Trail Les 40 Bosses

The start and finish aren’t that far apart in Oise-to 🕊️.

And yes, what will give you the most trouble here is the elevation between these two points 🤪. In December, head to the Val-d’Oise, in Île-de-France, for a trail of two days offering no fewer than 5 routes through a lush forest 🌳. The event kicks off precisely in Saint-Leu-la-Forêt and will wind you through the chestnut trees 🌰, the oaks and the region’s iconic conifers. Don’t forget your scarf and hat 🧣, snow may crash the party. But enough chatter—let us explain how to earn your stripes on this nature-infused trail! 🍃

We start strong with the flagship event: the “ Beast.” This 120 km course is the toughest trail in the region 🏋️‍♂️. A true (physical) and (psychological) challenge that will make all your training feel like a warm-up around Montmartre if you’re comparing it to donkey backs 🫏. With 4 900 mD+ on the scoreboard, you’ll be glad to be back in central Paris a few days later, with its flat, paved ground where your thighs won’t be worked at every turn 🦵. Plus, a large part of the race is nocturnal, testing your determination and resilience 🧘. For the 75 km, the “ Beast” offers a similar setting, but 1 900 mD+ and 45 km in fewer. It’s clear that this is no small feat 😂. So if the monster under your bed still scares you a little too much, you know which race to target 🫵. The remaining races start on Sunday, between 8:30 AM and 2:00 PM. Distances of 45 km, 20 km and 10 km depart from Saint-Leu-la-Forêt and will take you to visit Saint-Prix, Taverny and the dense Montmorency Forest 🦌. If you’re a history buff that loves a happy ending, the “ Historique” 45 km is the iconic route that gave birth to the Trail des 40 bosses.You’ll feel the event’s essence with every step 🏃. Whatever you choose, make sure you open your eyes wide and watch where you step, or you’ll come back from the bosses full of thoughts 🤡.

After the effort, enjoy the surroundings: history, monuments, famous places or nature, you’ll surely find something tasty 🦷. Why keep working when you can keep enjoying? 🍹 History buffs and medieval era lovers will be thrilled when they lay eyes on the Domaine de Chantilly, north of the department ⬆️, or on the Château d’Écouen, south ⬇️. Both fortifications also host vast gardens 🌺, perfect for relaxing after a strenuous effort of 120 km 🫨. Culture isn’t lacking in the region, with the small town of Auvers-sur-Oise having hosted the last 70 days of life (and as many canvases) of the famous Dutch painter Van Gogh 🧑‍🎨. The stroll is immersive, calm and restorative 😴Roche-sur-Yon Roche-Guyon. The village may not host the chocolate museum, but it is part of the most beautiful villages in France 🇫🇷. It’s the only one in the region to hold the label, and it didn’t deserve it 🥷.

So, in December, we "Val de l’avant" and we sign up for the prettiest end-of-year festival: the Trail des 40 bosses 🐫.