Spain · Andalusia (Jaén Province)
Distance
65 km
Date
Entry fee
€75
€ / km
€1.15
Ultra Trail Sierra de Cazorla: Andalusia's Steepest 65km, Measured
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 14.9% 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 7.7 km 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.
Elevation and Terrain
Total Meters
3,700m
D+/KM
56.9m/km
For context, the Tor des Géants 330 loop has 73 D+/km.
Avg Uphill Gradient
14.9%
Avg Downhill Gradient
-14.2%
Uphill gradient distribution
| 2–5% | 4.6 km | |
|---|---|---|
| 5–10% | 6.2 km | |
| 10–15% | 5.1 km | |
| 15–20% | 4.4 km | |
| 20%+ | 7.6 km |
Route Profile
AnalysedTerrain breakdown
| 42.7% | Uphill |
|---|---|
| 12.6% | Flat |
| 44.7% | Downhill |
Terrain
Ultra Trail Sierra de Cazorla – 65 km 65km Top Climbs
Top Climbs
| 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% |
Top descents
| 1 | 5.8 km · 733 m drop starts km 59 · avg -12.7% · max -48.2% |
|---|---|
| 2 | 7.0 km · 722 m drop starts km 51 · avg -10.4% · max -55.7% |
| 3 | 4.9 km · 592 m drop starts km 33 · avg -12.0% · max -63.9% |
The 65km That Opens with Its Biggest Climb and Never Relents of Ultra Trail Sierra de Cazorla
How hard is the Ultra Trail Sierra de Cazorla?
▼
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.
Is Ultra Trail Sierra de Cazorla a UTMB qualifier?
Is Ultra Trail Sierra de Cazorla a UTMB qualifier?▼
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.
How much does it cost to enter Ultra Trail Sierra de Cazorla?
How much does it cost to enter Ultra Trail Sierra de Cazorla?▼
€75 standard entry — €1.15 per kilometre — one of the more affordable UTMB qualifiers in Europe given the course difficulty.
When does the 2026 Ultra Trail Sierra de Cazorla 65km take place?
When does the 2026 Ultra Trail Sierra de Cazorla 65km take place?▼
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.
Granada or Málaga: Getting to Sierra de Cazorla by Car
Which airport should I use for Ultra Trail Sierra de Cazorla?
▼
Granada Airport (GRX) is the closest practical option at approximately 1.5–2.5 hours to Quesada. Málaga (AGP) is the largest regional hub but approximately 3 hours away. A car is strongly recommended — public transport to Quesada is very limited.
Ultra Trail Sierra de Cazorla – 65 km 65km GPX
Getting to Ultra Trail Sierra de Cazorla – 65 km
Nearest airport
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.
