Aiguebelle, FRA ·
20 Aug - Aug 23, 2026
The full wild traverse of the Belledonne massif, high above the French Alps.
L'Échappée Belle is a raw, high altitude ultra that crosses the entire Belledonne range in the French Alps. The flagship Intégrale covers around 144 km with roughly 11,000 metres of positive elevation, linking Vizille to Aiguebelle almost entirely above 2,000 metres on technical alpine terrain.
L'Échappée Belle is a legendary alpine ultra that offers a complete south to north traverse of the Belledonne massif, one of the most savage ranges in the French Alps. The flagship Intégrale covers roughly 144 kilometres with close to 11,000 metres of positive elevation, starting in Vizille near Grenoble and finishing in Aiguebelle in the Maurienne valley. Runners spend the vast majority of the course above 2,000 metres, on ridges, scree fields, boulder passages and technical singletrack.
The event also offers shorter versions that share the same spirit: the Grande Traversée, the Belledonne race and other stages, all exploring the wild heart of the massif. Iconic passages include the Grand Van, the Pas de la Coche, the Lac du Crozet, the Col de Freydane and long exposed sections where chains secure the steepest rocky steps.
Held at the end of August, L'Échappée Belle is celebrated for its raw, uncompromising character. There are few aid stations, limited trail markings in some sections and the demand for real mountain autonomy is high. Runners come for the silence of the high country, the vertiginous views over the Écrins and the Mont Blanc, and the rare feeling of crossing an entire alpine range on foot.