Grossglockner Ultra-Trail (GGUT)
The North Face Grossglockner Ultra-Trail 110K
Kaprun
Race guide
Updated 29 June 2026
The North Face Grossglockner Ultra-Trail 110K (GGUT) is one of Austria's most demanding mountain ultras, looping out of the spa town of Kaprun and deep into the Hohe Tauern National Park — home of the Grossglockner, Austria's highest peak. With 110 km of distance and 6,784 m of climbing, the course reaches a high point of 2,662 m and crosses genuinely alpine terrain: glacially carved valleys, exposed ridgelines, and high-altitude alm paths that bear little resemblance to runnable trail-race courses elsewhere in Europe. The race is a serious undertaking. From the start in Kaprun (768 m) the course pushes through Fürthermoaralm and up to Rudolfshütte before hitting a high point near Kals am Grossglockner (2,459 m) at the life base just 33 km in. What follows is a long traverse past Lucknerhaus and Glorer Hütte before an extended middle section leads to Ferleiten (87 km) — the last crew access before the finish back in Kaprun. Anyone considering this race should arrive with strong alpine mountain skills, solid descending technique, and a deep respect for the environment they'll be moving through.
Course & Terrain
The route begins and ends in Kaprun at 768 m and immediately sets the tone with a climb to Fürthermoaralm (11 km, 1,526 m), gaining nearly 760 m in the opening section. By km 22 you're at Rudolfshütte at 2,089 m, already well above the treeline and into genuine alpine terrain with rocky, rooty paths and potentially snow-patched ground depending on the year. The course then climbs further to its absolute high point near Kals am Grossglockner, where the life base sits at 2,459 m at km 33 — you'll have covered a third of the distance but far more than a third of the total vert. After Kals the course descends sharply to Lucknerhaus (43 km, 1,609 m) and further to Glorer Hütte (49 km, 1,352 m) before the longest continuous section of the race unfolds. The 38 km stretch between Glorer Hütte and Ferleiten (87 km, 1,172 m) is the psychological and physical heart of the race — remote, with no crew access, and demanding sustained effort through technical terrain. The final 23 km from Ferleiten back to Kaprun closes the loop, but don't expect an easy run-in: with significant vert still remaining and tired legs, this stretch requires patience and execution.
The Decisive Climbs & Descents
The first major test is the sustained climb through Fürthermoaralm to Rudolfshütte — 22 km and roughly 1,321 m of gain — completed before your legs are truly race-ready. Blow up here and the rest of the day unravels fast. The second and most critical climb takes you from Rudolfshütte to the high point near Kals am Grossglockner at 2,459 m, crossing exposed alpine ground where wind, cold, and loose rock all become factors. Poles are strongly recommended and widely used on this section. The descents matter equally. The drop from Kals to Lucknerhaus — from 2,459 m to 1,609 m over 10 km — is steep and technical, and the temptation to bank time here is real. Resist it: trashed quads at km 43 leave 67 km of suffering ahead. The descent from Lucknerhaus to Glorer Hütte (6 km, losing a further 257 m) continues that pressure on the legs. Saving something for the long middle section and the final push from Ferleiten into Kaprun is what separates finishers from DNFs.
Pacing & Strategy
With 6,784 m of climbing packed into 110 km, the average gradient demands you hike the ups efficiently rather than run them into the ground. The life base at Kals am Grossglockner (km 33) is your first major mental and logistical milestone — arriving here in good shape, well-fed, and with kit sorted sets up the rest of the race. Use this crew point to change socks, top up calories, and assess your condition honestly before committing to the back half. The 38 km crew-free section from Glorer Hütte (km 49) to Ferleiten (km 87) demands that you carry enough food and fluid to be fully self-sufficient. Given the alpine altitude and exposure, this is not the place to run low on energy. Plan for at least 400–500 kcal per hour across this stretch and ensure your water carries can cover the gaps between aid stations. The finish cut-off is Sunday 01:30 — meaning the race has a substantial overnight component for most of the field. Carry mandatory night kit and plan your pace to arrive at Ferleiten before dark if possible, giving yourself a cleaner final 23 km back into Kaprun.
Conditions to Expect
The GGUT takes place in the Hohe Tauern, where alpine weather is notoriously changeable regardless of season. At the high point of 2,662 m, temperatures can drop sharply even in summer, and exposed sections above 2,000 m are vulnerable to afternoon thunderstorms — a serious hazard in the Eastern Alps. Morning starts may feel warm in Kaprun (768 m) but expect a 15–20°C drop by the time you're on the exposed ridges near Kals. Snow is a genuine possibility on high sections depending on the year, and even without snow, alpine trails above 2,000 m can be wet, slippery, and slow to navigate. Wind chill is a factor on the Kals high point and any exposed traverse. Plan your kit layering carefully: a wind and waterproof shell is non-negotiable, and having gloves and a hat accessible (not buried in your pack) at aid stations makes the difference when conditions shift. The overnight finish also means temperatures will dip again in the valleys — factor in a second set of warmer layers to pick up at Ferleiten before the final section.
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Checkpoints & cut-offs
✓ Course data verified against the official source (2026-07-05) · official source
0 km · 768 m · Fri 21:30
16.3 km · 1938 m · Sat 01:00
30.3 km · 2324 m · Sat 05:30
40 km · 1722 m · —
48 km · 1334 m · Sat 10:00
56 km · 2229 m · Sat 13:00
61 km · 2495 m · Sat 15:00
71.8 km · 2001 m · Sat 16:30
75.6 km · 2590 m · Sat 18:30
88 km · 1153 m · —
94.9 km · 958 m · Sat 22:30
110 km · 769 m · Sun 01:30
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