Grainau, DE · June 2026
Zugspitz Ultratrail
Zugspitz Ultratrail: 106.06 km, 4928 m of climbing. Course route, elevation, weather and a personalised pacing plan.
- Distance
- 106.06 km
- Elevation gain
- 4928 m
- Typical temp
- 12–23 °C
- Cutoff
- 29:00:00
The short version
A brutal course
- ▸Big climbing day — 4928 m up. Pace the ascents on effort, not the clock.
- ▸Low sun in your eyes around km 83–89 — bring a cap or shades.
- ▸Full overhead sun from km 1 — sunscreen and run the shaded side.
Next edition
June 2027
Typical race-day conditions
12–23 °C
We lock the real forecast into your plan in race week.
Course difficulty
BrutalDriven by 4928 m of climbing, altitude up to 2212 m, 4927 m of quad-pounding descent. One of the toughest races we cover — harder than Western States 100 (10.0).
Race data quality
Medium confidence
Last verified: source review pending
Course distance, climate, and broad course features are suitable for pacing previews. Elevation profiles and aid-station details are approximate and should be checked against the official race packet before race day.
Elevation profile
Verified profile
Paid strategy guardrail
Official race packet remains source of truth
- Official UTMB course GPX + Open-Elevation DEM
Step 1 · Free preview
See the course-adjusted plan first
Enter one recent result. The preview returns course cost, first splits, and fuel target from the deterministic engine and the current course data model.
VDOT
49.1
Estimate
11:56:00
Course cost
+221:26
Fuel target
90 g/h
First 5 km preview
full race locked
- km 15:08
- km 25:04
- km 35:59
- km 44:58
- km 54:58
First race free · then €7 Race Pass · no monthly subscription
Uses an approximate course model; verify final logistics against the official race packet.
Step 2 · Your full Zugspitz Ultratrail plan
The preview shows the shape. The plan races it for you.
Course preview
Free
what you see now
- ✓Difficulty score & course data
- ✓Course-cost & toughest km
- ✓Your first full plan free, ever
Race Pass
€7
one-time, this race
- ✓Every km split, weather-adjusted
- ✓Nutrition & fluid timeline
- ✓Heat, wind & sun race tactics
- ✓Danger zones + watch file (GPX)
- ✓Race-week forecast & reminders
Annual
€19
per year, every race
- ✓Everything in Race Pass
- ✓Unlimited races, all year
- ✓Re-plan as your fitness changes
No subscription required — one race is a one-off €7. Cancel anytime on Annual.
Continue with approximate course data →Course elevation
4928 m total gain · 4927 m loss · max 2212 m, min 701 m.
Fly the course
Sun & shade
Sun in your eyes
16 km
Sun on your back
17 km
Side / overhead
56 km
Expect low sun roughly in your eyes around km 83–89 — pack a peaked cap or shades; low glare hides kerbs and potholes. From km 1 the sun sits high overhead — peak UV and radiant heat, so keep sunscreen on and run the shaded side of the road where you can.
Approximate — solar position from the route geometry and a 09:00 start (timezone estimated from longitude), for a mid-pack finishing time.
Signature sections
Ehrwalder Alm climb
Major early Austrian-side ascent toward the Zugspitze massif.
Leutasch / Gaistal valley
Long high-valley traverse on the Tirol side.
Partnachklamm / Reintal
Iconic gorge and valley approach back toward the Garmisch finish.
Eibsee finale
Final descent past the Eibsee lake toward Grainau.
Race overview
The long 'Ultratrail' course of the Zugspitz Ultratrail by UTMB: a ~106 km loop with ~6,000 m of climbing around the Zugspitze, Germany's highest peak, crossing into Austria and back to the Garmisch-Partenkirchen area. The route measures 106.06 km with about 4928 m of climbing and 4927 m of descent (high point 2212 m). It typically runs in June.
How hard is this course?
Reference table — how the Zugspitz Ultratrail compares to a flat sea-level course for four typical fitness levels. Computed from the route profile, mean course altitude, and typical race-week climate (18 °C / 79 % humidity). Your personal strategy uses your VDOT, per-km splits, nutrition timing, and the typical climate baseline for this static sample; paid strategies use Open-Meteo when a verified race date is inside the forecast window.
| Runner | Flat-course finish | Zugspitz Ultratrail finish | Course cost | Adjusted pace |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beginner (VDOT 35) | 10:48:17 | 15:38:32 | +44.8% | 6:26/km |
| Intermediate (VDOT 45) | 8:50:19 | 12:47:46 | +44.8% | 5:16/km |
| Trained (VDOT 50) | 8:07:04 | 11:45:08 | +44.8% | 4:50/km |
| Competitive (VDOT 60) | 7:00:01 | 10:08:05 | +44.8% | 4:10/km |
Reference nutrition
For a 70 kg runner finishing in 11:45:08 at 18 °C. Adjust to your weight and tolerance — these are ISSN-window targets, not prescriptions.
- Carbs / hour
- 90 g
- Total carbs
- 1058 g
- Fluid / hour
- 640 ml
- Sodium / hour
- 500 mg
FAQ
Get your personalized strategy
The numbers above are samples. Sign up free and get the full Zugspitz Ultratrail strategy from your VDOT, the current course model, Open-Meteo race-week forecast when available, and your nutrition preferences.
First race free · €7 per additional race · €19/yr for unlimited
Get my Zugspitz Ultratrail strategyRelated races
- CCC by UTMB· Courmayeur5493 m gain · typical 12–25 °CZugspitz Ultratrail vs CCC by UTMB — which is harder? →
- Eiger Ultra Trail E101· Grindelwald5912 m gain · typical 5–22 °CZugspitz Ultratrail vs Eiger Ultra Trail E101 — which is harder? →
- Innsbruck Alpine Trailrun Festival K110· Innsbruck3088 m gain · typical 5–20 °CZugspitz Ultratrail vs Innsbruck Alpine Trailrun Festival K110 — which is harder? →
- Lavaredo Ultra Trail· Cortina d'Ampezzo5118 m gain · typical 10–20 °CZugspitz Ultratrail vs Lavaredo Ultra Trail — which is harder? →
New to trail and ultra pacing? Start with our trail and ultra pacing guide or run the VDOT calculator.