Trail du Saint-Jacques by UTMB

In the footsteps of the Compostelle pilgrims

The Trail du Saint-Jacques by UTMB was born in 2012 from the desire of the city of Puy-en-Velay to create a major sporting event around the city's Jacquaire identity. Le Puy-en-Velay is indeed one of the four historic starting points for the pilgrimage to Saint-Jacques-de-Compostelle, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list. The event allows runners to tread the same paths as the pilgrims for over a thousand years, on the section connecting Le Puy-en-Velay to Saugues.

Six races for all levels

The Trail du Saint-Jacques by UTMB offers a complete range of events adapted to all runner profiles:

• Ultra du Saint-Jacques (139 km, 6,000 m D+): the main event, starting from Saugues, which crosses the Gorges de l'Allier and the Gévaudan plateaus before reaching the Puy-en-Velay Cathedral. A true journey through time and the landscapes of Haute-Loire.
• Grand Trail du Saint-Jacques (86 km, 3,500 m D+): starting from Monistrol-d'Allier, a crossing of the deep valleys and basalt plateaus of Velay.
• Monistrail (55 km, 2,100 m D+): a technical course offering an immersion into the wildest landscapes of Haute-Loire.
• Les Chibottes (28 km, 750 m D+): an accessible trail highlighting the 'chibottes', these emblematic dry stone huts of Velay.
• Le 12 du Dolaizon (12 km, 210 m D+): an introductory trail race in a pastoral setting, accessible from 16 years old, created in 2025.
• Randonnée du Saint-Jacques (28 km): a friendly hike to discover the Chibottes route at your own pace.

A mythical finish in front of the Cathedral

All races converge towards a finish line in front of the Notre-Dame du Puy-en-Velay Cathedral, a masterpiece of Romanesque art and a UNESCO World Heritage site. This moment of intense emotion, shared by thousands of spectators gathered in the streets of the old town, is the highlight of the event. Runners climb the final steps leading to the cathedral square, replicating the gesture of Compostelle pilgrims for centuries.

An expanding international event

As part of the UTMB World Series, the Trail du Saint-Jacques has experienced spectacular growth since its UTMB certification. The event has grown from a few hundred participants in its early days to 6,500 runners in 2025, a record. With 59 nationalities represented and over 1,200 volunteers mobilized, the Trail du Saint-Jacques has become one of the biggest trail running events in France and a must-attend on the international calendar.

An exceptional territory for trail running

The courses traverse diverse landscapes: the Gorges de l'Allier, the Gévaudan plateaus, the volcanic peaks of Velay, the Scots pine forests, and the high-altitude meadows of Haute-Loire. Runners follow ancient trails, passing through charming villages like Saugues, Monistrol-d'Allier, Saint-Privat-d'Allier, and Rochegude, before reaching the episcopal city of Le Puy-en-Velay, dominated by the statue of Notre-Dame de France on the Corneille rock.