Trail of the Stars 2026
- Next event : Sun, August 16, 2026Date confirmed
- Last event : Sun, August 17, 2025
The event in a few words
How about joining one of Europe's highest villages for a little sports challenge? On the border between France 🇫🇷 and Italy 🇮🇹, the commune of Saint-Véran is officially one of the highest on our continent, with its church situated at 2,042 m of altitude! 😮 And to top it off, it's a very pretty village! 😍 A perfect setting for the aptly named Trail of the Stars 🌟, an event in the mountain in the midst of August. Located in the Queyras Regional Natural Park, Saint-Véran offers a huge bowl of fresh and pure air 🌬️. The forests 🌳 of the course will provide the shade you'll need, they will be much appreciated, especially during this time of the year 🥵.
The department of Hautes-Alpes, within the region Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur 🌞, offers, of course, an exceptional racing setting. The four courses of trail drawn by the organizers (two discovery trails of 10 km and 21 km, a short trail of 36 km and a long trail of 56 km) will take you to heights even higher than those of the small commune 🚩. Expect on the 56 km race: a positive elevation of 3,700 m, something your thighs won't forget! 😂 We love the race's name: "The Smuggler's Route". Let's see if you can succeed in the heist! 🧨 Start at Molines, 400 m lower, for a cross-border and wild course. Col des Prés de Fromage, Col des Estronques, Aigueblanche, refuge de la Blanche, Colle Del Lupo (Col du Loup 🐺 in Italian), Pic de Caramantran... So many names that will soon resonate with you 🥰. A clash between forests 🌲, lakes 💧, high mountains 🏔️ and other gorges 💥. The course "The tour of the head of the Toillies" also awaits you with its 2,200 mD+ 📈. And to aim even further, this race is a qualifier for the French Trail Championships and is part of the Challenge Trails Region South. In short, you perform and already place yourself for upcoming races 👀.
Surrounded by Savoie, Isère, Drôme and the Alpes-de-Hautes-Provences, the department of Hautes-Alpes is an important place for nature lovers and travelers 🧳. Filled with prestigious peaks, this territory is the highest in France and possesses "big names" of the mountain: Serre-Chevalier, La Meije, Montgenèvre. If you want to relax within "civilization", join Gap or Briançon, two of the largest cities in the department 🌆, and enjoy all their cultural and historical 🏛️ heritage. There are places more privileged than others and we must admit that the Hautes-Alpes have a lot to offer! The Place Forte Mont-Dauphin Vauban is notably listed as UNESCO Heritage, while the Fort Queyras village is an old castle 🏰. Otherwise, you can go see the aptly named Petrifying Fountain of Réotier, the Brune Tower in Embrun, the Abbaye de Boscodon or even the Chapel of Clausis... And who hasn't heard of the magnificent Écrins National Park, the Lake of Serre-Ponçon or the gorges of Méouge? Nature lovers 🍃 benefit here from nearly 7,000 km of marked trails ! The question is not "what am I going to do after my race ?" but rather "will I have time to do everything ?" 🤪.
So for the Republic, for the Force, for the Galaxy, and for the love of beauty, go for it! 🤺
4 reasons to join this race
A distance for every taste
56 kmTOP
36 km
21 km
10 km
- Sunday, August 16, 2026 at 5:00 AM
- Elevation gain : 3700mD+
- 3 ITRA points
- 1 loopx56 km
A few more words
If long trails are your thing, then "The Smugglers' Route" is for you! 😉
The start will take place at 5 a.m. from the parking lot at Clos de la Chalpes in Molines. You will start by forming a loop around the Vallon de la Selle then you will pass over the flat part of the route running on the Col du Près Fromage then on the Col Fromage 🧀. You will descend from the Col des Estronques and you will reach after 18 km your first refreshment stop, at the Pont du Moulin. You will then climb for 8 km, the Aigue Blanche to your second refreshment stop which will be located at the Refuge de la Blanche. After refueling 🔋, you will start the Tour of the Tête des Toillies via the Col de la Noire as well as the various lakes of the Col de Longet up to the Italian border. 🇮🇹 You will then descend onto the magnificent panorama of the Valle Varaita in Italy down to the village of Chianale where your third refreshment stop will be located. This one will be an Italian mountain stop. We hope you still have a lot of energy left because from here, you will begin the most challenging part of these 56 km. You will pass through the Colle di Veran (still the Italian part) then through the Pic de Caramantran. You will then shift to France, where you will descend from the Col de la Chamoussière. A few kilometers separate you from the finish. You will complete your race on the old canal trail.
It's over, you are finally at Saint Véran 🏁.
56 km : Relay Smugglers' Route
Trail- Sunday, August 16, 2026 at 5:00 AM
- Elevation gain : 3700mD+
- 1 loopx56 km
A few more words
If you are more into maratrail and your teammate is more into short trail, then "The Smugglers' Route" as a relay is made for you!
The start will take place at 5 am from the Clos de la Chalpes parking lot in Molines.
The first runner 🏃♀️ will cover 38 km with 2,300 m of elevation gain. They will complete a first loop then head to the Col des Estronques. They will then descend towards the Refuge de la Blanche. After refreshing, they will prepare for a STEEP climb towards the Col de la Noire. They will pass through the Col de Longet before descending to the village of Chianale where they will pass the baton to the second runner 🏃♂️. This runner will cover 18 km with 1,300 m of elevation gain. They will start their journey with a dry climb towards the Col de Saint Véran where they will reach the highest point of "The Smugglers' Route". Once at the Pic de Caramantran, they will head towards the Col de la Chamoussière to join the main channel and then the finish line in Saint Véran 🏁.
36 km : The Head of the Toillies
Trail- Sunday, August 16, 2026 at 8:00 AM
- Elevation gain : 2200mD+
- 2 ITRA points
A few more words
Your departure will be at 8 a.m. from the Clos de la Chalpes parking in Molines. To start, you will take the path up the Aigueblanche torrent towards the high valley of the blanche. You will then head towards the Col de la Noire, which will mark the beginning of the tour of the Head of the Toillies through the passes of Longet and Blanchet. After 12 km, you will find your first refreshment 🥤 at the Blanche refuge. You will then run on the Col de Saint Véran and its ridge line before arriving at the Pic de Caramantran. The highest point of this race will offer you a view of the Pain de Sucre and the Mont Viso. You will then descend via a balcony trail while passing through the path of the old large canal. After 36 km, you will have arrived in the town of Saint Véran 🏁.
21 km : The Rasis Half Marathon
Trail- Sunday, August 16, 2026 at 8:30 AM
- Elevation gain : 1350mD+
- 2 ITRA points
A few more words
The starting point will be at 8:30 AM from the parking lot of Clos de la Chalpes at Molines. It is an intermediate course, without major difficulties, that will take place in two parts. The first part will be steady. You will run to the Chapel of Clausius. The first refreshment point 🥤 will be at km 6 and a second at km 18. For the second part of the race, you will descend via the small then the large canal to the finish line at Saint Véran 🏁.
10 km : The Aigueblanche
Trail- Sunday, August 16, 2026 at 9:00 AM
- Elevation gain : 450mD+
- 1 point ITRA
A few more words
The start of the "Sprint Race" will take place at 9am from the parking lot of Clos de la Chalpes at Molines. You will run along the Aigueblanche then you will arrive at Saint Véran via the small canal. It is a fast and intense race all uphill 🥵.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
You can collect your race bib at the Start Village Molines-en-Queyras, located at the Clot La Chalp parking lot:
On Saturday, August 15, 2026, from 10 am to 8 pm. The race bib for the Smuggler's Route can be collected only on that day.
On Sunday, August 18, 2024, from 7 am to 7:45 am for the 36 km, from 7:30 am to 8:15 am for the 21 km, and from 8 am to 8:45 am for the 10 km.
Your race bib is given only with the presentation of an ID and after checking the mandatory equipment.
The race starts will take place in Molines-en-Queyras, from the Clot la Chalp parking lot:
for the Smuggler's Route: at 5 am, briefing at 4:45 am
for the Tour de la tête des Toillies: at 8 am, briefing at 7:45 am
for the Semi du Rasis: at 8:30 am, briefing at 8:15 am
for the Aigueblanche: at 9 am, briefing at 8:45 am
The rates vary according to the races:
For the Aigueblanche: €21
For the Semi du Rasis: €32
For the Tour de la tête des Toillies: €49
For the Smuggler's Route: €72
For the Relay of the Smuggler's Route: €40 per participant
A refreshment point will be available for all courses at the finish. You will find others depending on the courses:
For the Smuggler's Route: 4 refreshment points at km 18, km 26, km 36, and km 47
For the Tour de la tête des Toillies: 2 refreshment points at km 18, km 27.
For the Semi du Rasis: 2 refreshment points at km 6 and km 18.
For the Aigueblanche: the refreshment will be only at the finish.
You must be at least 20 years old to participate in the 21 km, 36 km, and 56 km events. However, a minor can participate in the Aigueblanche provided that parental consent is given.
For the Smuggler's Route:
Col Saint-Véran: 12:30 pm
Village of Chianale (refreshment point in the village center): 1:30 pm
Refuge de la Blanche: 4:45 pm
Finish: 6 pm
For the Tour de la tête des Toillies:
1st passage at Refuge de la Blanche: 12 pm
2nd passage at Refuge de la Blanche: 4:45 pm
Finish: 6 pm
For the Semi du Rasis:
Col Prés Fromage: 10:30 am
Pont du Moulin: 1:30 pm
Finish: 3 pm
No time limits on the last course of the Aigueblanche.
The list of mandatory equipment varies according to the races:
For the Smuggler's Route:
Water reserve 1L min
Food reserve
Survival blanket
Whistle
Personal cup
Mobile phone with charged battery
Headlamp
Waterproof windbreaker (Gore-tex type)
Pair of gloves
Beanie or cap or buff
For the Tour de la tête des Toillies:
Water reserve 1L min
Food reserve
Survival blanket
Waterproof windbreaker (Gore-tex type)
Pair of gloves
Mobile phone with charged battery
Whistle
Personal cup
Beanie or cap or buff
For the Semi du Rasis:
Water reserve 0.5L min
Food reserve
Survival blanket
Waterproof windbreaker (Gore-tex type)
Mobile phone with charged battery
Whistle
Personal cup
For the 10 km of the Aigueblanche:
No mandatory equipment
Telescopic poles are allowed but must be folded at the start.
Depending on the weather conditions on the day of the event, the equipment making up the Heatwave Kit or Cold Weather Kit may become mandatory.
Your registration includes:
the race bib
the post-race snack
the liquid and solid refreshments during the race
a welcome gift
a finisher's t-shirt
If you want to lend a hand, you can contact the organizers by filling out a contact form in the "volunteer" section of the website or by sending an email to traildesetoiles@gmail.com
Rewards will be given to the top 3 men and top 3 women overall in each of the races.
For the DUO relay of the Smuggler's Route, rewards will be offered only to the:
First team in the overall standings
First female team
Free shuttles connecting Molines to Saint Véran will be available from 10 am to 6 pm. The shuttle departure location, which is on the parking lot at the bottom of the village, will be indicated by specific signage.
Do you have other questions? You can contact the organizers:
by filling out a contact form
by phone: 06 28 65 24 56
You can check the race rules here
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