HOKA Val d'Aran by UTMB
CDH — Camins d'Hèr
Les → Vielha
Race guide
Updated 29 June 2026
The CDH — Camins d'Hèr is a 110 km mountain ultra running from Les (637 m) to Vielha (975 m) through the heart of the Val d'Aran in the Spanish Pyrenees, part of the HOKA Val d'Aran by UTMB race weekend. With 6,368 m of climbing, a high point of 2,551 m and a finishing cut-off of 34.5 hours, this is a race that demands serious mountain credentials. The course threads together remote refuges, high passes, Pyrenean lakes and pastoral valleys, taking runners from the southern edge of Aran all the way through to Vielha, the valley's capital — a genuine point-to-point adventure across one of Europe's most beautiful alpine landscapes. The race starts on Friday morning and finishes Saturday, meaning a significant proportion of the course is run through the night. Crews can access runners at Salardú (60.8 km) and Arties (96 km), making logistical planning around those two points essential. The field will be spread across a wide range of terrain — forest tracks, high-mountain singletrack, boggy plateau and rocky descent — so versatility and conservatism in the early stages are the hallmarks of a smart CDH race.
Course & Terrain Overview
From the start in Les at 637 m, the course climbs immediately into the forested lower slopes of the Aran valley, passing through Canejan (5.7 km, 875 m) and Refugi dera Honeria (12.9 km, 1,021 m) before the terrain opens up into bigger Pyrenean mountain country. The first major high point comes at Còth de Varrados (28.9 km, 2,056 m), marking the end of the first sustained climb of the day. From there the course descends to the remote sanctuary of Montgarri (46.8 km, 1,660 m), a strikingly isolated checkpoint where the sense of wilderness is real. A further climb brings runners to Pla de Beret (51.9 km, 1,851 m), a broad plateau that acts as the geographic centrepiece of the race. The second half of the course is anything but a procession. After dropping to Salardú (60.8 km, 1,263 m), runners climb again to Banhs de Tredòs (69.7 km, 1,760 m) and push on to the beautiful Colomèrs lake basin (81.2 km, 2,014 m) — a high-mountain cirque that delivers some of the most spectacular and technically demanding terrain on the course. The final quarter runs through Mont-Romies (91.5 km, 1,780 m) and drops to Arties (96 km, 1,140 m) before one last punishing climb to Stet Escunhau (101.8 km, 1,760 m) and a long descent into Vielha to finish. The terrain throughout combines Pyrenean singletrack, open high pasture, rocky ridgeline and valley path — expect everything.
Decisive Climbs and Where the Race Is Won or Lost
Three sections stand out as race-defining. The first is the long grind to Còth de Varrados at 28.9 km — arriving here in good shape and well within the 14:45 Friday cut-off is essential, because the section from Les is deceptively long and the accumulated elevation already substantial. Runners who go out too hard in the forest sections to Refugi dera Honeria often pay for it before Varrados. The second critical block is the approach to and exit from the Colomèrs basin (81.2 km). By the time runners reach this checkpoint the clock will be pushing toward or past midnight, legs will have over 80 km in them, and the 2,014 m altitude combined with nighttime cold can shut down a race fast. The 2,014 m high of Colomèrs is the last major altitude challenge before Vielha, and the descent from Mont-Romies into Arties (91.5–96 km) is where tired quads can turn a manageable situation into a damaging one. Finally, the climb from Arties (1,140 m) to Stet Escunhau (1,760 m) at 96–101.8 km — over 600 m of ascent with fewer than 10 km to go — is the sting in the tail that catches runners who empty their tank at the crew point.
Pacing & Race Strategy
The cut-off schedule tells a clear story: the race is front-loaded with aggressive time gates. Refugi dera Honeria must be reached by 09:30 on Friday — just 3.5 hours after a typical start — and the pace required to reach Còth de Varrados by 14:45 and Montgarri by 18:00 means there is very little room for early dawdling. Plan your first 50 km as a disciplined effort, not a comfortable jog; the cut-offs at Pla de Beret (19:00) and Salardú (20:30) leave a buffer that evaporates quickly if you've been inefficient in transitions or on the climbs. From Salardú onward, the race becomes a night ultra. Use the crew access at Salardú (60.8 km) to refuel properly, swap lighting, and reset mentally — it's the last crew point for 35.2 km. The Colomèrs cut-off at 02:00 Saturday gives a rough ceiling on what pace is needed through the Banhs de Tredòs section; if you're arriving at Colomèrs with less than 30 minutes to spare, treat the final 29 km with serious urgency. The crew access at Arties (96 km, cut-off 05:30) is your final opportunity to refuel before the closing climb and descent; keep the stop short and purposeful. The overall cut-off at Vielha is 10:30 Saturday morning — approximately 34.5 hours from a Friday start.
Fuelling & Aid Station Strategy
With crew access only at Salardú (60.8 km) and Arties (96 km), runners must be self-sufficient for long stretches or rely entirely on what's available at race checkpoints. The opening 46.8 km to Montgarri is crew-free, so start conservatively stocked for calories and fluids. In summer Pyrenean conditions, the lower forest sections in the first 30 km can be warmer than expected, increasing sweat rate before the high altitude sections cool things down significantly. From a fuelling cadence perspective, target feeding every 45–60 minutes from the start, taking in real food where available at checkpoints — Montgarri and Colomèrs in particular are known as meaningful stops on Aran race courses. Going into the night section after Salardú, prioritize warm and savoury foods if the checkpoints offer them; cold sweet gels become harder to process and psychologically harder to stomach through the small hours. Arrive at Arties (96 km) with enough reserve to fuel the final 14.4 km, including the climb to Stet Escunhau, without bonking on the last descent into Vielha.
Conditions to Expect
The Val d'Aran sits on the north-facing Atlantic slope of the Pyrenees, which gives it a markedly wetter and cooler microclimate than the Spanish side. Even in summer race conditions, the high passes above 2,000 m can see temperatures drop sharply after dark, and afternoon thunderstorms are a genuine risk in the Pyrenees — particularly relevant for runners moving through exposed ground like the Còth de Varrados area or the Colomèrs basin. A mandatory kit list will be enforced; treat it seriously and carry your emergency layer and waterproof from the gun, not just in your drop bag. The course's high point of 2,551 m is not extreme altitude but is enough to feel on tired legs in the back half of the race. Trail conditions will vary considerably across the 110 km: the lower forest paths can be muddy and root-covered especially after rain, the high pasture around Pla de Beret may be boggy underfoot, and the rocky terrain in and around Colomèrs demands technical footing. Poles are strongly recommended given the volume of climbing and descending, and a trail shoe with reliable grip across wet rock and soft ground is essential.
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Checkpoints & cut-offs
✓ Course data verified against the official source (2026-07-05) · official source
0 km · 637 m · —
5.8 km · 891 m · —
12.9 km · 1017 m · Fri 09:30
28.9 km · 2057 m · Fri 14:45
46.8 km · 1659 m · Fri 18:00
51.9 km · 1850 m · Fri 19:00
60.8 km · 1260 m · Fri 20:30
69.7 km · 1759 m · Fri 22:30
81.3 km · 1980 m · Sat 02:00
91.6 km · 1765 m · —
96.1 km · 1139 m · Sat 05:30
102 km · 1780 m · —
110.5 km · 978 m · Sat 10:30
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