Forez Trails 2026

Do you remember your first time on a bike, your first running race, or your first trail? Then you will definitely remember your first edition of the Forez Trails. 

You can take on the air of a pioneer-trailer in front of your friends and show off because you were there 😎…Between the mountains and Forez (forests) 🌲, hides the village of Augerolles. A small community awaiting you for a big event 👌. However, you'll need to prepare diligently for March and head to the Puy-de-Dôme, guaranteed Auvergne atmosphere! You will experience temperatures between 0°C and 12°C, so remember to dress accordingly if you don't want to end up like a giant ice cube! 🥶 Nevertheless, the area is stunning: you will dive into the Livradois-Forez Regional Park and a Natura 2000 area. Grab your best sunglasses (yes, there is indeed sunshine), you're going to be dazzled!

Whether you’re the type who just wants to “discover trail running” or you’d rather “push your limits for hours to test your endurance”, there’s definitely a course made for you 🫵. Four timed distances are on the program, all available solo or duo (except for the shortest, reserved for solos). The idea? To let you discover the most beautiful parts of Forez by running, sweating, climbing, and probably asking yourself 472 times why you're doing it… before realizing at the top that's exactly why you came! ⛰️

So, let's stop the suspense, here are the 4 distances. The Faye is the discovery option of 12 km, ideal for beginners or youngsters who want to taste the joys of trail running without too much strain on their legs. The Olmetoise offers a course of almost 25 km, it’s serious but still manageable in principle! The Augerolloise is the intermediate format in all its splendor. 33 km quite tough but technically you’ll arrive before nightfall! 🌙 And finally, the final boss, the monster, the one that makes your family look at you weirdly when you announce your registration: the FOC! Over 50 km and almost 2,000 mD+ for the more daring who read this and think it's for them (we fully support you, go for it)!

A 12 km hike is also offered for those who prefer to enjoy the scenery without gasping for air, with no timing and no early morning start. Departure is free in the morning. If that's not all benefits, nothing is! 🥾 The courses will take you through forest trails, along watercourses like the Faye stream (on footbridges and bridges, promised you won't get your feet wet 💦), and discover the typical landscapes of the area. With its viewpoints, meadows, and villages hidden behind the mountains, you’ll understand why this region attracts so many nature lovers! The famous Château de la Faye 🏰 will be a key passage for several races, a place full of history that will give you a good excuse to catch your breath for two seconds (well, if your time allows 😉). The courses are fully marked, so normally, if you get lost, it's probably time for a quick visit to the eye doctor! 👀 And well, with the path openers, signallers, and sweepers watching closely, you’ll never really be alone on the trails! 🧭

Once you cross the finish line (and after regaining a minimum amount of oxygen in your lungs 🫁) you’ll be able to fully enjoy Auvergne and its generous gastronomy. Now it's your stomach’s turn to work at full speed! 😋 Among the local specialties are Ambert cheese 🧀 with blue veins produced between 600 and 1,600m altitude, and wild blueberries (even better as a tart) 🫐. Of course, you will find even more traditional products in the local shops and restaurants, we’ll let you have the joy of discovering them for yourself! 🫵 If after all that, you still have time and the desire to explore, we have a few recommendations for you. Take a trip 10-15 minutes from Augerolles to the Château d’Aulteribe 🏰, or to Ambert, at the Moulin Rochard de Bas, where paper is still produced today. 

If you're more into museums, we recommend the Roger-Quilliot Art Museum in Clermont Ferrand with collections ranging from the Middle Ages to the 20th century 🎨.

Just avoid waking the surrounding volcanoes 🌋 by moving faster than the music. The only explosion we want is that of applause upon your arrival! 👏