Trail de Lavault-Sainte-Anne and Gorges du Cher

A nature trail in the Gorges du Cher

The Trail de Lavault-Sainte-Anne et des Gorges du Cher takes place every year in February in Lavault-Sainte-Anne, a commune in the Allier (03) department located a few kilometers from Montluçon, on the border of the Cher. This sporting event, organized by the ADELL association in partnership with Montluçon Communauté, attracts several hundred runners each year to discover the spectacular landscapes of the Gorges du Cher and the Bois des Crozes. The courses follow forest paths, ridge trails, and technical passages along the Cher valley, offering exceptional panoramas of the wild gorges and the ruins of the Château de l'Ours, a legendary site in the region.

Five races for all levels

The Trail de Lavault-Sainte-Anne offers five races adapted to all runner profiles. The Raid des Gorges du Cher (32 km, 1000 m D+) is the main event for experienced trail runners, crossing the entire gorges with technical passages and significant elevation gain. The Balade à Paulo (24 km, 800 m D+) offers a challenging but accessible intermediate format. The Grimpette de la Buse (16 km, 600 m D+) allows participants to discover the gorges over a reasonable distance. For beginners, the Découverte (10 km, 250 m D+) offers an introduction to nature trail running. Finally, the Noctambule (12 km, 300 m D+) is run on Saturday evening with headlamps, offering a unique and magical experience in the nocturnal forest.

Mountain bike rides and children's races

In addition to the trail races, the event offers mountain bike rides using the same landscapes with routes adapted for off-road cyclists. The children's races, organized on Sunday morning, allow children aged 6 to 15 to try trail running over adapted distances (from 500 m to 3 km) with medals awarded to all participants. Canicross, a race accompanied by a dog, completes the sporting offer and attracts nature running enthusiasts with their four-legged companions. These activities make the Trail de Lavault a complete family and sports weekend.

An exceptional natural setting

The trail routes wind through a preserved natural environment: the Gorges du Cher, a deep valley with wooded slopes and spectacular panoramas, and the Bois des Crozes, a vast forest massif of oaks and beeches. Runners pass particularly close to the Château de l'Ours, a medieval ruin perched on a rocky outcrop, the source of many local legends. The trails, technical and varied, alternate between rolling forest sections and more demanding passages with roots, rocks, and elevation changes. This combination of natural and historical heritage makes the Trail de Lavault a unique race in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region.

Organization and conviviality

The organization of the Trail de Lavault-Sainte-Anne is managed by the ADELL association (Association de Développement Économique Local de Lavault) and benefits from the support of Montluçon Communauté. The event takes place in a friendly and family atmosphere, with generous aid stations on the courses (dried fruits, energy bars, drinks), heated changing rooms, soup and hot drinks at the finish, and awards for all participants. Prices remain affordable (from 8 to 25 euros depending on the race) and registration is done online. The trail attracts between 500 and 800 participants each year, confirming its status as a must-attend event for winter trail running in central France.