Trails chantelle sports nature 2027

Trails Chantelle Sports Nature is a long-running January trail series held in Chantelle, France, within the Allier region. Races take place in the Gorges de la Bouble, a protected Sensitive Natural Area. The event offers runners several distinct challenges: an 8 km Trail des Passerelles with 200 m of elevation gain, a 12 km Trail des Moulins with 300 m, a 21 km Trail des Terrasses de la Bouble with 400 m, and a 27 km Trail des Gorges de la Bouble with 600 m. Additionally, there is Le P’tit Trail de Chantelle, a 2.5 km youth race featuring 50 m of climbing. The routes primarily follow paths and single tracks through the gorges and the Chantelle countryside, with minimal pavement. Some past editions have allowed participants to select between shorter and longer distances at the 11 km point, permitting juniors on the shorter option but not the longer one. The race has significant local involvement: volunteers dedicate multiple Saturdays to clearing brush and preparing trail sections. Approximately seventy individuals assist on race day with tasks such as managing road crossings, directing participants, staffing aid stations, and organizing the post-race meal. Entry fees cover aid stations and a finish-line meal, and all participants receive a prize.