Vars Mountain Trail

If you’re looking to test yourself, go for breathtaking scenery, push the clock and gravity to the limit, or simply discover a region with your family in a friendly, laid-back vibe? Then the Vars Mountain Trail is for you. 👈

Two atmospheres for two runner categories and multiple routes offered, in the Vars station, in the heart of the Hautes-Alpes in Provence-Alpes-Câte-d'Azur in the town of Claux. No need to bring your ski gear, it’s the softness and summer sunshine of July shining above your head. ☀️

Let’s start with the competitors“Tour des Crêtes” 42 km with very significant elevation gain of 2,897 m. You can do it as a relay in a duo at the 20 km mark, then the “Boucle de Peyniers”, 24 km and 1,383 m D+. You get the idea: it’s not for the faint of heart. On the program, altitude and landscapes as varied as they are spectacular. These mountain races will show you all sorts of colors: airy passages, winding trails, rocky stretches, a mix of ascents and descents on long-distance hiking trails. Your efforts will be rewarded with stunning panoramas especially at the Balcons de Vars, at the Paneyron summit or at the Pointe du Razis. You’ll feel like you’re gliding through a sea of clouds. 🌥 Discover the communal nature reserve of Val d'Escreins, the Vars and Serennes cols, the Rua refuge or the village of Saint Marcellin. For the more hardcore, the Tour des Crêtes and the Boucle de Peyniers are qualifiers for the UTMB.

For beginners or sprinters there’s “ the Vars col ” 13 km with an elevation gain of 491 mD+ and the “ 1 km vertical ”. It’s formatted as an elimination race with an average slope of 52.5% and reaches 98% at the end. Watch out for the slippery slope !

Finally, in a more family-friendly setting there’s a 750 m loop for kids and the village circuit of 4 km, suitable for all levels; grandma can even join. With this playful race, solve puzzles through the traditional Villages of Vars, the whole in a relaxed atmosphere. Young and old will have the chance to discover varied and wild flora and fauna: eagles, marmots, rock partridges or black grouse among pine forests, larches, edelweiss, forget-me-nots and blue gentians. You’ll also enjoy local Hautes-Alpes specialties like tourtons or Alpine tart. 😋

Vars is no joke! 😬