Summer trail running in Alicante always sounds like a better idea the night before.
Then the alarm goes off at 6am because you need to get up and down before the temperature becomes ridiculous.
This is why we love autumn.
By October, the worst of the summer heat is usually behind us, the mountains start feeling like ours again and longer routes suddenly become tempting rather than slightly stupid.
Living in this part of Spain means we’re spoilt for choice. Alicante has everything from big mountain climbs to coastal trails where you can finish with your shoes off beside the Mediterranean.
Here are six routes we’d happily choose for an autumn weekend.
1. Aitana
If we had to pick one Alicante mountain for a proper autumn day out, Aitana would be very difficult to beat.
At 1,558 metres, it’s the highest mountain in Alicante province and feels completely removed from the beaches and resorts you can see far below.
Our trail run up Aitana started in Confrides and covered just over 19km with around 900 metres of climbing. It’s a substantial run, but cooler autumn temperatures make the long ascent far more enjoyable than attempting it in summer.
The terrain changes constantly: dirt tracks, ravines, loose rock, steep climbs and then those enormous views from the ridge.
Bring an extra layer, though. Aitana has its own ideas about Alicante weather.
2. Puig Campana
Puig Campana is the mountain we recommend when someone looks at the Alicante coastline and says, “But are there any proper mountains?”
Yes.
There is a 1,406-metre one sitting immediately behind Benidorm.
Our Puig Campana trail running route is steep, rocky and considerably tougher than its proximity to the coast might suggest.
There’s loose rock underfoot and enough climbing to make your legs remember the experience the following morning.
Autumn is a great time to tackle it because you lose the punishing summer temperatures while still having a good chance of clear views towards the Mediterranean.
This isn’t the one we’d choose for a gentle Sunday jog.
3. Barranc de l’Infern
This is Alicante showing off.
The Barranc de l’Infern in La Vall de Laguar is a landscape of deep ravines, old stone paths and seemingly endless steps.
We covered it in our Barranc de l’Infern trail run and it remains one of those routes where the surroundings distract you from what your legs are going through.
Almost.
Autumn suits this area particularly well. The inland valleys feel very different from the coast and once the fierce summer heat disappears you can actually enjoy the climbs rather than simply trying to survive them.
Expect plenty of elevation and don’t underestimate the old stone steps. There are lots of them.
4. Sierra de Bérnia
Bérnia might be our favourite Alicante route for sheer variety.
There are mountain trails, a natural spring, the ruins of a 16th-century fort and the famous Forat de Bérnia, a natural tunnel straight through the mountain.
Our Sierra de Bérnia trail run was around 14km with roughly 900 metres of elevation.
The moment you crawl through the Forat and emerge on the other side to see the coastline spread out below is still one of our favourite mountain moments in the province.
Autumn is ideal because much of the route is exposed. Cooler weather makes a huge difference, particularly if you’re adding the summit rather than simply doing the classic circuit.
5. Montgó
Montgó is home territory for us.
It rises between Dénia and Jávea and we never really get bored of it because there are so many ways of tackling the mountain.
For autumn, we’d choose our Montgó ridge-to-sea route from Jesús Pobre to Jávea.
It’s a point-to-point run of roughly 15–18km, taking you from the inland side of the mountain, across the rough limestone ridge and eventually down towards the coast.
And there is a very good reason to run it in this direction.
You can finish at La Grava, take your shoes off and walk straight into the sea.
Try doing that after a mountain run in Yorkshire in October.
6. Cala Granadella
Not every autumn run needs a summit.
For something completely different, head for the coast and run around Cala Granadella in Jávea.
Our Granadella trail running route takes you through rocky descents, cliffside sections, steep climbs, pine forest and some technical scrambling.
Then suddenly you’re looking down at one of the most beautiful coves on the Costa Blanca.
We’d actively avoid this route in the middle of a hot summer day. There isn’t enough shade and Granadella itself becomes incredibly busy.
In autumn, though, it’s a different place.
So, which would we choose?
For a big mountain day: Aitana.
For punishment: Puig Campana.
For scenery and history: Bérnia.
For something uniquely Alicante: Barranc de l’Infern.
For a run ending at the sea: Montgó.
And for a shorter coastal adventure: Granadella.
That variety is exactly why we love trail running here.
Alicante is sold to the world as a beach destination, but turn your back on the Mediterranean and some seriously good mountains are waiting. We’ve covered even more of them in our Top 10 Mountains for Trail Running in Alicante.
Autumn might just be the best time to discover them.
– Anna & Markus