Trail Running in the Pyrenees: Couserans and Ariège

The Couserans and wider Ariège department sit in the wild heart of the central Pyrenees, where forested valleys rise quickly to rocky ridges and high, empty summits. For trail runners this is a dream terrain: soft forest paths, ancient mule tracks, balcony trails above deep valleys and rugged high-mountain traverses. From the market town of Saint-Girons you can be on singletrack within minutes, choosing between gentle undulating runs or serious vertical gain.

Waymarked routes criss-cross the landscape—from sections of the famous GR10 to local PR paths linking villages, cols and lakes. Many trails start low in the valleys and climb through beech and chestnut woodland before breaking out into open pasture and rock, giving huge views towards Spain. Whether you are building base miles, sharpening for an event or chasing long mountain days, the Couserans and Ariège offer variety day after day.

One of the great strengths of the Couserans and Ariège is how easy it is to tune your run to how you feel on the day.

On recovery days you can follow riverside paths along the Salat or Lez, looping between villages on rolling farm tracks and quiet forest lanes. Short climbs lead to chapels, viewpoints and tiny hamlets perched above the valley, giving big scenery with modest effort.

When you want more elevation, balcony paths cut across the flanks of the valleys, linking cols and small passes. Here you move in and out of forest, traversing above deep ravines with frequent glimpses of higher peaks. Technical singletrack, flowing descent and punchy climbs can all be found within a single 10–20km circuit.

On longer days you can link multiple cols and high plateaus, touching 2,000m or more, often without ever repeating a section of trail. In summer, lakes and torrents offer cool water stops, and in autumn the beech forests explode with colour. The combination of good waymarking, a dense trail network and relatively quiet mountains makes this corner of the Pyrenees exceptionally rewarding to explore on foot.

If you enjoy pinning on a race bib, the Ariège calendar is packed with trail events throughout the year, many of them within easy reach of Saint-Girons and the Couserans. 2026 already features a strong line-up of races for all levels:

• Trail des Citadelles – Lavelanet, 5 April 2026
  A classic early-season Pyrenean trail race with several distances (from around 10km up to roughly 70–74km) weaving around the Cathar castles and ridges above Lavelanet. It is known for its varied terrain—forest singletrack, steep climbs and panoramic limestone ridges—and returns every spring as a key date in the regional trail calendar.

• Trail du Quartz – Prayols, 3 May 2026
  A friendly event on the hills above Foix, typically offering multiple distances so that both newer trail runners and experienced racers can find a suitable course. The routes visit old mining areas, forest paths and viewpoints over the Ariège valley.

• Trail de la Dent d'Orlu – Orlu, 12 July 2026
  A spectacular mountain race climbing from the village of Orlu to the summit of the iconic Dent d'Orlu (2,222m). The main route is relatively short in distance (around 14km) but with a very serious vertical gain (about 1,600m), ideal if you enjoy steep, sustained climbing and big summits.

• Calabass'Trail – Saint-Lary, 26 September 2026
  A late-season event with different race formats, including mid-distance trails (up to around 25–27km) and often a vertical-kilometre-style challenge. Expect a friendly village atmosphere, forest climbs and ridges with wide open views.

These are in addition to many shorter village races and mixed-terrain events that pop up through the season. Whether you want your first 10–15km trail race or a long, technical marathon, you can find a 2026 event that matches your ambitions.

For experienced runners seeking serious elevation and long days in the high mountains, Ariège is home to some of the most demanding ultras in the Pyrenees.

The UltrAriège Pyrénées, based around Ax-les-Thermes, returns in July 2026 (typically mid-July) with a full weekend of racing. Distances in recent editions have ranged from about 15km and 23km up through 55km and 100km, all the way to a 160km ultra with massive elevation gain. The longer routes string together ridges, cols and remote valleys, often spending long sections above 2,000m and giving a real sense of journey across the massif.

Further east, the Challenge du Montcalm in Auzat is a long-established August fixture, famous for its steep, rocky climbs and high summits. The event hosts several races, from shorter, more accessible mountain trails to extremely demanding courses like PICaPICA, a brutal ultra that has gained a reputation among strong mountain runners for its technical terrain and very high cumulative ascent.

These events require solid preparation, mountain experience and a comfort with technical ground, but they reward you with some of the wildest and most spectacular running in the French Pyrenees. Even if you do not race them, their route maps are a rich source of inspiration for big adventure days starting from a comfortable base in the Couserans.

Closer to Saint-Girons and the Parc Naturel Régional des Pyrénées Ariégeoises, a number of annual races showcase the best of the local terrain.

The Trail du Couserans, traditionally held in or near Saint-Girons in late autumn (often November), offers courses in the region of 10–31km. The routes typically explore the hills, forests and ridges immediately above the town, giving visiting runners a superb introduction to the Couserans landscape with plenty of runnable singletrack and punchy climbs.

Elsewhere in the department, events like the Trail des Cascades at Roquefort-les-Cascades make creative use of local geography, taking runners past dramatic waterfalls and through limestone and forest scenery. Many of these races have become fixtures on the regional calendar, combining well-marked routes with a relaxed, welcoming village atmosphere.

Beyond racing, designated trail areas such as the Espace Trail Aulus-les-Bains Couserans provide marked circuits of varying difficulty from a single valley base. From Aulus-les-Bains you can choose family-friendly loops, intermediate hill runs or more serious mountain circuits heading towards high passes and lakes—all clearly signposted, with route information available locally.

The main trail running season in the Couserans and Ariège stretches from spring through late autumn. April and May bring fresh green valleys and cooler temperatures—ideal for events like the Trail des Citadelles or early training trips. High summer opens up the biggest mountain routes and ultras such as UltrAriège and the Challenge du Montcalm, with long daylight hours and access to high ridges and lakes. Autumn is often a highlight, with stable weather, quieter trails and spectacular forest colours.

Many runners choose to anchor their stay around one or two key events, then spend extra days exploring local circuits at a more relaxed pace. With so many trails starting from valley villages, you can tune the length and steepness of each outing to how your legs feel after race day. Good mapping apps and local tourist offices make planning routes straightforward, and you are never far from a café or bakery for a post-run treat.

After big days on technical singletrack or gentler explorations along the valley, where you stay matters just as much as the routes you run. Chateau Pouech sits close to Saint-Girons in the Couserans, central to the Ariège trail running playground and within reach of the major race hubs and valleys.

With spacious rooms, peaceful grounds and plenty of quiet corners to stretch, read or simply enjoy the mountain views, it offers exactly the kind of deep relaxation your legs will crave after long climbs and descents. Whether you are here to tackle headline events like UltrAriège or Trail des Citadelles, to discover local favourites such as the Trail du Couserans, or simply to explore the vast network of everyday trails, Chateau Pouech is an excellent place to stay as it is central to the region and offers excellent relaxation after a hard day on the trail.