Trail des Sources de la Loire 2026

The Trail des Sources de la Loire is an ultra-trail race held in Costaros, a village in Haute-Loire within France’s Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. It takes place in early November, when the weather often feels wintry. Runners can choose from short trail distances, mid-distance races, and long ultras. Published race listings show distances including 11 km, 18 km, 32 km, 38 km, 50 km, 61 km, and 111 km. Another program format lists four races at 13 km, 33 km, 63 km, and 120 km. The event is also part of the UTMB Index, allowing finishers to use eligible results within that system. The routes traverse the local mountain and forest terrain near the sources of the Loire, with sections passing by lakes and ponds. The race may include a night option and can extend over several days, distinguishing it from a simple Sunday trail run. While its identity in the trail calendar is still developing, the source material clearly presents it as a challenging, scenic race, not a flat speed course. The ultra distance is described as one that requires significant effort, and the mention of sometimes wintry conditions indicates that runners need appropriate trail gear, beyond just road-racing fitness.