Ferriere Trail Festival
The trail running festival of the wildest Val Nure
About Ferriere Trail Festival
The wildest trail festival of the Piacenza Apennines
The Ferriere Trail Festival is the benchmark event for trail running enthusiasts in the heart of the Emilian Apennines. It takes place in Ferriere, the largest municipality in the province of Piacenza, nestled in the Val Nure close to the border with Liguria. Organized by the association Up&Down Piacenza Natural ASD, the event has earned a prominent place in the Italian trail running calendar over the years, attracting athletes from dozens of different nations.
Three routes for every runner
The festival features three competitive races of increasing length and elevation gain, all starting and finishing in Ferriere:
- Three Valley Grand Tour (TVGT) — 102 km and 6,000 meters of positive elevation gain: the first ultra trail entirely within Piacenza territory, touching seven peaks over 1,300 meters and crossing Ferriere, Santo Stefano d'Aveto, Cerignale, and Corte Brugnatella. It awards ITRA points and is a qualifying race for the UTMB World Series circuit.
- Ferriere Classic Ring (FCR) — 57 km with 3,100 meters of elevation gain, a course almost entirely within the municipality of Ferriere with a short stretch into Liguria, also over seven peaks above 1,300 meters.
- Carevolo Trail Race (CTR) — 31 km and 1,600 meters of elevation gain, the most accessible distance, valid for ITRA points and UTMB qualification.
A route through three valleys
The courses wind through the Val Nure, Val d'Aveto, and Val Trebbia, in an unspoiled and little-visited Apennine environment. The organizers personally ensure the cleanliness and marking of the trails before the race, removing them entirely afterward, in full respect of the mountain that hosts the event.
An international event
While remaining rooted in the mountain tradition of Val Nure, the Ferriere Trail Festival has taken on a distinctly international dimension: every year, bibs are assigned to athletes from Italy, France, Belgium, Germany, Croatia, San Marino, and Switzerland, among others. For the territory of Ferriere and the entire Val Nure, it represents an important showcase for tourism and sports promotion in the Emilia-Romagna region.
Ferriere Trail Festival — edition 2026
The Ferriere Trail Festival 2026 was held on May 8th and 9th in the mountains of Val Nure, in the province of Piacenza. Nearly 200 athletes, from Italy, France, Belgium, Germany, Croatia, San Marino, and Switzerland, participated in the three scheduled races, all starting and finishing in Ferriere. The edition confirmed the Three Valley Grand Tour as the main event, with its midnight start that kicked off a day and a half of racing along the wildest trails of the Piacenza Apennines.
Programme Ferriere Trail Festival 2026
Friday, May 8th
- 11:00 PM — Start of the Three Valley Grand Tour (TVGT), 102 km and 6,000 m of positive elevation gain, crossing Ferriere, Santo Stefano d'Aveto, Cerignale, and Corte Brugnatella (5 ITRA points, UTMB World Series qualification).
Saturday, May 9th
- Ferriere Classic Ring (FCR) — 57 km and 3,100 m of elevation gain (3 ITRA points).
- Carevolo Trail Race (CTR) — 31 km and 1,600 m of elevation gain (2 ITRA points, UTMB qualification).
All races start and finish in Ferriere.
Highlights Ferriere Trail Festival 2026
Winners of the Three Valley Grand Tour (102 km): Simone Corsini (Atletica MDS Panariagroup ASD) in 12h24'35" for men and Vera Mazzarello (Ovadese Trail Team) in 19h59'01" for women. In the Ferriere Classic Ring (57 km), victories went to Nicola Poggi (Sisport SSD ARL, 6h00'42") and Claudia Piccoli (Up&Down Piacenza Natural ASD, 9h03'23"). In the Carevolo Trail Race (31 km), the wins were by Federico Scabini (Universitas PA, 2h41'55") and Dinahlee Calzolari (Team Mud & Snow ASD, 3h52'13").
Practical information — Ferriere Trail Festival
How to get there
Ferriere can be reached by car from Piacenza by driving up the Val Nure along the SS654; the village is about an hour from the provincial capital. The nearest train station is Piacenza, on the Milan-Bologna line, from which you can continue by car.
Registration
Registration for the three races opens in autumn (typically from October 31st) and closes a few days before the event. Details on fees and procedures are published on the official website ferrieretrailfestival.it.
Tips
As these are mountain races with significant elevation gains, mandatory trail equipment is essential. It is advisable to book accommodation in the Ferriere area in advance, as lodging facilities are limited.
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Where does it take place — Ferriere Trail Festival
Ferriere (Val Nure)