Querroig Trail 2026: complete guide to the mountain race

Portbou once again becomes a meeting point for trail running with a mountain race that combines technical trails, forest tracks, sustained elevation gain, and a landscape that is unusual in this kind of event: the sea close by, the border within reach, and a constant feeling of changing terrain. The 2026 edition keeps the three-distance format and confirms a date designed for those looking for a demanding day without losing the appeal of running between the mountains and the Mediterranean.

The event is set for Sunday, November 15, 2026 in Portbou, in the province of Girona, with staggered starts and routes that explore the surroundings of Coll de la Farella, Coll del Falcó, and the Camí de Walter Benjamin. The longest race reaches 23.18 kilometers and 1,334 meters of positive elevation gain, while the middle distance is around 15 kilometers with 900 meters of positive gain and the shortest offers a more accessible experience, although it is still pure mountain running.

A border trail with its own identity

The personality of this race comes from its geography. Portbou is not a neutral setting: it is tucked between slopes, historic paths, and a coastal strip that shapes the light, the wind, and the way the course is read. That mix turns the event into something more than just a sum of kilometers. There are sections of corriol, wide tracks where you can run with a bit more rhythm, and areas where the runner has to manage effort because the elevation gain gives no respite.

Competitors and organizers alike describe it as a cross-border mountain race. That is not just a verbal flourish. On the longer routes, there are passages that approach or enter French territory, which adds a distinctive touch to the experience. The landscape also alternates the harshness of rock and forest with open views toward the coast, a combination that is uncommon in the trail calendar of Catalonia.

There is also a historical and territorial component that sets it apart. The presence of the Camí de Walter Benjamin not only gives the distances a name, but also a link to the memory of the place. That cultural dimension lives alongside the physical effort and gives the race a recognizable identity, less generic than other mountain races focused only on the clock or the elevation gain.

The distances and what they really demand

The long distance is the one that sets the sporting ceiling of the event. With 23.18 kilometers and 1,334 positive meters, this is not a trail to improvise on. The route brings together sustained climbs, descents that punish the quads, and sections where technique matters as much as aerobic capacity. The maximum time to complete it is set at 5 hours, a reference that makes very clear the kind of effort the organizers are proposing.

The middle distance, with about 15 kilometers and 900 meters of positive elevation gain, works as the balance point of the day. It is still a serious race, with prolonged climbs and variable terrain, but it allows runners with more mountain experience to get close to the spirit of the event without the full commitment of the long one. For many participants, that distance sums up the essence of the Querroig well: elevation gain, trail, and continuous effort, with no concessions.

The short option, known as the Marxa Express, is 9 kilometers and around 349 meters of positive elevation gain according to competitors’ references. It is not a walk in the park, but it is the entry point for anyone who wants to try a mountain trail without stepping into tougher numbers. The race keeps the technical character of the terrain and the natural setting, although it reduces prolonged exposure to the climb.

The organization also includes a walking format for those who prefer to walk or get started at a calmer pace. That detail broadens the profile of the event, which is not limited to the logic of the competitive runner. The day is thus open to different paces and different ways of understanding the mountain, something that fits the popular atmosphere surrounding this event.

Start, schedules, and practical organization

The main start is scheduled at La Rambla de Portbou, in the town center, which makes logistics easier for runners and companions. The long and middle distances share a start time of 09:00, while the short race starts at 09:20. That difference of minutes helps organize the setup and separates runner profiles without turning the morning into a chaotic succession of waves.

Bib collection is organized on Saturday, November 15, 2025, between 17:00 and 20:00 at the Centre Cívic Cal Herrero, and on Sunday from 7:15 to 8:45 at the same location. That wide window makes it possible to handle the administrative side without rushing, something important in a mountain race where warm-up, gear check, and pre-race hydration matter much more than in a road race.

Among the announced services are bag drop, showers, food at the finish, trophies for the winners, prize draw, and chip timing. These are details that do not change the toughness of the course, but they do shape an organization focused on taking care of the participant’s whole day. In trail running, that matters: a well-managed finish reduces tension and allows the effort to end in a more orderly way.

What the route is really like from the inside

The long course is a succession of changes in pace and terrain. The description provided by the organizers shows a start from the Rambla, a passage through the tunnel next to the stream, the climb along a forest track toward Mas Ametller, and the connection with corriols leading to Coll del Bessó and Coll del Falcó. From there, the race strings together checkpoints and aid stations before heading into higher and more exposed sections.

The race passes through places such as Coll de les Llaceres, the Gran corriol d’en Bac, Coll de Cervera, and Castell de Querroig, before descending toward Coll de la Farella and returning to Portbou along trails and tracks. It is a very mountain-style script: first fatigue builds up, then the descent has to be managed, and in the final stretch, the head matters as much as the legs.

The middle and short distances trim part of that layout, but they keep the logic of technical terrain and the connection with the high points of the area. That pattern explains why the race has such appeal among different profiles: those looking for toughness find plenty of elevation gain, and those who prefer a shorter experience do not give up the mountain character or the uniqueness of the landscape.

Aid stations, control, and room for effort

The aid stations are placed with mountain logic. On the long distance, they appear at Coll del Falcó, at the start of the Camí de Walter Benjamin, at Coll de la Cerbère, at Coll de la Farella, and at the finish. Their distribution reveals a route that demands planning: it is not enough to start hard, you have to manage water, salts, and energy wisely from the very first climb.

The location of those points also gives a clue about the type of runner the race is aimed at. In a 23-kilometer race with more than 1,300 positive meters, nutrition is not something you improvise. The effort stretches over hours, the heart rate goes up and down, and the terrain punishes intermittently. In that context, a well-placed aid station is worth almost as much as a good descent.

The reference of 5 maximum hours for the long race shows that the organizers are considering a wide range of paces, but without losing control of the day. It is a reasonable limit for a popular mountain race with significant elevation gain. The slower runner, if they know how to read the route and manage their effort well, still has room; the faster runner finds a course where they can push in specific sections without falling into the trap of going too hard too early.

What gear fits this terrain best

Trail shoes with good grip are almost mandatory. Not for an aesthetic reason, but because of the mix of track, trail, and rougher rocky sections. The terrain in Portbou can become tricky when the ground is loose or when the descent comes with accumulated fatigue. A reliable compound and a sole with traction make a bigger difference than it might seem on paper.

It also makes sense to carry enough hydration, especially on the long distance. The profile of the race, with linked climbs and sections exposed to wind or sun depending on the day, means you cannot rely only on the aid stations. The choice of vest or belt will depend on each runner, but the logic is the same: in the mountains, anything that removes doubt brings peace of mind.

Clothing deserves similar attention. The Mediterranean setting does not guarantee steady warmth. November on the northern coast of Girona can alternate humidity, cool air, and gusts of wind that make the effort at altitude more uncomfortable. That is why it is worth thinking about light layers and a windproof jacket if the weather forecast changes. It is not a minor detail; it is part of race management.

Portbou’s setting and what it gives the runner

Portbou adds a scenic dimension that goes beyond sport. Anyone arriving for the race finds a small, border town strongly defined by its relationship with the coast and the mountains. That makes the experience compact: the runner does not get lost in a big city or a scattered access area, but instead experiences the race with a very direct proximity between start, finish, streets, and slopes.

The area also makes it possible to extend the visit with nearby references. Figueres, Girona, Llançà, or the Cap de Creus Natural Park are all within easy reach and broaden the context of the trip. This is not about selling a destination, but about highlighting that the race takes place in a particularly rich geographic corridor, where sport lives alongside heritage, coastline, and protected landscape.

That balance between effort and surroundings explains why the Portbou trail keeps its appeal beyond race day. The mountain does not appear as a generic backdrop, but as a real place, with its own names, historic passages, and a topography that makes you look at the map with respect. In a time when many races look alike, that matters.

A race that grows through identity, not just numbers

The value of this race is not only in its positive elevation gain. There are higher, longer, or more extreme trails on the Spanish calendar. What sets Portbou apart is something else: the crossing of mountain and border, the presence of the sea, the weight of the territory, and a course design that does not seem made to soften the difficulty, but to show it clearly.

It also helps that the race keeps a popular tone. The existence of several distances, the walk for those who are just starting out, and well-defined basic services mean the event does not get trapped in an elitist profile. That broadens its reach and gives it continuity. In trail running, the races that survive are not always the most spectacular; often they are the ones that best understand their runners.

That is why the Querroig Trail has earned its own place on the calendar. It does not need to exaggerate its difficulty or hide its tough points. It is enough for it to show what it is: a border mountain race, technical and highly scenic, with a recognizable personality and logistics that organize the experience well. Portbou provides the stage; the legs do the rest.

What this edition leaves in the trail calendar

The 2026 edition consolidates a formula that already has its own story. A clear date, well-differentiated distances, organized schedules, and a route that does not hide its demands. In a crowded calendar of events, that clarity is an advantage. The runner knows where they are going, what kind of terrain they will find, and how much elevation gain awaits them. And in the mountains, that is worth a lot.

The race fits especially well with those looking for a late-season event with character, without needing to head to huge mass-participation races. Portbou offers intimacy, a toughness that is reasonable for the level it proposes, and an environment that leaves a mark. It is not a routine race; it is a day that asks for concentration from the start and rewards you with a very clear feeling of having run in a unique place.

On the Catalan trail map, Portbou occupies a small but very recognizable corner. And that is precisely its strength. It does not compete on volume, it competes on identity. The mountain, the sea, and the border do the rest.