Trail du Néron

Trail du Néron spans six race formats over the course of several days. The races take place in the Chartreuse massif, just outside of Grenoble, in a region that combines over 1000 years of quiet history of contemplation by the monks at the Grand Chartreuse Monastery, with rugged terrain that demands your full attention on foot.

The event winds through the region’s distinctive terrain: deep forests, technical ridge lines, with passages around notable local summits including Mont-Saint-Martin, Charmant Som, and Mont Rachais. This is terrain where elevation is earned across steep and technical sections, with routes offering exposure consistent with the massif’s reputation.

Race formats range from 3.3 km Nocturne, to the 62 km Grand Néron, which climbs 4,000 meters. The Nocturne du Mont Saint-Martin (3.3 km, 550 m) and La Fontaniloise (13 km, 800 m) both have an unusual twist: they are run at night, making for a different challenge entirely as racers navigate by headlamp. The 12 km Néron Express (650 m) and 21 km Semi (950 m) cover the middle distances, while the 44 km Maratrail (2,800 m) gives runners a marathon style event to tackle.

Each course uses the same distinctive terrain: forest trails, exposed ridges, and technical sections that draw out the region’s raw alpine character.

Grenoble is roughly 20 minutes away, making the race accessible by rail from Geneva (2 hours) and Lyon (1.5 hours).