Trail du Vélan

Trail du Vélan is an alpine trail-running series in Switzerland’s Val d’Entremont, in Valais, below Mont Vélan and Grand Combin. The event is set in the Grand-St-Bernard and Combins massifs and offers five race options, from the 45 km Trail du Vélan to short children’s races. The main race is a serious mountain run: 45 km with 3,600 m of climbing, run in semi-autonomy. Other options include a 21 km Petit Trail with 2,000 m of climbing, a 15 km Trail Découverte with 900 m, and a steep 6.8 km Cross du Vélan with 1,010 m. The 45 km route moves through the communes of Bourg-St-Pierre and Liddes and links three mountain huts: Mille at 2,473 m, Vélan at 2,642 m, and Valsorey at 3,037 m. It uses a panoramic mountain path with open views toward Mont Blanc and the Grandes Jorasses, and its high point is at Valsorey hut. The race setup suits experienced trail runners, but the shorter courses make the weekend open to less seasoned runners too. Children aged 5 to 12 have their own P’tit Cross, so the series is built for both mountain specialists and families around the same alpine setting.