Trail du Val Joly 2027

The Trail du Val Joly begins at the tourist village in ValJoly, Eppe-Sauvage, situated by the Nord area's largest lake and near the Belgian border. This early March trail running event offers several distances, typically from around 10 km to the mid-30 km range, alongside a hike and sometimes a Nordic walking option. The longer races include significant elevation for this region of northern France, with approximately 560 m of gain on the 35 km, 460 m on the 26 km, and 340 m on the 18 km. Entry numbers are limited, partly to preserve the Natura 2000 site, and the event can attract over 2,500 participants across all distances. The course commences with the station steps, then winds through undulating terrain around the lake and the wooded paths of Avesnois. Runners will encounter a varied northern landscape: forest tracks, dunes, cobblestones, small hills, and even slag heaps from the area's mining history. The event is associated with the Nord Athletics Committee and is part of a larger challenge involving designated trail races in the department. Participants earn a virtual medal for each race in the challenge, which assembles over time.