Gran Trail dell'Etna

Gran Trail dell'Etna is a trail running series held in Ragalna, Catania, Sicily, on the slopes of Mount Etna. The races traverse trails on Europe's highest active volcano, offering a main long-distance option and shorter routes. The program features the Gran Trail dell'Etna 42K, the Trail della Galvarina 18K, and non-competitive walktrail routes of 18K and 8K. The 59 km option presents approximately 2,930 metres of elevation gain, while the Galvarina route covers about 18.7 km with 610 metres of climbing. The event typically occurs in early July and is organized by ASD Ecotrailsicilia. The long race passes through Mediterranean scrub, old lava flows resembling a lunar landscape, and extinct volcanic cones, providing varied terrain before elevation changes. The Trail della Galvarina spends more time in forest and offers views toward Etna's summit crater. The shorter race is designed to be accessible, and the walktrail caters to those seeking support and the experience of crossing the volcano without competition. The series is included in the UTMB Index, appealing to runners accumulating index results and to locals and visitors seeking a challenging Sicilian mountain run.