The Verdon trail or the Var Verdon Canyon Challenge. The trail is a discipline more and more popular among the followers of nature sports. Popularized by the general public by great champions like Killian Jornet. This sport allows to combine the practice of the middle mountain with the athletic performance.

The Grand trail du Verdon, the Var Verdon Canyon Challenge

It exists since 1993 and was a pioneer in this field. Behind this event, there is a name; Jean Giacosa who was the creator of the association AERIA in charge of the organization of the Verdon trail. The Grand Canyon du Verdon is the ideal site to receive such an event. Indeed, it presents important differences in level as well as paths of a great technicality. All this in a first class setting!

The headquarters of the race is located in Aigines, it is also the start and finish of the three proposed courses (60, 30 and 21 kilometers) in 2022.

Le Petit Trail du Grand Margès (21 km for 1457 meters of positive difference in altitude)

The smallest but already strong! Better to come in shape!

The Grand Trail du Grand Margès (30 km for 1830 meters of positive difference in altitude)

Still the top walk!

The trail between two banks (60 km, for 3898 meters of positive difference in altitude)

Reserved for the experts among the experts. A loop that goes up the whole canyon to Point Sublime before heading to Trigance. The first ones finish in less than seven hours.

For registration and more information, it is best to go directly to the event website.

The Var Verdon Canyon Challenge is affiliated to the Challenge des Trails de Provence which gathers the most beautiful events of Provence. There are short and long trails. Individual, team and club rankings.

 

The verdon trail, it’s all year long

Note that every hiking trail can be adapted to the trail. If we take a look at the articles dedicated in this blog, there are already some trails. However, some of them had the concern to create trails more adapted to the discipline. So, we have 5 trails to propose you. 5 trails, all in loops, which harmonize mainly different facets of the high verdon. In summer, it’s up there that you have to go to run because it’s less hot.

The Verdon Trail of Beauvezer – 4.6 km

A beginner’s trail by its length but beware, already almost 80 meters of positive difference in altitude!
From 1170 meters, go to the summit at 2147 meters!

From Colmars to Ratery – 7.6 km

At the end of the circuit, you will cross shaded forests and vast meadows. Very nice views on the surrounding mountains and on the village of Colmars.

The Verdon Trail from Villars to Croix du Puy – 7.8 km

Croix du Puy is accessible by a hiking trail without difficulty. You can enjoy a beautiful panorama on the Verdon valley.

From Chasse to Cabane de Joyeux – 12.0 km

Chasse and its valley are places not to be missed in the territory of the Haut-Verdon. This route is located above Villars Colmars.
In order to lengthen the course in distance and difference in altitude, you can also start from Villars-Colmars by following the course 2.

The Verdon Trail from Villars to Chasse – 13.3 km

There is a great variety of pastoral mountain landscapes. There are also thick forests and small streams.