Eiger Ultra Trail by UTMB
Eiger Ultra Trail by UTMB – E250 - UNESCO Trail
Kandersteg
Race guide
Updated 18 July 2026
The Eiger Ultra Trail by UTMB – E250 - UNESCO Trail is the flagship long-distance race of the Eiger Ultra Trail, a 200 km journey through the Swiss Alps starting and centred on Kandersteg. With a colossal 10,443 m of positive climbing and a high point of 2,689 m, it is one of the most demanding races on the UTMB calendar — a true multi-day mountain undertaking that crosses UNESCO World Heritage terrain in the Bernese and Valais Alps. Every listed checkpoint on the E250 is a crew point, from the start at 1,176 m through Jeizinen, Finnen, Belalp, Bellwald, Oberwald and Guttannen to the finish at 1,036 m. The stations are spaced far apart — often 25 to 45 km between them — so this is a race of long, committing self-supported mountain segments where planning, resilience and crew coordination matter as much as raw fitness.
The Course & Terrain
The E250 covers 200 km with 10,443 m of climb, an average of more than 50 m of ascent per kilometre sustained over the entire distance — relentless alpine terrain rather than a handful of big climbs. From Kandersteg (1,176 m) the route runs to Jeizinen at 34.7 km (1,512 m) and Finnen at 59 km (1,415 m), then to the course's highest checkpoint region at Belalp, 73.9 km in at 2,097 m, from where the high point of 2,689 m is reached. The second half stretches through Bellwald (118.1 km, 1,640 m), Oberwald (145.6 km, 1,645 m) and down to Guttannen at 172.1 km (883 m), the lowest checkpoint on the course, before the long final haul to the finish at 1,036 m. The wide spacing between these points — 44 km from Belalp to Bellwald, 27 km on to Oberwald — means the terrain in between is unbroken high mountain country. Expect repeated big climbs and descents linking valleys, with the checkpoints sitting at valley resupply hubs rather than on the summits themselves.
Where the Race Is Won or Lost
On a 200 km course with over 10,000 m of vert, the race is decided by how well you manage the long central and late sections rather than any single climb. The stretch from Belalp (73.9 km, 2,097 m) to Bellwald (118.1 km) is the single longest gap on the course at more than 44 km, and it comes right after the high point of 2,689 m — a place where altitude, fatigue and a lack of resupply combine to break runners who arrive already depleted. The later drop to Guttannen at 172.1 km (883 m) is the lowest point of the route, which means the closing 28 km to the 1,036 m finish inevitably involve substantial reclimbing. Runners who reach Guttannen with their legs and mind intact can finish strongly; those who have over-spent on the earlier high-mountain sections face a punishing final ascent. Managing effort across the two nights of running this distance demands, and eating consistently through the long carries, is what separates finishers from those who fade.
How to Pace & Fuel It
The defining feature of the E250's logistics is the enormous distance between aid: 34.7 km to the first checkpoint at Jeizinen, then legs of roughly 24 km, 15 km, 44 km, 27 km, 26 km and 28 km. You must be prepared to run for many hours — potentially most of a night — between resupplies, so carrying enough food, fluid and safety kit for each segment is not optional but central to your race plan. Treat every checkpoint as a genuine restock rather than a quick top-up. Because every listed checkpoint is a crew point, a coordinated crew is a major asset: stage hot food, spare layers, lights and fresh supplies at Jeizinen, Finnen, Belalp, Bellwald, Oberwald and Guttannen, and use them to reset before each long carry. Pace conservatively from the Kandersteg start — with 10,443 m of climbing ahead, banking time early is a false economy, and steady, sustainable climbing that protects your legs for the back half is the proven approach to a 200 km alpine race.
Conditions to Expect
Running to 2,689 m through the Swiss Alps, the E250 exposes you to full high-mountain conditions: cold nights at altitude, rapid weather changes, and long exposed passages between the valley checkpoints. With a 200 km distance, runners will be out through multiple nights, so a reliable headlamp system, warm and waterproof layers, and the mandatory alpine safety kit are essential — the low point at Guttannen (883 m) and high point near Belalp (2,689 m) show just how much the environment shifts across the course. Self-sufficiency is the watchword. The wide checkpoint spacing means that if the weather turns on a high section, you may be hours from the next shelter or resupply, so conservative decision-making about layers, fluid and pace is critical. Prepare as you would for a serious multi-day mountain effort: rehearse your night-running, test your kit in cold and wet conditions beforehand, and build a crew plan that anticipates long gaps between the times they will see you.
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Checkpoints & cut-offs
✓ Course data verified against the official source (2026-07-17) · official source
0 km · 1176 m · —
34.7 km · 1512 m · —
59 km · 1415 m · —
73.9 km · 2097 m · —
118.1 km · 1640 m · —
145.6 km · 1645 m · —
172.1 km · 883 m · —
200 km · 1036 m · —
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