Trail: June 27, 2026, the Balcons de Cauterets Trail

The Trail des Balcons de Cauterets is a classic in the Hautes-Pyrénées , bringing together more than 2,000 trail runners each year across four distances ranging from 11 to 80 km.

Physically demanding with its succession of steep climbs and technical descents, its courses are worthy of the National Park, featuring numerous balcony sections, waterfalls, and crossings through forests and summer pastures.
A feast for the eyes and a challenge for the legs!

The four races offered – 11 km (500m elevation gain), 20 km (1200m elevation gain), 47 km (3000m elevation gain) and 80 km (5000m elevation gain) – start and finish in the centre of Cauterets , with loops on both sides of the valley. Approximately halfway through, all routes return near the centre, making it easy to follow the race and cheer on the participants!

The Trail des Balcons is organised by the Club Athlétique du Vignemale in collaboration with the village of Cauterets – just like the two other annual events which are the Trail Blanc du Pont d'Espagne in January and the Trail du Cabaliros in September.

 11 km / 500 m+ | Start 9am

The climb begins 2km after the start, where you leave Avenue du Mamelon Vert for a long ascent towards Cambasque, passing by the Igau farm. After crossing the Gave de Cambasque river (km 5), a technical 1km descent leads back towards the village center. A second loop then begins towards La Raillère.
This starts with a gentle climb along the Gave de Cauterets river, culminating in a final steep section before the magnificent Lutour waterfall (km 9). The return is a descent on the opposite bank, passing behind the old Pauze thermal baths, back to the village center.

20 km / 1200 m+ | Start at 8am

The route is identical to the 11km race as far as the Igau farm, from where the climb continues for 4km towards the Col de Bourg Dessus (1960m) and then joins the Bike Park (km 7.2).
In total, this long climb is 6km with 1000m of elevation gain. The path then descends in switchbacks for 4.5km to the bridge over the Gave de Cambasque.
The route is then the same as the 11km race, with a descent towards Cauterets followed by a loop towards the Lutour waterfall.

47 km / 3000 m+ | Departure 6am

The first part of the route is the same as the 20km course, roughly up to the old Pauze thermal baths. But from there, it's another long climb: the Col de Lisey at over 2000m, then the Col de Riou. The route traverses the slopes of the Viscos before returning to the Col de Riou, then following the paths of Reine Hortense. There are two more good climbs before the finish.


80km / 5000m+  |  Start 4am

The start of the 80km route is also the same as the 20km route, with the steep climb to the Col de Bourg Dessus followed by the descent to the Cambasque road. But then, while the other routes continue down towards Cauterets, the 80km route climbs steeply again with switchbacks towards the Lys ski resort and its ridges, before descending to Lac d'Ilhéou.
Next, the route climbs again towards the Col de la Haugade, then heads towards Lac de l'Embarrat, then Lac du Pourtet, Lac Nère, before descending to the Refuge du Wallon. The route becomes a bit easier going towards the magnificent Vallée du Marcadau, almost to the Pont d'Espagne. From there, the route heads towards Lac de Gaube, then crosses the Pont d'Espagne, before returning to Cauterets via the Chemin des Cascades.
On the return to La Raillère and the Cascade de Lutour, we are at km 48. The remaining 32 km are common to the 47 km, i.e. a return near the centre before climbing towards the Lisey pass, etc.

Fellow trail runners, come and participate in this trail race, one of the most beautiful races in the Hautes-Pyrénées!

Chalet La Source will help make your stay an unforgettable experience!