 89.2/100

 Photo by Ana Frantz on Unsplash

Courmayeur pairs 266 trail runs with a high average rating of trails in the area and the joint-lowest average windspeed, at 6mph. Tucked beneath the Italian side of Mont Blanc, it's also the start and finish of the Tor des Géants, a 330km race around the Aosta Valley with 24,000m of climbing and a 150-hour time limit. With 88% of its trails graded hard, it's one for experienced mountain runners, so make sure your trail running kit is up to the job. For example, the loop to the top of Mont de la Saxe covers 17.4km with 1,390m of climbing.

6. Bodenmais - Bavarian Forest, Germany 

Trail Running Score: 87.1/100 

Photo by Manuel Keller on Unsplash

Steady scores across the board earn Bodenmais sixth place in our ranking. It has 111 trail runs, reasonably priced hotels at £108 a night and some of the lowest windspeeds on the list. To get you started, the Rißloch waterfalls loop (12.9km, 670m of climbing) starts in the town and takes you to the highest waterfalls in the Bavarian Forest. Bodenmais sits at the foot of the Großer Arber, about 20km from the Czech border. At 1,456m, the Arber is the highest mountain in Bavaria outside the Alps, so it's the one to aim for if you want a bigger climb. 

7. Livigno - Rhaetian Alps, Italy 

Trail Running Score: 85.9/100 

Photo by Michał Robak on Unsplash

Livigno has just 52 trail running routes, fewer than most of the top 20, but it makes up for it with the joint-highest average trail rating of 4.8, shared with fellow Italian destination Campo Imperatore. The town sits at 1,816m in the Rhaetian Alps, close to the Swiss border, and has long been a training base for top athletes because of the altitude. Try the Crap della Paré ring route (11.8km, 660m of climbing), but give yourself a day or two to adjust to the altitude before tackling anything longer.

8. Oberstdorf - Allgäu Alps, Germany 

Trail Running Score: 84.9/100 

Photo by Luca J on Unsplash

Germany’s third entry in the top 10 is Oberstdorf, offering a wide variety of runs, including 82 routes passing by cultural and historical sites. The local tourist board has put together a collection of 10 trail runs on Komoot, ranging from easy valley routes beside the Stillach and Trettach rivers to high alpine summit trails. It's also the wettest destination in the study, averaging 141mm of precipitation a month, so pack a waterproof jacket whatever the forecast says. 

9. Ambleside - Lake District, UK 

Trail Running Score: 84.6/100 

Photo by Amit Jagnade on Unsplash

The UK's highest-ranked destination is Ambleside, with 200 trail runs to choose from and routes in the area rated an average of 4.6. The town sits at the head of Windermere, England's largest natural lake, and the classic run from here is the Fairfield Horseshoe (17.7km, 870m of climbing). It also has the highest average windspeed in the top 20, averaging 20mph, and it will be even windier on the fells. Make sure to take a windproof layer and check the mountain forecast before heading up high. 

10. Lienz - East Tyrol, Austria 

Trail Running Score: 84.0/100 

Photo by Freek Wolsink on pexels.com

Lienz places just inside the top 10 by scoring consistently well, pairing low windspeeds with a good mix of moderate and hard runs. It's the capital of East Tyrol and sits where the Isel and Drau rivers meet, beneath the Lienz Dolomites. A third of its trails are graded moderate, including a 10.3km loop from nearby Dölsach (210m of climbing) that follows the Isel River Trail and passes Tristacher See, the only natural swimming lake in the region. On a warm day, you can stop for a swim on the way round. 

11. St. Moritz - Engadine, Switzerland 

Trail Running Score: 83.7/100 

Photo by Ptah G on pexels.com

St. Moritz is a great destination for beginner runners, as almost half of its trails are graded easy or moderate. The Val Roseg out-and-back (14.2km, 220m of climbing) is graded moderate, as is the 8.1km St. Moritz and Lake Staz Loop. The cost of accommodation is the main reason for its position, with 3-star hotels averaging £264 a night, the most expensive in the top 20. The town sits at around 1,800m on the shore of Lake St. Moritz, one of a chain of lakes along the Upper Engadine valley. 

12. Vielha (Val d'Aran) - Catalan Pyrenees, Spain 

Trail Running Score: 83.1/100 

Photo by Unexpected Catalonia on Unsplash

For runners on a budget, Vielha offers the cheapest hotels in the top 20, averaging just £67 a night. It also has 182 trail running routes, 96 of which pass cultural and historical sites. The town is the capital of the Val d'Aran, which sits on the northern slopes of the Pyrenees. The Garonne rises in the Val d'Aran before flowing through France to the Atlantic, and the Garonne River and Vielha viewpoint loop (11.9km, 470m of climbing) starts in town. Four in five of its trails are graded hard, so expect plenty of climbing. 

13. Winterberg - Sauerland, Germany 

Trail Running Score: 82.8/100 

Photo by Dana Luig on Unsplash

Few places on the list are better suited for beginner trail runners than Winterberg, with 72% of its 236 trail runs graded easy or moderate. Best known as a winter sports resort, the town sits in the middle of the Sauerland, at the source of the Ruhr and Lenne rivers. If you're new to trail running, the loop from town to the source of the Ruhr covers 11.9km on easy-going paths with 220m of climbing. For slightly more experienced runners, the high-level circuit through the Sorpe Valley in the Sauerland Rothaargebirge Nature Park covers 17.7km with 400m of climbing.  

14. Chamonix - Mont Blanc Massif, France 

Trail Running Score: 82.0/100 

Photo by Cheng Lin on Unsplash

Often considered the home of trail running, Chamonix hosts the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc, a lap of Mont Blanc through France, Italy and Switzerland that covers around 170km with 10,000m of climbing. First run in 2003, it now headlines a race week of eight events and more than 10,000 runners. The destination has the fourth-most trail runs in the study (416), but hotels averaging £216 a night and a network where only 13% of trails are graded easy or moderate pull its score down. For route ideas, see our top 10 trails to run or hike in the Chamonix Valley, handpicked by elite athlete Tom Wood.  

15. Jaca - Aragonese Pyrenees, Spain 

Trail Running Score: 81.5/100 

Photo by Simon Wiedensohler on Unsplash

In the foothills of the Pyrenees, Jaca has 273 trail runs and is also one of the driest destinations on the list, averaging 33.6mm of rain a month. The moderately difficult loop from town to Rapitán Fort (8.68km, 270m of climbing) is a good place to start. For a steeper test, the 33 bends of Oroel from Barós packs 910m of climbing into 16.8km. 

Top Tips For Trail Running Abroad

Whether you're after an easy lakeside loop or a full day in the mountains, there are plenty of destinations to choose from. Ben Mounsey, our Trail and Outdoor Expert at SportsShoes, shares his top tips for what you should consider before going trail running abroad:

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1. Research and plan your routes ahead of time 

Before you pick your destination, check the area has routes to suit your experience level. Some places in our ranking, like Cauterets in France, are better suited to experienced runners, as the majority of trails are graded hard. Look at each route’s distance, elevation gain and surface conditions so you know what to expect. 

Online platforms like Komoot or AllTrails are a great starting point, while local tourist boards often offer additional information for visitors to consider. Downloading your route for offline use can further help ensure your safety, as phone signal can be patchy in the mountains. A GPS watch can be handy here: load the GPX file onto it and you can easily follow the route from your wrist. 

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2. Make sure you have the right kit 

It’s extremely important to make sure you wear the right trail shoes, suitable for the terrain you’re running on. Our Running Shoe Finder can help you narrow it down and find options that will work for you, based on things like grip, cushioning and fit. 

Your clothing matters just as much, so check the weather ahead of time and pack accordingly. Conditions can change with the seasons, with mountain destinations often getting snow in winter and high temperatures in summer. Vests and backpacks can be useful to carry extra clothing like waterproof jackets or layers should temperatures drop. 

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3. Check weather conditions and altitude 

Some destinations sit high up, such as Livigno at 1,816m, and running at altitude can feel much harder if you're not used to it. While it can be a great way to push and challenge yourself, if you’ve not run in such conditions it can be beneficial having a day or two to acclimatise and starting with an easy route.

While our research looked at average rainfall and windspeed, conditions on the day can be very different, so check the forecast and pack the right clothing for changeable weather. It’s also important to check when the sun will set, particularly during autumn and winter, as losing light can make routes much more difficult to navigate, particularly if you don’t know the area. 

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4. Stay safe and let someone know where you’re heading 

Stick to marked paths and make sure you’ve packed the right equipment, including food and hydration. Remote areas don’t always have phone signal, so a physical or downloaded map can further help guide you back should you get lost.

If you’re running in a new country, make sure you save the local emergency phone number before you head out. Some areas in the mountains also have their own rescue services and it’s always a good idea to let someone know where you’re heading and when you think you’ll be back.

Our guide to trail running and hiking safety has plenty more tips to help you stay safe on the trails too. 

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5. Be considerate of local guidance and leave no trace 

Trail running is a fantastic way to explore picturesque landscapes, but as the popularity of the sport grows, it’s never been more important to be considerate of the environment. If you’re bringing snacks like energy bars or gels, make sure to take any rubbish back home with you.

Some destinations may have entry fees, often quite common in national parks, so research these in advance to avoid unexpected surprises.  

Are you ready to experience some of Europe’s top trail running destinations for yourself? Check out our Trails and Inspiration category for more ideas on where to run next. 

Methodology

We compiled a list of 90 trail running destinations across Europe, including well-known bases and lesser-known spots. Each destination was then scored on eight measures across five categories:

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• Number of trails (25%): off-road trail runs from Komoot

• Trail rating (25%): the average review rating of trail runs in the area on AllTrails

• Trail experience (25%): the share of trails graded easy or moderate versus hard (10%), variety of scenery across forests, lakes and rivers, and summits (10%) and number of runs passing cultural and historical sites (5%), all from Komoot

• Accommodation cost (15%): the average nightly price of a 3-star hotel on a popular hotel booking site

• Weather (10%): average monthly rainfall (5%) and windspeed (5%) from timeanddate.com

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The measures were then combined into a weighted score out of 100, with the highest-scoring destination deemed the best for trail running.

Data correct as of September 2026. 

Check out our Trails and Inspirational category to discover the most amazing trails and hikes in the world, as recommended by our athletes, ambassadors and loyal customers.