ESPAGNE · Andalusia (Jaén Province)
Ultra Trail Sierra de Cazorla: Andalusia's Steepest 65km, Measured
Informations clés
Distance
65 km
Date
Droit d’inscription
75 EUR
€ / km
€1.15
Cazorla’s rugged heart: limestone ridges, pine forests, and a tough 65K in Andalucía’s wilds.
Ultra Trail Sierra de Cazorla is a 65 km trail race held in October in the Sierra de Cazorla, Segura y Las Villas Natural Park, Jaén Province, Andalusia, southern Spain. The course gains 3,700 m (56.9 m/km) — elevation density matching UTMB — across limestone ridges, pine forest, and the headwaters of the Guadalquivir River. At 14.91% average uphill gradient and just 12.6% flat terrain, it is one of the steepest 65km courses in Europe. The course gives no warmup: a 780m climb begins at km 0.48 and runs 7.68km at 10.2% average. The final 14km feature two consecutive major descents totalling 1,455m on gradients averaging −10% to −13%. The route passes through Collado Zamora, the Nacimiento del Guadalquivir (source of the Guadalquivir River), and the Cueva Jaén descent, with scramble-grade pitches on multiple sections. Entry costs €1.15/km. Nearest airports are Granada (GRX) at ~1.5–2.5 hours and Málaga (AGP) at ~3 hours. Held annually since around 2016 (65km format from 2023), the race draws around 118 finishers. It is a UTMB 100K qualifier (3 ITRA points) and a Copa de Andalucía de Ultras qualifier. It suits experienced technical trail runners who want a seriously steep, remote Andalusian race with almost no recovery terrain.
Élévation et Terrain
Mètres totaux
3,700m
D+/KM
56.9m/km
Pour référence, le Tor des Géants 330 km a 73 D+/km.
Pente montante moyenne
14.9%
Pente descendante moyenne
-14.2%
Distribution du gradient de montée
| 2–5% | 4.6 km | |
|---|---|---|
| 5–10% | 6.2 km | |
| 10–15% | 5.1 km | |
| 15–20% | 4.4 km | |
| 20%+ | 7.6 km |
Profil de parcours
AnalysedDétail du terrain
| 42.7% | Montée |
|---|---|
| 12.6% | Plat |
| 44.7% | Descente |
Terrain
Ascensions
Principales montées
| Rank | Length | Elevation gain | Start km | Average gradient | Max gradient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 7.7 km · 780 m gain starts km 0 · avg 10.2% · max 43.3% | ||||
| 2 | 4.2 km · 518 m gain starts km 47 · avg 12.2% · max 47.4% | ||||
| 3 | 8.2 km · 466 m gain starts km 12 · avg 5.7% · max 71.1% |
Principales descentes
| Rank | Length | Elevation drop | Start km | Average gradient | Max gradient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5.8 km · 733 m drop starts km 59 · avg -12.7% · max -48.2% | ||||
| 2 | 7 km · 722 m drop starts km 51 · avg -10.4% · max -55.7% | ||||
| 3 | 4.9 km · 592 m drop starts km 33 · avg -12% · max -63.9% |
Ultra Trail Sierra de Cazorla: Andalusia's Steepest 65km, Measured
Why Sierra de Cazorla's Gradient Data Should Stop You in Your Tracks▼
Q: How hard is the Ultra Trail Sierra de Cazorla? A: Extremely demanding for its distance. At 56.9m/km elevation density, 14.91% average uphill gradient, and only 12.6% flat terrain, this is one of the steepest 65km courses in Europe — comparable in gradient intensity to UTMB. The race starts with a 780m climb at km 0.48 and finishes with 1,455m of combined technical descent in the final 14km.
Course Profile — No Warmup, No Flat, and 1,455m of Descent in the Final 14km▼
Q: Is Ultra Trail Sierra de Cazorla a UTMB qualifier? A: Yes. The 65km is a UTMB 100K category qualifier (3 ITRA points). It is also a qualifier for the Copa de Andalucía de Ultras regional championship.
€1.15 per Kilometre for a UTMB Qualifier in Spain's Largest Natural Park▼
Q: How much does it cost to enter Ultra Trail Sierra de Cazorla? A: €75 standard entry — €1.15 per kilometre — one of the more affordable UTMB qualifiers in Europe given the course difficulty.
Getting There: Granada, Quesada, and Navigating Andalusia's Remote Interior▼
Q: When does the 2026 Ultra Trail Sierra de Cazorla take place? A: October 17, 2026 (Saturday), with a 7:30 AM start from Plaza de la Constitución in Quesada. The time limit is 13 hours 30 minutes.
Fichiers de course
Logistique
Aéroport le plus proche
Málaga (AGP) / Madrid (MAD) / Granada (GRX)
Notes
Start: ~2.5–3 hrs (AGP) ~3.5–4.5 hrs (MAD) ~1.5–2.5 hrs (GRX) by car to Quesada / Public transport: limited; bus to Jaén/Ubeda + taxi / Accommodation: limited in Quesada; better base in Cazorla/Ubeda—book early
FAR
It’ll possibly take 3+ hours from the closest large airport to arrive. Plan your adventure accordingly, take an extra day for those after-race beers or Curranz.
