Spain · Aragon (Pyrenees)
Distance
43 km
Date
Entry fee
€70
€ / km
€1.65
Trail Valle de Tena Ultra 4K: 42.5km of the Hardest Terrain in the Spanish Pyrenees
Trail Valle de Tena Ultra 4K is the second most mountainous race in the DiscoverTrailRaces database of 390 European ultras — only one course on the continent packs in less flat terrain. Starting and finishing near the Pyrenean village of Panticosa in Aragón, the 4K covers 42.5km with 3,500m of ascent (82.35m per kilometre) through high-altitude terrain the race itself describes as some of the wildest points of the Pyrenean mountain range.
The biggest single descent drops 1,367m at an average gradient of −13.2%. Average uphill gradient ranks 11th steepest out of 390 European ultras. A medical certificate is required. Entry runs €70–€80 depending on when you register. Unlike many races of this calibre, it has no sell-out history — an open door into one of Spain's hardest non-UTMB courses. Race day is 5 September 2026, with the historic Balneario de Panticosa thermal spa nearby for the recovery you will need.
Elevation and Terrain
Total Meters
3,500m
D+/KM
82.4m/km
For context, the Tor des Géants 330 loop has 73 D+/km.
Avg Uphill Gradient
18.7%
Avg Downhill Gradient
-17.2%
Uphill gradient distribution
| 2–5% | 2.0 km | |
|---|---|---|
| 5–10% | 2.4 km | |
| 10–15% | 3.3 km | |
| 15–20% | 4.1 km | |
| 20%+ | 7.2 km |
Route Profile
AnalysedTerrain breakdown
| 42.0% | Uphill |
|---|---|
| 6.6% | Flat |
| 51.4% | Downhill |
Terrain
Trail Valle de Tena Ultra – 42.5 km 43km Top Climbs
Top Climbs
| 1 | 5.4 km · 1,367 m gain starts km 1 · avg 25.3% · max 70.8% |
|---|---|
| 2 | 5.3 km · 595 m gain starts km 33 · avg 11.3% · max 50.0% |
| 3 | 6.8 km · 564 m gain starts km 11 · avg 8.3% · max 42.0% |
Top descents
| 1 | 8.5 km · 1,254 m drop starts km 26 · avg -14.8% · max -43.3% |
|---|---|
| 2 | 5.6 km · 735 m drop starts km 40 · avg -13.2% · max -45.2% |
| 3 | 2.7 km · 725 m drop starts km 6 · avg -27.0% · max -58.5% |
Is Trail Valle de Tena Ultra 4K a difficult race?
Is Trail Valle de Tena Ultra 4K a difficult race?▼
Yes — it ranks 2nd most mountainous out of 390 European ultra trail races in the DiscoverTrailRaces database. Only one course has less flat terrain. The 4K covers 42.5km with 3,500m D+, averaging 82.35m of climbing per kilometre, and a medical certificate is required to enter.
How Trail Valle de Tena 4K Names Its Distances
What does '4K' mean in the Trail Valle de Tena race name?
▼
The 4K refers to approximately 4,000m of D+ (elevation gain), which is the race's naming convention for all its distances: 8K (approximately 80km / 6,820m D+), 4K (42.5km), 2K (approximately 20km), and 1K (approximately 11km). Note that the GPS-measured D+ for the 4K is 3,500m rather than exactly 4,000m — the '4K' name is a branding convention, not a precise measurement.
Open Registration, No Sell-Out History: Entering Trail Valle de Tena 4K
Is Trail Valle de Tena Ultra 4K sold out?
▼
No — unlike many comparable mountain ultras, the 4K has no sell-out history. Entry for 2026 is €80 (standard rate; early bird of €70 was valid until March 31, 2026). Registration is via Rock the Sport: rockthesport.com/es/evento/trail-valle-de-tena-2026.
Car Essential: Getting to Panticosa and the Valle de Tena Ultra 4k
Where does Trail Valle de Tena Ultra 4K take place?
▼
The race is based in Panticosa, a mountain village in the Valle de Tena in the Aragonese Pyrenees, Spain. The nearest airports are Zaragoza (ZAZ) and Bilbao (BIO), both approximately 2–3 hours by car. Public transport to the start is not realistic — a car is strongly recommended.
Spain's Hardest Non-UTMB Ultra: The Trail Valle de Tena 4K Ranking
How does Trail Valle de Tena 4K compare to UTMB races?
▼
The 4K is not part of the UTMB race series. The race itself describes it as one of Spain's hardest non-UTMB ultras. At rank 2/390 for most mountainous terrain, rank 11/390 for steepest average uphill gradient, and rank 14/390 for highest D+/km, the 4K is objectively harder than many UTMB-branded events by the numbers.
Trail Valle de Tena Ultra – 42.5 km 43km GPX
Getting to Trail Valle de Tena Ultra – 42.5 km
Nearest airport
Zaragoza (ZAZ) / Bilbao (BIO)
Notes
Start: 2–3h / Public transport: not realistic
