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The Monts d'Ain Stride 2027

Photo credits: Wikimedia Commons
TrailWalking
🎃 Halloween🏞 Nature⛰ Mountain👶 Kids & juniors courses🤝 Relay
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The event in a few words

"First I was afraid, I was petrified"

On the shores of Lake Nantua, Halloween night doesn’t just make kids tremble: it also shakes up your quads 🎃. Set your sights on Port, a village in the Ain on the shores of the lake, in the heart of the Haut-Bugey and the southern part of the Jura massif, in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes 🗺️. The date falls at the end of October, when the leaves in the forests of the Bugey start to dry 🍂. As for the sky, expect morning mist over the lake, a chill on the ridgelines, and sometimes a shower to test your windbreaker 🌫️. Fog often plays the role of Halloween extra—at no extra charge on your bib!

The playground? A limestone landscape where deep forests, tight combes and ridgelines take turns above the water 🌲. From Port beach, the routes start climbing almost immediately toward the peaks that ring the lake, before heading to the Chamoise plateau and the perched villages of the massif ⛰️. Elevation gain—let’s talk about it. You’ll find 200 mD+ on the discovery trail of 11 km, 1,000 mD+ on the short trail of 23 km, 1,500 mD+ on a 43 km built like a mountain marathon, then 2,400 mD+ on the 77 km long format, a long trail that doesn’t pretend 📈. On the longest distance, night falls well before the finish line: your headlamp takes over for a final night section, with the lake’s reflections down below 🔦.

The relays change the game: as a team of three on the 77 km, as a duo on the 43 km, each runner tackles their section before passing the chip to the next 🤝. With Halloween in mind, the festivities continue at dusk with a hike of 6 km untimed, where shadows, strange noises and surprises await costumed walkers 👻. The youngest aren’t left on the sidelines: three kids’ races, from 300 m to 1.5 km, introduce them to trail running under the watchful eye of supervisors 🧒.

After the effort, it’s time for local specialties 🍽️. Nantua gave its name to a crayfish sauce that goes with the famous quenelle of pike, perfect for rebuilding your reserves after all those climbs 🦞. On the cheese board, Bleu de Gex gladly comes before a slice of Bressane tart 🧀. For heavy legs the next day, a digestive stroll is in order: housed in the former prison of Nantua, the Museum of the Resistance and Deportation of the Ain traces the history of the maquis of the Ain and Haut-Jura, whose memory still runs along the Trace des Maquisards de l'Ain 📜. A bit farther on, the Sylans icehouses—odd ruins on the edge of a nearby lake—tell the story of a time when Bugey ice traveled by whole trainloads all the way to Paris 🧊.

On the program for the steepest event among the trails of the Ain: 2,400 mD+ for the boldest, a haunted path for everyone else. The Monts d'Ain Stride is waiting for you—costume optional, smile mandatory! 🦇

4 reasons to join this race

Lake Nantua on a balcony 🏞️
A mountain trail start with your feet almost in the water isn’t something you see every day on the trails! 🏖️ From Port beach, the routes climb up toward the surrounding peaks, with plunging views over the lake and the hamlets of Haut-Bugey. The technical descents then take care of bringing you back down to the shoreline 🦵, at Espace Jean Blanc.
A trail that flirts with Halloween 🌙
Scheduling a long-distance format as close to Halloween as possible was a bold move: here, the 77 km runners wrap up the adventure with headlamps on 🔋, while a costumed hike livens up the trails of Port as night falls. Ghosts, glows and strange noises line the route 🕯️, for chills that have nothing to do with the cold.
Relays to share the 2,400 mD+ 👥
Three friends, 77 km, a single chip to pass along: the relay format splits the long course into three sections, while the 43 km is run as a pair 🫶. A way to taste the full massif without having to take it all on alone. The most competitive among you can also pick up UTMB Index points along the way 📊.
Giant morbiflette and a finisher beer 🍺
Here, the post-race is just as enjoyable as the race itself 😋. Finish snack, finisher beer, concerts and a giant morbiflette in the village turn Espace Jean Blanc into a big end-of-season party 🎶. Just remember to return the pumpkins to their owners before heading home.

A word from the organizer:

"An event for young and old, and also for spectators, because there will be a giant Morbiflette at the start village"

A distance for every taste

77 km : Trail 77 km

TrailThe most popular
Trail🎃 Halloween🏞 Nature⛰ Mountain
  • End of October 2027
  • Elevation gain : 2200mD+
  • 77 km

A few more words

The Holy Grail of La Foulée des Monts d’Ain! A total immersion deep in the heart of the mountains 🏔️. This race is for those who love long distances, when night falls and every kilometer gets harder and harder. Between technicality and mental management, this course will push you to your limits. And if the adventure tempts you but the distance gives you Halloween-level chills 🎃, bring two buddies with you and split this challenge thanks to the 3-person relay: thrills and memories guaranteed for the crew!

GPX

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

You can pick up your bib at the Port community hall (Espace Jean Blanc):

  • Friday, October 30, 2026, from 2:00 pm to 8:30 pm.

  • Saturday, October 31, 2026, from 7:00 am until 1 hour before the start of your race.

All events take place on Saturday, October 31, 2026:

  • The 77 km and the 77 km relay start at 9:00 am from Port beach.

  • The 43 km and the 43 km relay start at 10:15 am from Port beach.

  • The 23 km starts at 11:15 am from Port beach.

  • The 11 km starts at 11:30 am from Espace Jean Blanc (Port community hall).

  • Halloween hike starts are staggered from 4:30 pm to 7:30 pm from Espace Jean Blanc.

  • The kids’ races start in the afternoon from Espace Jean Blanc.

No, it isn’t mandatory; however, you will need to present a PPS certificate dated less than one year from the race date.

The minimum age depends on the event:

  • The 77 km, 43 km, 23 km and relays are reserved for participants aged 20 and over, i.e., born in 2006 or earlier.

  • The 11 km is open to participants aged 16 and over, i.e., born in 2010 or earlier.

  • The Halloween hike is open to all ages.

  • The kids’ races welcome ages 5 to 15 depending on the course.

The late rate applies from Tuesday, September 15, 2026, or as soon as the first-bib quota is sold out:

  • 77 km: €77, then €96 at the late rate (quota of 300 bibs)

  • 77 km relay: €99 for the three-person team, then €120 at the late rate (quota of 50 bibs)

  • 43 km: €44, then €57 at the late rate (quota of 500 bibs)

  • 43 km relay: €60 for the two-person team, then €75 at the late rate (quota of 50 bibs)

  • 23 km: €25, then €37 at the late rate (quota of 500 bibs)

  • 11 km: €15, then €18 at the late rate (quota of 500 bibs)

  • Halloween hike: €12, then €16 at the late rate

  • Kids’ races: €3

Cut-off times are taken at the exit of aid stations, and runners who are stopped are taken back to the start village by the organizers.

For the 77 km and the 77 km relay:

  • Montagne aid station at 11:20 am

  • Le Poizat aid station at 1:10 pm

  • A2C aid station at 4:00 pm

  • Brénod aid station at 5:10 pm

  • Vieu-d'Izenave aid station at 6:55 pm

  • Saint-Martin aid station at 10:55 pm

  • Finish at 1:00 am

For the 43 km and the 43 km relay:

  • Montagne aid station at 12:10 pm

  • Brénod aid station at 1:45 pm

  • Saint-Martin aid station at 4:00 pm

  • Finish at 5:45 pm

The 23 km has no cut-off time. The 11 km must be completed within 2 hours maximum.

Aid stations are planned for each race:

  • The 77 km and the 77 km relay have 6 aid stations.

  • The 43 km and the 43 km relay have 3 aid stations.

  • The 23 km has 2 aid stations.

  • The 11 km offers an aid station at the finish only.

  • No aid station is provided during the kids’ races.

You must carry the mandatory gear from the start. A check may take place at the entrance to the starting pen and on the course, and any missing item may result in disqualification.

For the 77 km, the 43 km and their relays:

  • A water reserve of at least 1 L.

  • A personal cup.

  • A food reserve.

  • A fully charged and working headlamp, with a spare battery or spare batteries.

  • A charged mobile phone.

  • A whistle.

  • An emergency blanket.

  • A waterproof windbreaker.

  • An armband or reflective clothing.

  • A warm layer (long sleeves, thermal garment or equivalent).

For the 23 km:

  • A water reserve of at least 500 ml.

  • A personal cup.

  • A food reserve.

  • A charged mobile phone.

  • A whistle.

  • An emergency blanket.

  • A waterproof windbreaker.

  • An armband or reflective clothing.

For the 11 km:

  • A water reserve of at least 500 ml.

  • A personal cup.

  • A charged mobile phone.

  • A whistle.

  • An emergency blanket.

  • An armband or reflective clothing.

For the Halloween hike, a flashlight is recommended. You can buy one on site for €3. Poles are allowed on all distances.

For timed races, registration includes:

  • Runner goodies

  • A finisher medal

  • A snack at the finish and a finisher beer

For the Halloween hike, registration includes the finish aid station. For the kids’ races, it includes the bib, the medal, and a finish-line gift.

Participants will be able to leave a bag at the start/finish area of the event and collect it at the end of their race.

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