Sierra Nevada Trails 2026: distances, prices and course

Plan your race pace

The third edition of Sierra Nevada Trails will take place on Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026, in Pinos Genil, Granada, with two mountain-running options. The SkyRace covers 30 kilometers and about 2,000 meters of positive elevation gain; the Open Trail covers 15 kilometers and roughly 900 meters of climbing. The event is organized by Club Deportivo Sierra Nevada Trail Running together with Pinos Genil Town Council.

The event pairs a long, demanding course with a shorter route that still involves a substantial climb. Registration includes timing, aid stations and a post-race meal, as well as other items in the runner’s pack. Published standard prices are 42 euros for the SkyRace and 25 euros for the Open Trail; the registration information also listed lower launch prices.

The municipality of Pinos Genil and the surrounding trails provide the setting for a day of mountain running. The date and main distances are included in the event information, but some operational details — including the start time, precise start location and detailed elevation profile — are not specified in the available reference material. Distinguishing confirmed facts from details still to be checked matters when planning travel and the race itself.

A mountain race with two distances

Sierra Nevada Trails offers two ways to take on the day. The SkyRace concentrates its challenge in a course of 30 kilometers with approximately 2,000 meters of positive elevation gain, a combination that makes it very different from an urban race of the same length. In the mountains, distance does not tell the whole story: gradients, surface conditions and time spent climbing all have a major effect on the effort required.

The Open Trail cuts the distance to 15 kilometers, but its nearly 900 meters of positive elevation gain mean it should not be treated as a casual outing. On paper it is shorter, but it may not be easy for someone who is not used to running on trails. The event presents it as an option both for people approaching mountain races and for runners who prefer a shorter, more dynamic format.

The organizer describes both events as competitive mountain races. The Open Trail also includes Cadet, Youth and Junior categories, all integrated into the same course rather than run as separate events. According to the information provided, those participants compete over the 15-kilometer route in the overall results and their respective subcategory, in accordance with the federation rules specified for the event.

The difference between the two options is not just distance. The SkyRace calls for a longer effort and a greater cumulative ascent; the Open Trail is shorter, but still demands legs prepared for climbing and descending. In either case, runners need to consider the whole elevation profile, not just the advertised number of kilometers.

What is known about the course and what remains unconfirmed

The race follows trails and scenic routes in the municipality and surrounding Sierra Nevada area, according to the available description. No official map or detailed elevation profile has been provided, so it is not possible to specify which sections are most technical, where the climbs are concentrated or what share of the route runs on tracks rather than narrow trails. Assigning specific features without that material would go beyond the published information.

The positive elevation figure does provide a useful first measure. For the SkyRace, approximately 2,000 meters of accumulated climbing over 30 kilometers point to a sustained effort, with a physical cost far greater than the distance alone might suggest. For the Open Trail, around 900 meters of climbing over 15 kilometers also indicate a mountain race, not a flat circuit with a few short hills.

The missing piece is what turns a general description into a practical route guide: the official course map with elevation data, checkpoints and aid stations. Runners should also check information about terrain, required equipment and possible changes before traveling. A race landscape may be appealing, but safety and race strategy depend on knowing how the effort is actually distributed.

Until a complete technical guide is published or consulted, there is no basis for assuming the route passes through a particular landmark or assigning it an official difficulty rating. The cautious reading is straightforward: both options are mountain races in the Pinos Genil area and feature enough climbing to require experience or preparation suited to the chosen distance.

Registration, prices and conditions

Registration information lists an opening period from Aug. 5 to Oct. 25, 2026, unless places fill earlier. It also sets a limit of 400 participants for each distance. As of Oct. 13, 2026, that calendar places registration within the announced period, although actual availability depends on how many entries remain for each race.

The published standard prices are 42 euros for the 30-kilometer SkyRace and 25 euros for the 15-kilometer Open Trail. The launch prices were 37 euros for the longer race and 20 euros for the shorter one, with the discount listed through Sept. 1. Anyone weighing the cost should distinguish between the initial promotional price and the later standard rate; they are not interchangeable, and neither guarantees that places remain available.

Registration includes entry in the selected race, a runner’s pack, an official technical shirt, a chip-timed bib, aid stations and a post-race meal. The information also mentions medical services and a safety plan, plus accident insurance for runners without a federation license through an additional fee. The specific coverage and the amount of that fee are not detailed in the available information.

Sponsored products and gifts were also announced, subject to availability. The organizer says late entries may be accepted from Oct. 26 if bibs remain, although the official shirt and other textile items in the runner’s pack are not guaranteed in that case. The distinction matters for late registrants: the possibility of getting a place does not necessarily mean receiving every item under the same conditions.

The published cancellation policy provides a full refund through Sept. 1. If the optional cancellation insurance is purchased, a 100% refund is listed as available through Oct. 10; cancellations and refunds are not accepted after that date, according to the stated terms. The optional insurance costs 7 euros for the Open Trail and 9 euros for the SkyRace. The information also sets Oct. 20 as the deadline for changing the registered runner or race option, with a 5-euro administrative fee when the change results in a partial refund.

What entry includes and what each runner should check

The announced package brings together services commonly associated with an organized race: chip timing, aid stations along the course and medical support within the planned safety setup. At the finish, registration includes food and a final aid station, as well as the runner’s pack and official technical shirt. These services support participation, but they do not replace personal equipment a runner may need based on the route and weather.

Federation licenses deserve particular attention. The information says runners without a license must pay an additional fee for the required one-day insurance. It also warns that if a current license cannot be verified at bib pickup, the runner will have to pay that fee to start. Since the amount is not listed, it should not be added to the base price without checking the registration terms.

In a mountain race, a shirt or runner’s pack does not meet every practical need on race day. Footwear, clothing and a hydration system depend on the technical guide and expected conditions, details not specified in the available information. Any mandatory equipment must be confirmed in the official race information rather than inferred from the distance or the event name.

Runners should also check the shirt size and any additional clothing carefully before completing registration. The published terms say garments cannot be changed or returned once registration has been finalized. It is an administrative detail, but one that can prevent misunderstandings when the runner’s pack includes textiles whose availability and sizing depend on the registration.

How to interpret the elevation before choosing a race

Positive elevation gain is the sum of the route’s climbs, not the difference in altitude between the start and finish. A race can therefore end close to its starting elevation and still accumulate hundreds or thousands of meters of ascent. In Pinos Genil, the published figures — about 2,000 meters for the SkyRace and about 900 for the Open Trail — help explain why expected pace cannot be calculated as it would be for a road race.

On mountain terrain, pace changes with the gradient and the firmness of the ground. On a steep climb, power hiking may be more sensible than running at an unsustainable effort; on descents, speed depends on technique as well as the safety of the surface. Without a detailed profile, it is not possible to predict where each section will occur, but the announced elevation is enough to rule out simple comparisons with a flat 30- or 15-kilometer race.

The SkyRace is presented as the more demanding option and described as suited to runners with mountain-racing experience. That guidance is not an official entry requirement, which is not specified, but it does signal the character of the event. The longer distance and accumulated climbing make experience with ascents, descents and prolonged efforts relevant when choosing it.

The Open Trail broadens the range of participants with a shorter distance and youth categories on the same course. Even so, its approximately 900 meters of positive elevation gain call for preparation and a realistic view of the terrain. The word Open should not be read as meaning flat or effortless: the figure that best describes the event remains the relationship between its 15 kilometers and the advertised ascent.

Pinos Genil, race date and travel planning

The race is based in Pinos Genil, a municipality in Granada province, and is scheduled for Nov. 8, 2026. The available information does not specify the start and finish address or the start time. Those details affect transportation, parking and how much time is needed for bib pickup, so they should be confirmed before making travel arrangements.

Visitors from outside the area may consider staying in Pinos Genil or Granada city, depending on availability and transportation preferences. The reference material does not include details on road closures, special buses or designated parking areas, so it would be unwise to assume that any particular service will be available. The exact start location and participant instructions will determine the final travel arrangements.

November adds a familiar variable for outdoor races: conditions can change between the hours before the start and sections at higher elevations. Without a reliable forecast for the date, it is not possible to predict temperatures, rain or wind. The sensible approach is to check the forecast closer to race day and follow organizer guidance on clothing, safety and possible adjustments.

The confirmed date makes early planning possible, but it does not replace the final schedule or runner’s guide. Bib pickup, access to the start and any last-minute recommendations should be checked through the organizer’s channels. For a race with two distances and limited places, knowing which option a runner is registered for also helps make sense of the schedules and instructions that are published.

An edition combining a challenge with access to trail running

The 2026 edition is built around two complementary options: a 30-kilometer SkyRace for a prolonged effort and a 15-kilometer Open Trail that welcomes a wider range of runners, including youth categories. In both, the mountain sets its own pace, and the planned elevation gives them a character distinct from a conventional road race.

The most reliable information establishes the essentials: date, town, two distances, approximate elevation gain, standard prices and included services. At the same time, several relevant points still need clarification, including the schedule, exact start location, final course profile and insurance supplement for runners without a federation license. Separating confirmed details from information still to be checked prevents an incomplete listing from creating false expectations.

In a mountain race, the appeal of the landscape and the scale of the challenge go hand in hand with a practical responsibility: arriving with enough information to tackle the course safely. Sierra Nevada Trails returns to Pinos Genil in November with a longer and a shorter option, but both share the decisive feature of accumulated climbing that demands a closer look than distance alone. The event’s official guide will complete the picture of race day.