Pilgrimage trail running -July
Pilgrimage Trail RunningPuy Saint Vincent
The Pilgrimage Trail Running 2025 takes place in July in the heart of the Pays des Écrins, with the village of Puy-Saint-Vincent 1400 as its starting and finishing point. This first edition invites you to put on your trainers for a real alpine odyssey: six days of running, divided into three main stages, totalling nearly 120 km and a cumulative elevation gain of about 9,000 m. Every morning, you will set off on technical trails, cross vertiginous ridges and skirt wild valleys, before reaching your refuge or the Hotel Saint Roch for the night at the end of the day.
On the program
The opening night will be held at the Hotel Saint Roch, your basecamp perched in front of the emblematic peaks of the Écrins. You will receive your trail book, your GPX files and your Follow My Challenge GPS tracker, loaned for the occasion.
The first stage will take you from Puy-Saint-Vincent to the Pendine ridge (2,700 m) and then into the Narreyroux valley, for a loop of 25 to 30 km and a positive difference in altitude of 2,000 to 2,500 m. The next day, you will climb the Col de Vallouise (2,621 m) before crossing the slopes of Mont Brison in a 30 to 40 km race, also culminating at an altitude of more than 2,000 m.
The following days will be devoted to the longest and wildest stage: 60 km spread over two days, with a night in the Pelvoux refuge. This demanding section will take you through the Entre-les-Aigues valley and the hamlet of Ailefroide, with more than 6,000 m of elevation gain in total. On the last evening, we will celebrate the end of the adventure together during a festive dinner reserved for finishers, conviviality and sharing being the key words of this sporting pilgrimage. The next day, after breakfast, you will take the road to the valleys, rich in memories and unforgettable encounters.
Every evening, the Hotel Saint Roch will open its doors to you with its shared rooms offering a breathtaking view of the mountains and a spa area for a gentle recovery. The chef will offer a rich breakfast buffet and a tasty dish of the day, ideal for recharging your batteries. In between stops, you can relax by the fireplace, share your stories with fellow runners, and enjoy the hotel’s bar.
The Pilgrimage Trail Running is not only a sporting challenge: it is a true modern pilgrimage, inspired by the spirit of Saint Roch. Here, mutual aid is paramount: no permanent markings, each participant becomes an actor in his or her itinerary, with the help of his or her map, smartphone or GPS. The group, limited to 30 runners, guarantees an intimate atmosphere where solidarity and camaraderie continue until the finish line. Whether you are a seasoned trail runner or a fast trek enthusiast, this route will allow you to push your limits while discovering the natural treasures of the Pays des Écrins.
The all-inclusive rate covers half-board accommodation, meals, loan of the GPS tracker and access to the hotel’s spa. To reach the Pilgrimage Trail Running, you can take the train to the Argentière-les-Écrins station, land in Turin or Marseille, then continue by shuttle or car to Puy-Saint-Vincent.
See you soon to share together the effort, the discovery and the magic of the Pays des Écrins!