Trail Dos Aguas 2026: date, routes and key details

Plan your race pace

Dos Aguas will host the third edition of its mountain race, climbing towards Pico del Ave, on Sunday, December 13, 2026. The event, part of the Sendas de Gigantes circuit, features two routes: one covering 11 kilometres and another covering 21, both with significant elevation gain for a winter race.

The longer course has 1,250 metres of ascent, while the shorter one has 650. The available information lists the date and distances, but the start time, exact start location, prices and full regulations are not confirmed. There is also conflicting information about registration status, so it is sensible to check those details with the organisers before making travel plans.

Date, location and confirmed details

The race is scheduled for Sunday, December 13, 2026, in Dos Aguas, a municipality in the inland part of Valencia province. It is the third edition, officially named III Trail Dos Aguas – Subida al Pico del Ave, and its route explores the mountains around the town, with the climb that gives the event its name as its defining feature.

The race is linked to the Sendas de Gigantes circuit and is associated with Amida Sports in the available reference material. One listing names Dos Aguas Town Council as the organiser. These details describe the published relationship between the race, circuit and named entities, although final operational information should come from the organisers.

The date places it on December’s mountain-running calendar, but it is not enough to finalise a travel itinerary. No start time, precise start and finish locations, bib collection instructions or collection hours have been provided. It is also unclear whether both distances start together or at different times. These details matter when arranging travel and logistics, so they should not be inferred from previous editions.

Dos Aguas is a small inland town. Race information warns that local restaurants, shops and bars may have limited services during the event, and recommends stocking up in nearby towns such as Montroi, Real de Montroi or Buñol. This may matter to visitors, especially anyone needing food, accommodation or equipment at short notice.

Two routes with a demanding climb

The shorter option covers 11 kilometres and gains 650 metres. Although that distance may seem manageable beside a half marathon, the elevation changes the effort involved: runners usually slow on climbs, while descents require control and stability. Mountain kilometres are not directly comparable with flat-road kilometres, particularly when so much climbing is packed into a short course.

The longer option covers 21 kilometres and gains 1,250 metres. Its distance is close to a half marathon, but the elevation makes it substantially more demanding, and race time will depend heavily on the terrain, course profile and conditions. The ascent of Pico del Ave is the event’s defining feature, although the available information does not confirm the exact route or altitude reached.

Both formats are described as trail or mountain-running routes. Information also says specific GPS tracks are available for each distance, but no verifiable link or detailed elevation profile is provided here. Before race day, it is worth checking the official map when published: a GPS track can show turns, gradients, crossings and checkpoints, avoiding reliance on a broad route description.

The choice between 11 and 21 kilometres should not be based on distance alone. A road runner may find the climbs, uneven ground and descents more significant than the nominal distance. On the longer course, 1,250 metres of ascent call for sustained effort management; the shorter route’s 650 metres can also include steep gradients. Without a profile, surface breakdown or published cut-off times, the difficulty cannot be assessed more precisely.

Understanding the difficulty and elevation

Positive elevation gain is the total climbing along a route, not the difference between its lowest and highest points. A course can therefore gain 1,250 metres even if the summit it reaches is much less than 1,250 metres above the start: the route may climb and descend several times. The figure helps estimate physical demands, but it cannot replace an elevation profile or familiarity with the terrain.

The reference listing describes the longer distance as intermediate difficulty. That label is indicative, not a universal classification; the experience required varies according to pace, fitness, trail conditions and weather. For someone with little mountain-running experience, 21 kilometres and 1,250 metres of ascent may be far more demanding than an urban race of the same distance.

Pico del Ave provides a recognisable geographic reference, but the event name alone does not reveal how long runners stay at altitude or how much of the course follows tracks, paths or technical terrain. Official details on runnable sections, maximum gradients and exposed areas are also unavailable. The final profile and regulations will be essential to judging the real challenge once published.

In the mountains, difficulty comes from several factors at once. A long climb may force runners to walk, while a rocky descent can slow them even when the gradient is downhill. Mud, wet stones or limited visibility can also change the experience. Distance and ascent are therefore a useful starting point, not a promise of race duration or a complete description of the effort involved.

Registration, prices and services still to be confirmed

The available information does not provide a verifiable fee for either distance or specify closing dates, price changes or possible entry limits. One listing says registration is handled through Dorsal1, while another describes registration as not yet open. Given this discrepancy, it is not possible to confirm here whether entries are open or what a race bib costs.

Information also differs on what the entry includes. An English-language description mentions a chip-timed bib, aid stations, race-day accident insurance, finish-line services, physiotherapy, showers, a post-race meal and a T-shirt or keepsake. These items are not consistently confirmed in other references. They should not be assumed until they appear in the regulations or official entry form.

The most reliable way to check registration is to find the official announcement for the 2026 edition and make sure it relates to Dos Aguas and the December 13 date. Before paying, it is reasonable to confirm the chosen distance, total fee, refund conditions, insurance cover and included services. Fees from previous years or other circuit races cannot be used to calculate this edition’s price.

The organisers should also publish details on bib collection, required identification, entry transfers and schedules. If the entry listing does not specify a service — showers, food or parking, for example — it is better not to plan on having it. In a small municipality, checking transport and food options in advance can be as important as reviewing equipment requirements.

Winter in the mountains: weather and equipment

The race date falls in mid-December, when conditions inland in Valencia can differ from those on the coast. Even so, a reliable weather forecast is not available many months in advance. A race listing gives indicative figures of 8 to 16 degrees, a 30% chance of rain, 25 kph winds and seven hours of sunshine, but those numbers should not be treated as a confirmed forecast for race day.

Temperatures can change quickly between the valley floor, exposed areas and higher ground. Wind cools the skin, damp conditions make rocks slippery, and a clear morning does not guarantee dry trails. The useful forecast will be the one issued in the days before the race, alongside any organiser updates on route changes or safety measures.

Layered clothing can adapt more easily than one heavy garment: a breathable layer helps move sweat away, while a windproof layer can protect runners on exposed sections. Footwear should be chosen for the surface and grip required, not distance alone. Without knowing the exact terrain, it is impossible to recommend a particular model or claim that the route is muddy, rocky or technical.

Any compulsory equipment must be checked in the regulations. No requirements have been provided for an emergency blanket, windproof jacket, reusable cup, phone or water reserve. Carrying extra items as a precaution may be sensible in the mountains, but it does not replace compliance with the race rules. Equipment should reflect the actual forecast, published profile and expected duration, not a generic checklist.

Dos Aguas and the logistics of a small race

The town’s small scale may offer an experience different from a major urban race: mountain scenery is close and getting around town may be simpler. At the same time, services may be more limited. Organisers recommend considering nearby towns such as Montroi, Real de Montroi and Buñol for supplies, a useful point for anyone travelling the day before.

The information mentions an official camping area open on the night before and after the event, but does not specify its location, capacity, access terms or facilities. The announcement of a camping area does not mean it includes showers, electricity or advance booking. Those details need confirming before making the campsite the basis of an accommodation plan.

Aid stations are described on the race page as three points with different levels of service: two hydration points, a main station with food and drink, and another full station before the finish. Since kilometre markers and exact contents are not listed, these details are only a broad guide. The final locations and arrangements should be checked on the map and in the regulations.

Transport planning for a mountain race also depends on knowing where the start and finish are, and whether they are in the same place. No specific address has been provided. Arrival time, parking, access for spectators and possible road restrictions are also unspecified. Local planning remains incomplete until those details are published, so avoid non-refundable bookings based on assumed schedules.

A race whose final details still matter

The December 13, 2026, event brings together the essentials of a trail-running day: two distances, substantial elevation gain and a route associated with an inland Valencian peak. For many participants, the main decision will be between 11 kilometres with 650 metres of ascent and 21 kilometres with 1,250. The longer route tests endurance and elevation management, while the shorter one is no flat stroll either.

The firmest information is the date, location and basic characteristics of both courses. The price, start time, precise venue, regulations, included services and actual registration status still need confirmation, as does publication of the final profile. Conflicting entry information makes it especially important to consult the organisers’ announcement rather than relying on aggregated or outdated listings.

That balance between what is known and what remains pending currently defines the race’s information picture. Dos Aguas offers a mountain setting and a signature climb, but practical details will determine how the day unfolds. Once the route and official conditions are published, runners can assess the challenge more fully: not only how many kilometres they will cover, but what terrain, services and logistics await in December.