Photo: bihorinimagini.ro
Stâna de Vale Trail Race
Challenge The Mountains 2026.
10–11 July 2026 · Stâna de Vale (Platoul din fața Hotelului Iadolina), Bihor
Race the misty green Vlădeasa massif of the Apuseni, above the legendary Izvorul Minunilor — the Wonder Spring. A brutal vertical kilometre, a classic mountain loop, and a 33K long trail across Romania's rainiest, greenest resort.
Stâna de Vale · Bihor
Two days on the rooftop of the Apuseni
Three races · pick your mountain
Vertical 5K · Classic 11K · Long Trail 33K
From a pure vertical-kilometre grind to a full ridge traverse. The Vertical 5K is the brutal one — over 1100 m of climbing in five kilometres. Masters age groups race under EMA/WMA rules.
Vertical 5K
+1100 m verticalThe brutal one. A near-vertical kilometre, straight up the Vlădeasa flank — Friday's curtain-raiser.
The numbers
- Distance
- 5 km
- Elevation
- +1100 m
- Aid points
- Vertical format
Enter this raceFee: 100 RON
Who: Climbers, VK specialists, glory-seekers
Classic 11K
The signature loop — runnable forest road and singletrack through the misty spruce above the resort.
The numbers
- Distance
- 11 km
- Elevation
- +550 m
- Aid points
- Course aid
Enter this raceFee: 130 RON
Who: All-round trail runners
Long Trail 33K
The big day out — a full traverse of the Vlădeasa ridgelines with five aid points along the way.
The numbers
- Distance
- 33 km
- Elevation
- +1500 m
- Aid points
- 5 aid points
Enter this raceFee: 150 RON
Who: Endurance trail runners
The Wonder Spring
Stâna de Vale grew up around Izvorul Minunilor — "the Spring of Wonders" — mineral waters said for generations to carry a healing touch. The same springs bottle one of Romania's best-known still waters, drawn straight from the Vlădeasa massif.
The resort sits in the green heart of the Apuseni, statistically the rainiest place in Romania. That rain is exactly why the forest glows: deep spruce, moss-soft ground, and a near-permanent veil of mist drifting between the ridges. You don't just run here — you run through a place with a story.
Healing springs, mountain mist, and a race that earns its altitude.
Masters on the Carpathian ridge
Championship prestige in the mist
Stâna de Vale is more than a local trail race. In 2026 it carries genuine masters-championship weight — a counting round for the continental off-road circuit and the national masters mountain-running title.
2026 EMA Off-Road Running Circuit
A counting event in the European Masters Athletics off-road circuit — international masters fields on a Romanian ridge.
CN Masters
The national mountain-running masters championship, decided here on the Vlădeasa slopes.
Masters 35–79, by age group
Five-year age categories from 35 to 79, contested under EMA/WMA rules with a valid masters athletics licence.
Organised by ACS Atletic Beiuș
Run by the Beiuș athletics club, with the experience to host a championship-grade mountain event.
Why run Stâna de Vale
What you get on the start line
A genuine high-Apuseni course, championship structure, and the kind of scenery you remember long after the finish.
Real mountain terrain
Spruce singletrack, forest road and exposed ridgeline on the Vlădeasa massif — proper trail, not a park lap.
Marked & supported
Marshalled course with aid points (five on the 33K), and championship-grade organisation by ACS Atletic Beiuș.
Masters championship status
EMA Off-Road Circuit plus the national masters title — your result counts beyond the finish line.
Sense of place
The Wonder Spring, the mist, and the greenest forest in Romania. A race with a story under your feet.
Race weekend
Two-day programme
Indicative weekend cadence — confirm exact start times on the organiser's site. Vertical 5K runs Friday 10 July; the 11K and 33K run Saturday 11 July.
- 07:30
Vineri 10.07 — Ridicare numere Vertical (07:30–09:30, Hotel Iadolina)
- 10:00
Vineri 10.07 — Start Vertical 5K (traseu Budureasa – Vârful Poieni)
- 18:30
Vineri 10.07 — Pasta Party (Hotel Iadolina)
- 08:30
Sâmbătă 11.07 — Start cursa Trail 33K
- 09:30
Sâmbătă 11.07 — Start cursa Trail 11K
- 15:00
Sâmbătă 11.07 — Ceremonia de premiere
FAQ
Good to know
How do I register?
Online at stanatrailrace.ro/registration. Entries are per distance; combo deals (5K+33K for 200 RON, 5K+11K for 180 RON) are available for runners doing both days.
What are the distances and elevation?
Three races: the Vertical 5K with over +1100 m of climbing (Friday), the Classic 11K with +550 m, and the Long Trail 33K with +1500 m and five aid points (both on Saturday).
What does it cost?
33K is 150 RON, 11K is 130 RON, and the Vertical 5K is 100 RON. Combos: 5K+33K for 200 RON, 5K+11K for 180 RON.
Where is the start and where do I park?
At Stâna de Vale resort in Bihor county, on the plateau in front of Hotel Iadolina (around 1000 m altitude). It's a developed mountain resort with on-site parking and accommodation.
Is this a masters championship?
Yes. The 2026 edition is a counting round of the EMA Off-Road Running Circuit and hosts the CN Masters — the national masters mountain-running championship. Masters age groups run 35–79 in five-year bands.
Do I need a licence for the masters categories?
To be classified in a masters age group you need a valid masters athletics licence, with results scored under EMA/WMA rules. The race is organised by ACS Atletic Beiuș.
What's the weather like?
Stâna de Vale is the rainiest resort in Romania — that mist and rain are why the forest is so green. Come prepared for cool, wet mountain conditions even in July, and check the organiser's mandatory-kit notes.
Challenge The Mountains 2026.
Pick your distance, lace up, and meet the mist above the Wonder Spring. Registration is open at stanatrailrace.ro.