Kaçkar by UTMB
Kaçkar by UTMB – KAÇKAR 20K
Ayder
Race guide
Updated 18 July 2026
The Kackar 20K is the short-course event at Kackar by UTMB, a 20 km loop from and back to Ayder (1344 m) in the Kackar Mountains of Turkey's north-eastern Black Sea region. Do not read it as an easy 20 km: with 1382 m of positive gain and a high point of 2421 m, it is one of the steepest, most concentrated climbs of any distance at the event, delivered in a single relentless ascent early in the loop. This is a course defined by one enormous climb and the high-mountain traverse that follows. From the Ayder plateau it drives straight up to Huser, crosses high ground, and descends back to the start. Runners who enjoy sustained vertical, dramatic mountain scenery and a real test of climbing legs over a short distance will find this a memorable day, but the front-loaded ascent and firm cut-offs mean it must be paced with care.
The course and terrain
The Kackar 20K is a loop starting and finishing at Ayder (1344 m at the start, 1339 m at the finish). The defining feature comes immediately: the climb to Huser at 6.5 km (2398 m), gaining more than a thousand metres in the first six and a half kilometres. The route reaches its 2421 m high point on the ground around Huser before descending to Peryatak at 14.6 km (2081 m) and dropping back down to Ayder to close the 20 km loop. With just two intermediate checkpoints across 20 km, the profile is stark and simple: one huge sustained ascent, a high traverse, and a long descent home. The 1382 m of total climb is almost entirely concentrated in that opening push to Huser, which means the character of the day changes completely once you crest the top. Expect steep mountain trail on the climb and a demanding drop from over 2000 m back to the 1339 m finish, on the alpine terrain of the Kackar range above the Ayder plateau.
Where the race is decided
There is no ambiguity about where this race is won or lost: it is the climb from Ayder (1344 m) to Huser (6.5 km, 2398 m). Gaining over 1050 m in six and a half kilometres is one of the steepest single ascents in the whole event, and how you meter your effort here decides everything that follows. Start it too hard and the altitude and gradient will empty you before the high point; settle into a strong, sustainable power-hike and keep eating and drinking, and you will reach the top of the loop with the legs to run the rest. The second half tells whether that pacing was right. From the 2421 m high point the course descends through Peryatak (14.6 km, 2081 m) and then drops steeply back to Ayder at 1339 m. That long descent off the high mountain punishes tired quads, so runners who climbed within themselves can open up and make time, while those who over-committed on the ascent simply try to hold on down the mountain.
Pacing and fuelling to the cut-offs
The barriers are firm and start at the line: Ayder start (cut-off Sat 10:45), Huser at 6.5 km (Sat 13:30), and the Ayder finish at 20 km (Sat 16:30). The window from the start to Huser covers the entire monster climb, so the tactical priority is to keep moving steadily upward without blowing up, reaching Huser with time in hand. Once over the top, the descent through Peryatak to the finish is where the clock becomes easier to beat, provided your legs have survived the ascent. Fuelling matters more than the 20 km distance suggests, because the sustained climb burns energy fast and altitude around 2400 m can blunt appetite. With aid only at Huser (6.5 km) and Peryatak (14.6 km), you must carry enough to fuel the long first climb and to bridge the descent to the finish. Drink and take on carbohydrate steadily from the lower slopes rather than waiting for Huser, so you crest the high point already topped up for the traverse and the drop home.
Conditions to expect
Topping out at 2421 m in the Kackar Mountains, this loop climbs from the green, humid Ayder plateau into genuine high-alpine terrain, and the two environments can feel like different days. The Black Sea side of these mountains is known for cloud, mist and rapid weather changes, so the exposed high ground around Huser and the high point can be cold, wet or windy even when Ayder is mild. Carry a wind and rain layer and be ready to use it above the treeline. Underfoot, expect steep mountain trail on the big climb and a rough, sustained descent from over 2000 m back to Ayder, so grip and cushioning both count. The sheer concentration of climbing in the first 6.5 km means this is a course for runners comfortable hiking steep ground for a prolonged stretch. Check the mountain forecast, plan your layers around the large swing between the 1344 m plateau and the 2421 m high point, and treat the opening ascent with the respect it demands.
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Checkpoints & cut-offs
✓ Course data verified against the official source (2026-07-17) · official source
0 km · 1344 m · Sat 10:45
6.5 km · 2398 m · Sat 13:30
14.6 km · 2081 m · —
20 km · 1339 m · Sat 16:30
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