Mountain Races in Vaud

Vaud is the canton where you run while looking at the lake from the summits 🏔️. From the Rochers-de-Naye, at over 2,000 m, to the Diablerets which exceed 3,000 m, the slopes climb quickly. Starts are often held at the foot of a gondola lift or a train station, which makes logistics easier. For a mountain race in Vaud, the reward comes at the finish: a panorama between Lake Geneva and the Alps.

The slopes mix fir forests, alpine pastures and limestone rocks. Winter races start in March on the snow of the Diablerets, the major high-altitude events run from June to September, and the last trails open in October among the larches ❄️. The ridge trails, often narrow, call for caution on the descent, especially after rain. The weather changes quickly between the lake and the summits, sometimes with a 15°C difference: a warm layer in your pack is a must, even in fine weather.

The Vaud mountain race calendar mixes formats. In March, the Diablerets Trail Blanc puts on snowshoes and takes on the snow. In June, the Montreux-Les Rochers-de-Naye race climbs toward the clouds and Villars Ultraks sets Villars on fire 🚠. In August, the SuperTrail Du Barlatay sets off from Château-d'Œx, and in September Humani'Trail climbs the ridges of Ormont-Dessus. In October, the Xterra Trail Vallée de Joux closes the season in the Jura 🍁. For broader ideas, head to the trails in Vaud. Short formats suit beginners, and vertical kilometers suit climbing specialists.

Château-d'Œx hosts a famous hot-air balloon festival every January, and the colorful balloons float above the chalets 🎈. The cog railway from Montreux has been climbing to the Rochers-de-Naye since 1892, a good way to prepare your legs for the descent. Choose your climb, your format and your level, and the Vaud summits will do the rest.