Salomon Ultra-Trail Hungary
Salomon Ultra-Trail Hungary (UTH) 111K
Szentendre
Race guide
Updated 29 June 2026
The Salomon Ultra-Trail Hungary (UTH) 111K is Hungary's flagship ultra, looping through the Pilis and Visegrád hills north of Budapest before finishing on the Danube riverside in Szentendre. Starting and finishing at Szentendre's Templom tér and the town's iconic riverside, the course covers 111.1 km with 3,844 m of cumulative elevation gain — substantial for a region where the high point tops out at just 700 m on Dobogókő. That modest ceiling is deceptive: the route is relentlessly rolling, trading elevation in short, punchy climbs and descents rather than long alpine slogs, demanding respect for muscular fatigue well before the halfway point. With 18 aid stations and crew access at nine of them, UTH is well-supported by ultra standards, but the final cut-off — 20:00 on race day at the finish — means you need consistent forward momentum throughout. The course circles through dense forest, limestone ridgelines, river valleys and historic village squares, making it one of Central Europe's most scenic hundred-kilometre efforts.
Course & Terrain
The race begins in Szentendre at 121 m and immediately climbs into the Pilis hills, reaching the Lajosforrás checkpoint at 10.4 km (493 m) and cresting Dobogókő — the highest point on course at 700 m — by km 20.5. From there the route descends to Klastrompuszta (310 m, km 29.6) and threads through Pilisszentlélek before dropping to the Danube plain at Pilismarót (132 m, km 45). This first half is the more forested, technically rooted section of the course, with constant elevation changes in the 100–300 m range per climb. The second half grows increasingly demanding on tired legs. After crossing the Danube basin flats around Dömös (167 m, km 54.4), the course immediately punishes you with the steep climb to Prédikálószék at 634 m (km 56.9), one of the most prominent viewpoints in the region. From there the route descends to Lepence (304 m, km 61.9), works north through Pilisszentlászló (367 m, km 73) and drops into Visegrád (95 m, km 81.6) on the Danube before climbing again to Nagy Villám (351 m, km 83.9) and Borjúfő (454 m, km 86.9). The final 25 km from Pap-rét through Skanzen and Patakpart rolls back to Szentendre on mixed forest trail and track, finishing on the river promenade.
The Decisive Climbs — Where the Race Is Won or Lost
Three sections define UTH. The first is the opening ascent to Dobogókő (700 m) at km 20.5 — it comes early enough that many runners run it too hard, paying the price in the back half. Treat the climb from Lajosforrás to Dobogókő as a warm-up, not a race. The second crux is the Dömös–Prédikálószék–Lepence section between km 54 and 62. After 54 km of rolling terrain, a sharp 467 m climb to Prédikálószék followed by a descent to Lepence in under 8 km will expose any quad fatigue accumulated in the first half. This is where races unravel for runners who went out too fast. The third decisive stretch is the cluster of climbs from Visegrád to Borjúfő (km 81.6–86.9): ascending from the Danube at 95 m to 454 m across roughly 5 km with minimal flat recovery. By this point you are past 80 km; the ability to hike powerfully rather than shuffle is what separates finishers from runners who miss the 20:00 cut-off.
Pacing & Strategy
A conservative first 45 km is non-negotiable. The Szentendre–Dobogókő–Pilismarót segment contains the bulk of the technical forest trail and sets the muscular load for everything that follows. Aim to arrive at Pilismarót (km 45) feeling well within yourself, using the aid station and crew point to reassess nutrition and kit before the Danube valley section. For pacing, mentally split the race into three segments: km 0–45 (hilly forest, controlled effort), km 45–81.6 (Dömös loop including the Prédikálószék climb, your hardest sustained effort), and km 81.6–111 (Visegrád climbs then the run home to Szentendre). The nine crew-access checkpoints — Dobogókő, Klastrompuszta, Pilismarót, Lepence, Pilisszentlászló, Visegrád (nearby), Pap-rét, and Skanzen — give you excellent logistical flexibility. Plan crew meetings at Pilismarót (km 45), Lepence (km 61.9) and Pap-rét (km 92) as your primary reset points for shoes, poles and night gear.
Fuelling the Distance
With 3,844 m of climbing spread across 111 km, your energy expenditure will be heavily weighted toward the climbs, but the descents will trash your quads just as effectively. Aim for 60–90 g of carbohydrate per hour depending on intensity, and use the frequent aid stations — spaced roughly every 5–10 km — to stay on top of both solid food and fluids rather than relying on large carries. The Dömös section (km 54.4) and Prédikálószék (km 56.9) are relatively close together, so top up well at Dömös before the climb rather than expecting a quick turnaround at the summit checkpoint. The Hétvályús forrás checkpoint at km 97 (298 m) arrives after the Pap-rét crew point (km 92) and before the Skanzen crew point (km 105) — a stretch of about 13 km that includes the final rolling kilometres into town. Don't arrive at Skanzen (km 105) empty; you still have 6 km to the finish, and the Danube riverside finishing straight deserves a strong close.
Conditions to Expect
UTH runs in the Pilis and Visegrád hills, a landscape of dense deciduous and mixed forest at low-to-mid altitude. Conditions vary significantly depending on race date: summers bring high humidity and heat in the valley sections (Pilismarót at 132 m, Visegrád at 95 m, Dömös at 167 m) with cooler air on the ridges, while autumn editions can deliver cold nights, wet leaves on technical trail and mud on forest tracks. Pack a lightweight waterproof regardless of the forecast — the tree canopy holds moisture and can make paths slick long after rain stops. Night running is almost certain for the majority of the field given the single-day cut-off of 20:00. Ensure your headtorch is fully charged and carry a backup; sections like the Prédikálószék climb and the Visegrád hills are navigated largely through forest without ambient lighting. The highest point is only 700 m, so altitude is not a factor, but the relentless up-and-down character of the Pilis terrain demands trail shoes with reliable grip on rooty, potentially damp limestone and clay-heavy paths.
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Checkpoints & cut-offs
✓ Course data verified against the official source (2026-07-05) · official source
0 km · 121 m · Sun 00:00
10.4 km · 493 m · Sun 02:00
20.5 km · 700 m · Sun 03:45
35.8 km · 413 m · Sun 06:35
45 km · 132 m · Sun 08:10
54.4 km · 167 m · Sun 09:50
61.9 km · 304 m · Sun 11:35
73 km · 367 m · Sun 13:15
81.6 km · 95 m · Sun 14:40
92 km · 486 m · Sun 16:35
105 km · 228 m · Sun 19:15
111.1 km · 121 m · Sun 20:00
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