Trail des Trois Forêts

The Trail des Trois Forêts is a 52-kilometer adventure with 900 meters of elevation gain that crosses three remarkable forest massifs in the Nemours area, in southern Île-de-France. This race offers a total immersion in the wooded landscapes of the Gâtinais, at the border between the greater Paris suburbs and the first countryside of the Loiret, in a natural setting of unsuspected richness.

The course links the forests of Nemours, la Commanderie, and Bourron-Marlotte, each possessing its own distinct character. The Nemours forest, with its deep valleys and sandstone outcrops, recalls its neighbor Fontainebleau in places. The Commanderie forest, a former Knights Templar estate, retains a mysterious atmosphere with its deep stands of oak and hornbeam. Bourron-Marlotte, an artists' village that inspired the Impressionist painters, opens onto luminous forest edges and trails lined with silver birches.

The 900 meters of elevation gain are distributed in regular undulations, without any truly long climbs but with an accumulation of small difficulties that wear down the legs over the kilometers. The terrain alternates between forest single tracks, sandy paths, passages over sandstone slabs, and crossings through clearings. In autumn, the carpet of dead leaves conceals roots and stones, adding an extra technical dimension. In spring, waterlogged soils transform certain passages into genuine quagmires, demanding shoes with aggressive tread patterns.

Nemours, the race starting point, is a charming medieval town dominated by its 12th-century castle, one of the best-preserved in Île-de-France. The town is crossed by the Loing river, a tributary of the Seine, whose green banks welcome runners during the opening kilometers. The Île-de-France Museum of Prehistory, located nearby, bears witness to the very ancient human occupation of these lands, where flint tools tens of thousands of years old have been discovered.

For international runners, the Trail des Trois Forêts represents an excellent alternative to mountain races, offering a technical and endurance challenge in an authentic forest setting. Accessible by train from Paris in under an hour, Nemours allows combining the discovery of the French capital with an immersive trail experience. The friendly atmosphere and the preserved setting of this race make it a cherished event for lovers of nature and forest heritage.