Trail Festival du Barrage.
The 48 km is the long distance of the Trail Festival du Barrage, new to the programme in 2026: a day through the Parc naturel des Deux Ourthes in which roughly 1,600 m of climbing comes from a long series of short, very steep walls rather than one big mountain. Finishing it well depends on hiking the ramps efficiently and running rooty descents cleanly. Also known as Trail du Barrage.
Trail Festival du Barrage 2027: Course, Elevation & Route Profile
Start and finish are at the trailrun.be headquarters in Warempage near Ortho, on the plateau above the Ourthe valley. The first kilometres use wider paths with no singletrack, then the course drops into the valley: at km 4 comes the first wall, a little over 110 m in under a kilometre, and at km 11 you reach the Nisramont dam and the first feed zone. From there the route heads upstream to Engreux (km 22, at the Au Bout du Monde campsite), the section only the 48 km covers.
The second half keeps switching between valley floor and the rim above it. Between km 25 and km 36 come four climbs of around 100 m in roughly a kilometre each, with ramps past 20 percent, before the last feed zone at Nadrin (km 36). The lowest point of the course is on the Ourthe around km 43, and from there the longest climb of the day, a little over two kilometres and 150 m, takes you back up to the plateau and Warempage.
The organiser puts more than 95 percent of the route off road: rock, roots, hard climbs and fast, steep descents in the forest. Public roads are crossed several times and stay open to traffic. There are no disposable cups anywhere, so carry your own cup or bottle.
| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 4.2 | 0.9 km | 12.3 % | 34.3 % | +113 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 10.9 | 0.8 km | 10.9 % | 20.9 % | +81 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 18.2 | 1.1 km | 10.8 % | 23.3 % | +113 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 25.1 | 1 km | 11.1 % | 21.2 % | +108 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 27.7 | 1.1 km | 10.8 % | 31.4 % | +113 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 31.9 | 1.1 km | 7.7 % | 25.8 % | +85 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 34.9 | 1 km | 10.7 % | 22.2 % | +105 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 44.3 | 2.2 km | 6.8 % | 18.2 % | +150 m | Cat. 4 |
Climb categories follow the road-cycling convention and rate the terrain itself (length and gradient) regardless of sport: Cat. 4 marks the easiest rated climbs, Cat. 1 the hardest, and HC (hors catégorie, “beyond categorization”) is reserved for the most brutal ascents. Short climbs below the Cat. 4 threshold stay unrated.
How to pace Trail Festival du Barrage.
Start under control
The 48 km has no single key climb; it has a dozen or so short walls. Most of them are better hiked briskly than run: above 15 percent, running costs a lot and saves little time. Treat the stretches between feed zones (km 11, 22, 36) as separate blocks and eat early, because after Engreux the rhythm of climb and descent gets tighter.
Hold your rhythm
The race is decided between km 25 and km 36. Push every wall there and you reach the final climb out of the Ourthe valley on empty legs, and those two-plus kilometres back to Warempage are the longest continuous ascent of the day.
Spend what is left
The usual trap is the fast, technical descending. On roots and rock, tired quads brake harder and harder, and that adds up over 1,600 m of descent. Run the early descents relaxed rather than fast and keep your legs for the second half.
Training plan for Trail Festival du Barrage: 12-week build
Build the base
Plan on six to nine hours for a typical trail runner. The effort is uneven: long stretches of steady running in the valleys, broken by short, very intense climbs and steep descents. Aerobic endurance is the base, but it is not enough on its own.
Train race pace
What decides the race is the run of walls in the second half and the long final climb to Warempage. Train short, steep climbs of 80 to 120 m in sets, hiking briskly with poles or hands on thighs, and put them at the end of long runs so you can still climb them tired.
Rehearse the course
The descents demand eccentric strength and technique: downhill running over roots and rock, plus strength work such as lunges and step-downs so the quads last to the finish. One or two long runs of four to five hours off road make sense, with the food and drink you will use in the race and your own cup.
Arrive fresh
The race is held in mid-September in the forests of the Ardennes, on paths full of rock and roots. Do your long sessions on similar ground so footing and concentration hold up after hours on your feet.
Courses
Download the Trail Festival du Barrage course as a GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
Let YOUB adapt your plan for Trail Festival du Barrage dynamically
Ben connects your goal, the course, current load, recovery, and calendar. Your plan stays pointed at race day even when real life is not perfectly plannable.
Everything about Trail Festival du Barrage.
How long is Trail Festival du Barrage?
Trail Festival du Barrage is 48 km long. That distance shapes how much aerobic endurance, pace durability, and race-specific work belong in the training plan.
How much elevation gain does Trail Festival du Barrage have?
Trail Festival du Barrage has around 1,604 m of elevation gain over 48 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
What is the route profile of Trail Festival du Barrage?
Trail Festival du Barrage is classified as Mountainous, averaging 33.3 vertical metres per kilometre. 12% of the route is flat, 28% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 16% is steeper than 6%.
What climbs does Trail Festival du Barrage have?
The hardest climb of Trail Festival du Barrage starts at kilometre 44.3, runs for 2.2 km at an average of 6.8% and gains 150 metres. Cycling-convention rating: Cat. 4. 8 climbs are mapped in total.
Is Trail Festival du Barrage a loop course?
Yes, Trail Festival du Barrage is laid out as a loop: start and finish are in the same place.
Is there a GPX file for the Trail Festival du Barrage course?
Yes. The Trail Festival du Barrage course is on this page as a free GPX download — ready to import into Garmin, Wahoo, Komoot, Strava or any other app that reads GPX.
How should I prepare for Trail Festival du Barrage?
Preparation for Trail Festival du Barrage should account for 48 km, 1,604 m of elevation gain, current training load, and available training time. An adaptive plan helps place key sessions without ignoring recovery and real life.
What pacing strategy works for Trail Festival du Barrage?
The pacing strategy for Trail Festival du Barrage should reflect 48 km, 1,604 m of elevation gain, and your current fitness. Start controlled and keep margin for sections where the profile or fatigue makes target pace harder.
When does Trail Festival du Barrage take place?
Trail Festival du Barrage takes place on September 18, 2027.
Where does Trail Festival du Barrage take place?
Trail Festival du Barrage takes place in La Roche-en-Ardenne, Belgium.
Which distances does Trail Festival du Barrage offer?
Trail Festival du Barrage offers 7 distances — 48 km: 48 km; 28 km: 28 km; 21 km: 21 km (Half marathon); 11 km: 11 km; 7 km: 7 km; 3 km: 3 km and 1 more.
How do I register for Trail Festival du Barrage?
Registration runs through the organiser: trailrun.be. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.
