Trail Terras de Sal e Serra

The Trail Terras de Sal e Serra begins at the Rio Maior Salt Pans in Santarém, guiding runners from active salt-producing land towards the Serra dos Candeeiros. This trail-running event offers three distances: 32 km, 18 km, and 11 km, along with an 11 km walking option. The 32 km route has 1,240 m of elevation gain, the 18 km route has 630 m, and the 11 km route has 240 m. The options cater to a challenging mountain run, a shorter run, or a walk. The event is designed for competitive runners, club athletes, and individuals seeking time on rural tracks and mountain paths. All routes commence at the Salinas de Rio Maior and conclude at the Rio Maior Multipurpose Pavilion. The terrain features technical trails, dirt roads, mountain segments, and areas involved in salt extraction. The salt pans are unique as the only continuously operating inland salt pans in Portugal, supplied by a rock-salt mine, with wooden salt houses and extraction wells characterizing the start. The course then enters the Serra dos Candeeiros, within the Serras de Aire e Candeeiros Natural Park, a protected zone known for its karst topography, caves, and Mediterranean flora. The 11 km mini trail/walk is timed and awards a medal to all finishers; the two longer races include age categories.