ORANGE’S hills will be crawling with activity this month, as athletes of all fitness levels tackle 11km of high mountain forests, Forest NSW fire-trails and national parks.

On March 27 at 9am, the Great Volcanic Mountain Challenge will bring competitive and recreational runners, joggers and walkers back for the annual event.

Participants will not only scale trials and tracks around the town, but also climb 520 metres through high mountain forests to reach an elevation of over 1300 metres.

Orange Runners’ Club’s Mike Cooper said this was a highlight for the state’s runners.

“The Great Volcanic Mountain Challenge is keenly anticipated each year by runners across the Central West and beyond,” he said.

“Aptly named, it is a real challenge, which makes it highly rewarding for participants, and is always very well organised. A calendar highlight.”

This year, the Great Volcanic Mountain Challenge will be the official Mountain Running Championship, and serve as part of the Run NSW series.

Athletics NSW members will be in the running for State Championship medals in the Junior, Open and Masters age groups.

The challenge will commence near the Pinnacle Picnic Reserve, ascend the peaks of Mt Towac and Young Man Canobolas, and hopefully finish at the summit of Mt Canobolas.

The Rotary Club of Orange will host the event for the 15th time, with entry numbers continuing to climb since 2006.

Rotary Club of Orange event director Russell Tym said due to works expected to be underway at the summit this year, there are contingency plans in place to end the challenge at the Federal Falls picnic area if works are not completed.

“There are some spectacular views along the way and a bus takes you back to the Pinnacle Picnic Reserve so you can savour your victory and watch the presentations,” Mr Tym said.

Top runners can finish the Mountain Challenge in less than an hour, and most participants are expected to finish with a time between 1.5 and 2.5 hours.

Due to low registration numbers in previous years, the 5km Family Fun Run will no longer be held.

Registrations are now open at https://eventplus.net/GVM22. More information can be found at https://www.rotarycluboforange.org.au/.