Trail de la Meije
06September07September2025
Discover the Trail of the Meije à La Grave, a must-see event for trail running enthusiasts. Immerse yourself in a superb atmosphere with breathtaking landscapes of mountains, lakes, and alpine pastures. An intense and beautiful experience that will never be forgotten!
Between mountain landscapes with views of the Écrins massif and a guaranteed conviviality, passionate runners can tread the trails of the Pays de la Meije while taking on a sporting challenge!
Trail running is an outdoor activity on hilly and sometimes steep hiking trails. But the most important thing to remember is that this sport will give you a feeling of pleasure and allow you to contemplate the peaks while simply enjoying nature!
The Trail of the Meije adapts to everyone's desires and offers 3 courses for Sunday and a vertical kilometer for Saturday. These courses will allow runners to go around La Grave, Villar d'Arène and their hamlets, passing through legendary trails in the Hautes-Alpes. Indeed, there is something for everyone, from Kv+ to the Marathon, including a 26km or a 15km, not forgetting the children's race and a course adapted to joëlettes. So don't wait any longer, come and discover the warm and welcoming atmosphere of the high-altitude villages!
THE DIFFERENT COURSES:
THE VERTICAL KILOMETER OF FRÉAUX
Distance: 4,8 km & 1200 D+
To warm up before the various races on Sunday, a vertical kilometer is offered on Saturday, with the participation of the Glacier Cable Cars of the MeijeThe program will be 4,8km for 1200m D+, starting from Les Fréaux to climb straight up the steep slope to the Puy Vachier lake and the Chancel refuge.
Up there, a refreshment station will be waiting for you and you can enjoy the view, before reaching the 2400m station and going back down by cable car to La Grave.
THE LOOP OF THE NEED
16 km & 750 D+
This route will allow you to visit the Haute Romanche valley in a dreamlike landscape, facing the Meije. This is a lovely loop that will take you on a quick tour of the canton's legendary sites. A departure from the village hall of La Grave with the crossing of this authentic mountain village to then go back up to the edge of the Romanche in a larch forest where the river refreshes before entering the village of Villar d'Arène. This is the first refreshment point that will await you on the square of the St Martin church. Then, the climb up to the Pontet lake will allow you to gain height and enjoy looking down at the valley from above. After a short crossing, quite rolling on a balcony, you will find yourself at the Col de l'Aiguillon. All that remains is to go back down to the village to return to La Grave by the river in the Écrins National Park.
THE MEIJE TROPHY
27 km & 1634 D+
This is a route that offers a multitude of mountain landscapes. Starting on a small single track in a larch forest, the runners then cross terraced mountain pastures before arriving at a high-altitude lake. The race then reaches the highest point of the race at 2707m with a mandatory stop at the Goléon refuge. The second part of the route is characterized by a very beautiful panorama of the Meije and a descent on a ridge line overlooking the canton. The competitors of the 42km will then switch to the valley of La Buffe, while you will reach the hamlet of Chazelet, before finding a final descent in the middle of the slates to take the direction of the village of La Grave.
THE MEIJE MARATHON
45 km & 2500 D+
This marathon-format trail will immerse you further in the remote corners of the country of Meije with a departure at La Grave.
This route is rolling but still demanding, with an average altitude above 1600 meters and a peak at 2707m. From the highest point, the view offered by the Goléon refuge and its lake is one of the most beautiful views in the canton. After the Col du Cruq, a bit of well-marked “off-trail” awaits you to reach the Signal de La Grave and a beautiful panoramic descent along the ridge. Then, head for the Pic du Mas de la Grave refuge before starting the last climb to reach the famous Emparis plateau.
This mountain plateau, in September, looks like the famous South American altiplano. A loop on this plateau will take you to two mountain lakes with views of the Écrins massif. Finally, a long descent will take you to the village of La Grave.
Trail running is an outdoor activity on hilly and sometimes steep hiking trails. But the most important thing to remember is that this sport will give you a feeling of pleasure and allow you to contemplate the peaks while simply enjoying nature!
The Trail of the Meije adapts to everyone's desires and offers 3 courses for Sunday and a vertical kilometer for Saturday. These courses will allow runners to go around La Grave, Villar d'Arène and their hamlets, passing through legendary trails in the Hautes-Alpes. Indeed, there is something for everyone, from Kv+ to the Marathon, including a 26km or a 15km, not forgetting the children's race and a course adapted to joëlettes. So don't wait any longer, come and discover the warm and welcoming atmosphere of the high-altitude villages!
THE DIFFERENT COURSES:
THE VERTICAL KILOMETER OF FRÉAUX
Distance: 4,8 km & 1200 D+
To warm up before the various races on Sunday, a vertical kilometer is offered on Saturday, with the participation of the Glacier Cable Cars of the MeijeThe program will be 4,8km for 1200m D+, starting from Les Fréaux to climb straight up the steep slope to the Puy Vachier lake and the Chancel refuge.
Up there, a refreshment station will be waiting for you and you can enjoy the view, before reaching the 2400m station and going back down by cable car to La Grave.
THE LOOP OF THE NEED
16 km & 750 D+
This route will allow you to visit the Haute Romanche valley in a dreamlike landscape, facing the Meije. This is a lovely loop that will take you on a quick tour of the canton's legendary sites. A departure from the village hall of La Grave with the crossing of this authentic mountain village to then go back up to the edge of the Romanche in a larch forest where the river refreshes before entering the village of Villar d'Arène. This is the first refreshment point that will await you on the square of the St Martin church. Then, the climb up to the Pontet lake will allow you to gain height and enjoy looking down at the valley from above. After a short crossing, quite rolling on a balcony, you will find yourself at the Col de l'Aiguillon. All that remains is to go back down to the village to return to La Grave by the river in the Écrins National Park.
THE MEIJE TROPHY
27 km & 1634 D+
This is a route that offers a multitude of mountain landscapes. Starting on a small single track in a larch forest, the runners then cross terraced mountain pastures before arriving at a high-altitude lake. The race then reaches the highest point of the race at 2707m with a mandatory stop at the Goléon refuge. The second part of the route is characterized by a very beautiful panorama of the Meije and a descent on a ridge line overlooking the canton. The competitors of the 42km will then switch to the valley of La Buffe, while you will reach the hamlet of Chazelet, before finding a final descent in the middle of the slates to take the direction of the village of La Grave.
THE MEIJE MARATHON
45 km & 2500 D+
This marathon-format trail will immerse you further in the remote corners of the country of Meije with a departure at La Grave.
This route is rolling but still demanding, with an average altitude above 1600 meters and a peak at 2707m. From the highest point, the view offered by the Goléon refuge and its lake is one of the most beautiful views in the canton. After the Col du Cruq, a bit of well-marked “off-trail” awaits you to reach the Signal de La Grave and a beautiful panoramic descent along the ridge. Then, head for the Pic du Mas de la Grave refuge before starting the last climb to reach the famous Emparis plateau.
This mountain plateau, in September, looks like the famous South American altiplano. A loop on this plateau will take you to two mountain lakes with views of the Écrins massif. Finally, a long descent will take you to the village of La Grave.
Themes:
Dates and times
| Opening hours from September 06 to September 07, 2025 | |
|---|---|
| Open on Saturday | Open from 06:30 a.m to 21 p.m |
| Sunday | Open from 06:30 a.m to 21 p.m |
Pricing
Further information :
Prices before the increase 01/08
€9,50 for the KV+
€13,50 for the 16km
€24,50 for the 27km
€36,50 for the 45km
€44,50 for the KV+ pack and the 45km
€33 for the KV+ pack and the 27km
€21,50 for the KV+ pack and the 16km
*including meals, refreshments and runner gifts
**€1,50 registration fee included
€9,50 for the KV+
€13,50 for the 16km
€24,50 for the 27km
€36,50 for the 45km
€44,50 for the KV+ pack and the 45km
€33 for the KV+ pack and the 27km
€21,50 for the KV+ pack and the 16km
*including meals, refreshments and runner gifts
**€1,50 registration fee included
Payment methods
Practical information
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Location
Linked offers
On the spot…
Difficult level
Trail – La boucle de l’Aiguillon
Very difficult level
Trail – Le Marathon de la Meije
Very difficult level
Trail – Le trophée de la Meije
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