- Gran Trail dell'Etna 2026 Regulation-
ORGANIZATION
DATE
November 22, 2026.
GENERAL INFORMATION
The Gran Trail dell’Etna is an event featuring competitive running races and non-competitive walks along the trails of the Etna Park.
Competitive races:
- Gran Trail dell’Etna: distance 42 km; D+/- 1,960 m;
- Trail della Galvarina: distance 18 km; D+/- 750 m;
Non-competitive walks:
- Walktrail: distance 18 km; D+/- 750 m;
- Walktrail: distance 8 km; D+/- 320 m;
The routes are approximately 95% unpaved, with very steep gradients and difficult terrain.
For your own safety, you are required to stay on the route. Any competitor who strays from the marked trails is no longer the responsibility of the organizers. The kilometers are not marked. Competitors must strictly adhere to the marked race route, avoiding shortcuts or cutting sections of the track. Deviating from the official route, in addition to incurring penalties, is at the competitor’s sole risk.
The races will take place in all weather conditions that do not seriously jeopardize the safety of participants.
The schedule may be subject to changes based on contingent circumstances, which will be communicated at the briefing.
Competitors are required to provide assistance to participants in difficulty.
The race bib must be worn on the chest or stomach and must be fully visible at all times throughout the race. It must therefore be worn over all clothing and under no circumstances attached to the bag or a leg. Sponsors must not be modified or hidden.
It is forbidden to be accompanied on the race course by anyone who is not duly registered.
For safety reasons, the use of headphones for listening to iPods or similar devices is not permitted.
In sections where the route crosses ordinary roads, which will not be closed to vehicular traffic, competitors are required to comply with the Highway Code.
If they abandon the race along the route, they are required to notify the organization of their abandonment by registering as having withdrawn at the nearest checkpoint; the organization will be responsible for their return from the checkpoint upon arrival.
Each competitor expressly waives the right to use their image rights during the races, and waives any recourse against the organization and its authorized partners for the use of their image.
SCHEDULE
Saturday 21 November, Serra La Nave – Church of Santa Maria delle Nevi:
- 6.00pm/7.30pm bib collection
- 6.15 pm presentation of the event/briefing Gran Trail dell’Etna 42 km
Serra La Nave – Ariel refuge:
- From 7.15pm Trail Dinner
Sunday 22 November, Serra La Nave – Residence Serra La Nave:
- 6.30 am Gathering – Check – Mandatory equipment check
- 7.30 am Departure of the Gran Trail dell’Etna 42 km
- 8.40 am Briefing Galvarina Trail 18 km
- 9.00 am Departure of the Galvarina Trail 18 km, Walktrail 18 km and Walktrail 8 km
- 10.30 am Arrivals Trail della Galvarina 18 km
- 11.15am Trail della Galvarina awards ceremony
- 11.30am Arrivals Gran Trail dell’Etna 42 km
- 12.00 Pasta Party
- 1.00 pm Arrivals Gran Trail dell’Etna 42 km
- 2.30pm Gran Trail dell’Etna awards ceremony
PARTICIPATION
Trail:
Participation is open to ACSI, FIDAL, or RUNCARD members with a medical certificate for competitive activity. Non-members may participate by applying for ACSI membership and submitting a copy of their ID and medical certificate for competitive activity.
Walktrail:
Participation is open to ACSI, FIDAL, or RUNCARD members with a medical certificate for non-competitive activity. Non-members may participate by applying for ACSI membership and submitting a copy of their ID and medical certificate for competitive activity.
Volunteers:
Free participation.
Foreign athletes:
Participation is open to athletes with a medical certificate for competitive activity, completed using the form downloadable HERE. The organization will arrange ACSI membership.
The Organization reserves the right to deny participation to athletes sanctioned for doping, to persons guilty of unsportsmanlike and/or immoral conduct even outside of the sporting context, to persons who have shown hostility towards the Organization in the past.
REGISTRATIONS
Until November 18th: online at www.ecotrailsicilia.it; on November 21st at the bib collection point; on November 22nd at the start (except for the Gran Trail dell’Etna 42 km).
REGISTRATION FEES
Gran Trail dell’Etna 42 km:
- the first 10 members: €40.00
- until November 1st: €50.00
- from 2 to 15 November: €60.00
- from 16 to 18 November: €70.00
- November 21st: €80.00
Trail della Galvarina 18 km:
- until November 1st: €20.00
- from 2 to 15 November: €25.00
- from 16 to 18 November: €30.00
- November 21st and 22nd: €35.00
Walktrail 18 km:
- Until November 15th: €13.00
- From November 16th to 18th: €15.00
- November 21st and 22nd: €18.00
Walktrail 8 km:
- Until November 16th: €12.00
- From November 17th to 21st: €15.00
- November 21st and 22nd: €18.00
All fees are net of commission fees. The free race pack is guaranteed only to those who register by November 15th.
REFUND OPTION
WITHOUT THIS OPTION, THE REGISTRATION FEE IS NEVER REFUNDABLE OR TRANSFERABLE TO OTHER ATHLETES OR TO THE FOLLOWING YEAR.
By adding €5.00 to the registration fee, you can:
- receive a 75% refund of the registration fee, or transfer 75% of the registration fee to another athlete or to the following year, if you cancel by November 8th;
- receive a 50% refund of the registration fee, or transfer 50% of the registration fee to another athlete or to the following year, if you cancel between November 9th and 20th.
PAYMENT METHODS
- Bank Transfer
- Credit Card
DISCOUNTS AND FREE TICKET
- Clubs with at least 10 registered members: 10% discount
- Club presidents: free registration (only if at least one other athlete from the club is registered)
- Leaders of the Ecotrailsicilia points ranking: free registration
- Second place in the Ecotrailsicilia points ranking: 50% discount
- Third place in the Ecotrailsicilia points ranking: 20% discount
To access discounts and free tickets, please contact the organization in advance.
CANCELLATION
In the event of cancellation of the race due to force majeure 12 days or more before the race, the organizers will refund 50% of the registration fee paid. In the event of suspension or cancellation less than 12 days before the race, no refund will be made to participants.
In the event of interruption or cancellation of the race due to weather conditions, or for any other reason beyond the organizers’ control, no refund will be made to participants.
If the event is rescheduled for a future date, the organizers will decide whether to retain the full registration fee for those already registered or apply a refund based on the expenses already incurred by the organizers.
BIB AND RACE PACK
Bibs will be handed out from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM on November 21st at the Church of Santa Maria delle Nevi. Only competitors in the Trail della Galvarina and walktrails can pick them up at the start on the morning of November 22nd.
AFFILIATED MEALS
Reservations are available for dinner on November 21st, which will cost €15.00. Service will not be guaranteed for those who do not book by November 18th. After the race, starting at 12:00, there will be a free pasta party for all participants.
SAFETY AND CONTROL
Organizing staff and mountain rescue personnel will be present along the route, in constant contact with the base. Ambulances and/or paramedics will be stationed at various points along the route, as well as at the start and finish. Checkpoints will be set up along the route, where organizers will monitor the passage of athletes and may inspect mandatory equipment. Anyone refusing to submit to mandatory equipment checks will be immediately disqualified.
ENVIRONMENT
The race takes place in totally protected natural parks and ecosystems. Competitors must behave in an environmentally friendly manner. It is forbidden to scatter rubbish, collect plants and flowers, remove rocks or disturb fauna. Anyone caught breaking the rules of conduct in the Park, in addition to incurring the sanctions of the race, will incur any sanctions provided for by the Park regulations. To reduce the environmental impact, glasses will only be provided at the first refreshment point. Each competitor must bring a glass or water bottle with them to fill at the refreshment points.
WEATHER CONDITIONS
In the event of adverse weather conditions, the organization reserves the right to make changes to the route, even at the last minute or during the race, to eliminate potential hazards or significant inconvenience to participants. Any changes will be communicated to participants and reported by officials. The organization also reserves the right to suspend or cancel the race if weather conditions put the safety of participants, volunteers, or first responders at risk.
MANDATORY EQUIPMENT
Gran Trail dell’Etna 42 km:
- Water reserve of at least 1/2 liter. (Participants must also leave from the refreshment points with a water reserve.
- Food reserve (energy bars or solid foods)
- Personal glass
- Waterproof jacket
- Waterproof pants
- Tights
- Long-sleeved shirt
- Headband or cap
- Gloves
- Cap
- Life jacket
- Whistle
- Mobile phone with the organization number: 392 6093601
Trail della Galvarina e Walktrail 18 km:
- Water reserve of at least 1/2 liter. (Participants must also leave from the refreshment points with a water reserve.)
- Personal glass
- Waterproof jacket
- Waterproof trousers
- Tights
- Long-sleeved shirt
- Headband or cap
- Gloves
- Cap
- Life jacket
- Whistle
- Mobile phone with the organization number: 392 6093601
For the 18km distance, the organizers reserve the right to reduce the mandatory equipment depending on weather conditions on race day.
Mandatory equipment will be checked when picking up your race number. Your race number will not be issued to anyone who fails to show all mandatory equipment to the staff. Unexpected checks will also be carried out at the start and along the route.
RECOMMENDED EQUIPMENT
- Trail shoes
- gaiters
- poles
MAXIMUM TIME: 8h45'
Services along the route will be available until 4:15 PM on November 22nd for those who pass the gates in time. A “broom service” will follow the last runner along the route, assisting those who have dropped out and ensuring that any injured participants are not left without assistance.
TIME GATES
At km 34 (7h:00′ after the start). Anyone passing after the allotted time will not be allowed to continue the race. Competitors who do not arrive within the allotted time limit will be stopped and will not be allowed to continue the race.
To protect the health of participants, medical personnel present at checkpoints or along the route are authorized to stop any competitor deemed unfit to continue the race. In this case, the competitor must follow the medical personnel’s instructions, under penalty of immediate disqualification.
WITHDRAWALS
Competitors who arrive at the gates outside the time limit, injured people, those who are judged by the medical staff to be unfit to continue the race, and other athletes who wish to withdraw voluntarily, will be accompanied to the finish line by a shuttle service. It is possible that, for logistical reasons, the withdrawn competitors will have to wait some time before being brought back to the finish area. Each competitor who withdraws from the race outside the pre-established points will have to return to the finish area on their own behalf, immediately communicating their withdrawal via telephone or text message to the number indicated.
REFRESHMENTS
The race is semi-self-sufficient. There are three refreshment points along the route.
Only runners with a clearly visible bib will have access to the refreshment point.
Food and drinks from the refreshment points must be consumed on-site; drinking directly from refreshment point bottles is prohibited; waste must be disposed of in the designated containers.
Water bottles or camelbacks may only be filled with water. Therefore, runners are advised to carry the necessary amount of mineral salts for use during the race.
At the start of each refreshment point, runners must have the necessary amount of water and food to reach the next one. An additional refreshment point will be located at the finish line.
Athletes may only be assisted by family members or team members at the refreshment points, in designated areas, and upon instruction from the refreshment point manager.
PENALTY
The organizers will apply the following penalties for those who do not comply with the rules:
- Drinking directly from the organizers’ bottles or bins: 10 minutes.
- A male or clipped bib: 10 minutes.
- Using headphones to listen to an iPod or similar device: 15 minutes.
- Having someone who is not a registered participant accompany you on the course: 40 minutes.
- Abandoning the race without notifying the organizers: 1 hour (the penalty will be applied to the next stage).
- Involuntary cutting: – if quantifiable with certainty: 20 minutes per kilometer or fraction of a kilometer – if not quantifiable: PLACED AT THE END OF THE RANKING.
- Intentional cutting: DISQUALIFICATION.
Abandoning waste outside the bins: DISQUALIFICATION. - Failure to assist participants in difficulty: DISQUALIFICATION.
- Disrespect for race personnel: 1 hour.
- Failure to wear the official green jersey: 10 POINTS.
- Political, religious, or socially motivated claims: DISQUALIFICATION.
- Lack of mandatory equipment: at the discretion of the Committee.
Any aggravating circumstances may increase penalties.
Any complaints must be submitted in writing to the circuit’s organizing secretariat within 30 minutes of the posting of the ranking in the finish area, along with a €20.00 deposit, which will be refunded only if the complaint is successful.
For matters not covered by these regulations, please refer to the Ecotrail Sicilia Circuit regulations.
AWARDS
Gran Trail dell’Etna: to the first 3 men and the first 3 women in the general classification and to the first 3 in their category.
Trail della Galvarina: to the first 5 men and the first 5 women in the general classification.
The first-place team.
The largest Walktrail group.
There are no cash prizes.
IMAGE RIGHTS
By registering, competitors authorize the organization to use, free of charge, without territorial or time limits, still and moving images depicting them during their participation in the Gran Trail dell’Etna.
DISCLAIMER
Voluntary registration and consequent participation in the race indicate full acceptance of these regulations and any changes made. By registering, the participant exempts the organizers from any liability, both civil and criminal, for damage to people and/or things caused or derived by him.
For anything not covered in this regulation, please refer to the General Regulations of the Ecotrailsicilia Circuit.