Trails come to Paris – run the Paris Ecotrail

Trail running in Paris may make you smile if you’re used to tackling Alpine passes and Pyrenean peaks. By definition, however, trail running is any form of running in a natural environment: through forests, deserts, mountains and the countryside... So in that case, you can find plenty of trails just outside Paris.

The EcoTrail is an annual sporting event that has attracted trail running lovers since 2007. The programme includes several routes ranging from 10 to 80 kilometres (6 to 50 mi) in length – something for every type of runner. The trails are in the west of Paris, from the Yvelines to the Eiffel Tower, via Versailles, Vélizy, Meudon, Sèvres, and Saint-Cloud. It's an opportunity to discover unspoilt natural landscapes, wooded paths, rivers and hills while admiring spectacular Parisian monuments.

As its name suggests, the Paris EcoTrail is committed to the environment. The event has been designed to minimise its impact on nature and with sustainability is at its heart. It aims to raise awareness of environmental protection by proposing eco-citizen actions throughout the race.

As is often the case in trail running, on the day of the event, some sections pass through private sites that are normally closed to the public. The routes I'm presenting in this Collection are, with a few exceptions, inspired by the event routes, but you can run them all year round. The routes are good preparation for the races or make for a nice day out in the Paris region.

The paths and trails are rolling, with a few asphalt sections. Non-technical trail shoes with good cushioning are ideal for the mixed surfaces. Depending on the distance you choose, you might want to bring snacks and a hydration pack.

You can follow these routes all year round, but avoid the heatwaves. The landscape changes with the seasons, as do the conditions underfoot: mud, dead leaves, dry paths... You'll have it all, bearing in mind that the EcoTrail takes place in March, at the very end of winter.

I've deliberately changed the starting points to bring them closer to Transilien (the commuter rail network serving the Île-de-France) and local metro stations. If you're passing through the Domaine National de Saint-Cloud, check the opening times (in French) at: domaine-saint-cloud.fr/visiter/informations-pratiques#horaires-d-ouverture. That way you won't get locked in (it happened to me)!

Enjoy your training and see you on the starting line next year!

If you'd like to discover my other trail Collections around Paris, see:
komoot.com/collection/1370858
komoot.com/collection/1387620
komoot.com/collection/1395243
komoot.com/collection/1411855