Trails de la Vallée du Brevon

A 5 a.m. start for the 55 km Trail des Allobroges sets the tone for the Trails de la Vallée du Brevon, a mountain trail series based in Bellevaux, Haute-Savoie, between Lake Geneva and Mont Blanc. The main race covers 55 km with 3,800 m of climbing. The Trail des Crêtes du Brevon offers 35 km with 2,700 m of climbing, starting at 7:30 a.m. Shorter options include a 20 km race with 1,200 m of climbing from 9 a.m., and the 10 km Discovery Trail, a 450 m route open to runners and walkers new to the event. The routes traverse the Brevon valley and Bellevaux area, passing through deep forest, alpine pasture, exposed ridges, technical singletrack, and high summits, avoiding easy road miles. The Crêtes race shares its final 25 km with the Allobroges course, ensuring a challenging alpine finish even for the middle distance. Organizers describe the terrain locally as “dré dans l’pentu,” meaning straight up the slope. Gear requirements for the longer races include a survival blanket, working phone, 1.5 litres of water, whistle, and, for the Allobroges, a headlamp. The Allobroges is intended for ultra-trail runners and concludes at 8 p.m.; the Crêtes route is listed as a UTMB Index 50K race and had just under 200 finishers recently. The series is also part of the Léman Running Trophy.