Salomon EcoTrail Paris
EcoTrail Paris - Trail 80 km
Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines (Île de Loisirs) → Paris (1st floor of the Eiffel Tower)
Race guide
Updated 19 July 2026
The Salomon EcoTrail Paris 80 km is one of Europe's most distinctive urban-fringe trail races, linking the forests and châteaux of the Île-de-France with the heart of Paris in a single continuous push. Starting at the Île de Loisirs in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines and finishing on the first floor of the Eiffel Tower, the route threads through Versailles, the forests of Meudon, the Parc de Saint-Cloud, the Bois de Boulogne and finally along the Seine quays before delivering you to one of the most iconic finish lines in trail running. With 80 km of distance, 1085 m of cumulative ascent and a high point of just 209 m, this is emphatically not a mountain race — but its relentlessly rolling terrain, hard-packed paths, occasional road sections and late-race urban miles on tired legs make it a genuine test of pacing discipline and mental endurance.
Course & Terrain
The route is split into two distinct halves. The first 57 km from Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines through the Versailles area (26 km), Meudon (41 km) and into Parc de Saint-Cloud (57 km) run through proper woodland and parkland trails — compacted gravel paths, rooty forest singletrack and open park lanes. Elevation changes are modest but continuous; the profile is a series of short, punchy climbs and descents rather than any single giant ascent, with the high point of the course at 209 m reached somewhere in the Meudon–Saint-Cloud section. From 57 km onwards, the terrain shifts decisively: the Bois de Boulogne (reached around 70 km) transitions into the paved quays of the Seine, and the final kilometres into the Champ-de-Mars are on road and city paths. Expect surfaces to range from soft forest trail to packed gravel to urban tarmac, so versatile footwear with moderate grip is the right call — a race-day trail shoe rather than aggressive lugs.
The Decisive Sections — Where the Race Is Won and Lost
Despite the modest total elevation, the Meudon forest section around 41 km is typically where the race begins to split fields apart. The climbs are short but the cumulative fatigue on legs that have already covered a half-marathon and then some makes them feel far steeper than the numbers suggest. The transition from Parc de Saint-Cloud (57 km, 100 m elevation) down toward the Bois de Boulogne checkpoint at 70 km (71 m) involves a prolonged descent that many runners run too hard, wrecking their quads for the closing kilometres. The final 10 km from the Bois de Boulogne to the Eiffel Tower are largely flat and paved, but at this stage of an 80 km effort, even slight camber and hard tarmac extract a heavy toll. Runners who have preserved their legs through disciplined pacing in the first 57 km — resisting the temptation to push in the forest — will make up significant time on the quays and arrive at the Eiffel Tower finish still moving well. The single cut-off to respect is the finish at Saturday 23:00.
Pacing & Fuelling Strategy
With only 1085 m D+ over 80 km, the elevation profile does not dictate pacing the way a mountain ultra would. Instead, surface transitions and cumulative fatigue are your enemies. A useful mental framework is to treat the race in three blocks: the 26 km forest opening to Versailles (run relaxed, well within yourself), the 31 km middle section from Versailles through Meudon to Saint-Cloud (moderately controlled effort, walk the steeper climbs to protect your quads), and the 23 km closing section from Saint-Cloud to the finish (race what you have left). Checkpoints at Versailles (26 km), Meudon (41 km), Saint-Cloud (57 km) and the Bois de Boulogne/Seine quays (70 km) provide natural refuelling opportunities — plan to top up water and calories at every one. With a predominantly low-altitude, temperate effort, your caloric needs are more like a fast marathon-plus than a mountain ultra, but 80 km still demands consistent carbohydrate intake from early on. Aim for 60–80 g of carbohydrate per hour from the first hour onwards; don't wait until you're deep in the forest at Meudon to start eating.
Conditions to Expect
EcoTrail Paris runs in the Île-de-France in early spring, which means conditions can span a wide range. Temperatures typically sit between 5°C and 15°C at the start, but a multi-hour effort means you'll likely start in the cool dark and arrive in Paris in warmer afternoon or evening conditions — the finish cut-off of 23:00 on Saturday means back-of-pack runners may well be finishing after dark. Wind along the Seine quays in the final kilometres can be a significant factor. The forest sections at Meudon and Saint-Cloud can be muddy and soft after rain, which will slow pace and add to leg fatigue despite the gentle gradients. A light, packable wind layer, gloves for the start and a headtorch (essential for anyone likely to finish in the evening) should all be in your pack. Given that the final miles are on city streets and exposed quays, don't discard your jacket too early in the race.
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Checkpoints & cut-offs
✓ Course data verified against the official source (2026-07-05) · official source
0 km · 171 m · —
25.1 km · 117 m · Sat 14:35
37.7 km · 131 m · Sat 16:40
47.8 km · 115 m · Sat 18:30
53.6 km · 180 m · Sat 19:45
72.4 km · 33 m · Sat 22:30
79.8 km · 43 m · —
81.8 km · 63 m · Sun 00:10
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