Zugspitz Ultra Trail by UTMB
Zugspitz Ultra Trail by UTMB – Ultratrail
Leutasch → Garmisch-Partenkirchen
Race guide
Updated 18 July 2026
The Ultratrail is the flagship long-distance race of the Zugspitz Ultra Trail by UTMB, a 74 km point-to-point from Leutasch across the Bavarian and Tyrolean Alps to a finish in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. With 3033 m of climbing and a high point of 2047 m, it is the fullest expression of the series' terrain — the same signature Hochalm climb as the shorter races, but reached only after 58 km of accumulated mountain running. A cut-off structure that has runners passing early checkpoints late on Friday night and reaching Hochalm at 11:00 on Saturday points to an overnight effort for much of the field. This is a race defined by endurance through darkness, careful energy management over a long undulating course, and the ability to still climb strongly to the high point deep into the day.
The Course & Terrain
From Leutasch at 1131 m the route climbs to Hämmermoosalm at 8.1 km (1413 m), then undulates through Hubertushof / Reindlau at 21.6 km (1074 m), Mittenwald at 30.2 km (924 m) and Schloss Elmau at 40.2 km (1002 m) — a long middle section that repeatedly rises and falls around the 900-1400 m band. The character changes at Laubhütte (53.6 km, 992 m), where the course turns up toward Hochalm at 58.6 km (1701 m) and the 2047 m high point beyond. After the high point the route descends to Trögllift at 67 km (1363 m) and drops to the finish in Garmisch-Partenkirchen at 74 km (698 m). With 3033 m of gain spread over 74 km, the climbing is relentless but not concentrated in one place until the Hochalm ascent late in the race. Expect a mixture of alpine valley trail, forest paths and exposed high-mountain terrain, with the toughest sustained climb saved for when legs are already deep into the effort.
Where the Race Is Decided
The signature crux is the climb from Laubhütte (53.6 km, 992 m) to Hochalm (58.6 km, 1701 m) — around 700 m of ascent past 53 km of prior running, immediately topping out at the 2047 m high point. This is the moment the Ultratrail is won or lost: the same climb the shorter races tackle fresh, but here it arrives when fatigue is greatest. Runners who reach Laubhütte with something in reserve can grind it out and descend to the finish; those who arrive spent face their slowest kilometres of the day. The earlier long undulating stretch — Hubertushof / Reindlau (21.6 km) through Mittenwald (30.2 km) to Schloss Elmau (40.2 km) — is where the race is quietly set up. It is runnable and tempting to push, but every match burned there is a match unavailable on the Hochalm climb. The cut-offs (Hochalm at 11:00, then Trögllift at 13:30) tighten precisely around this final ascent, so protecting energy through the middle to arrive strong at Laubhütte is the central tactical decision of the race.
How to Pace & Fuel It
The checkpoint spacing is demanding: 8.1 km to Hämmermoosalm, a long 13.5 km to Hubertushof / Reindlau, then 8.6 km to Mittenwald, 10 km to Schloss Elmau, 13.4 km to Laubhütte, and the climb to Hochalm before the descent home. The two longest carries — to Hubertushof / Reindlau and to Laubhütte — both exceed 13 km, so leave those checkpoints with enough fluid and calories to cover several hours, especially the run into Laubhütte that precedes the big climb. The cut-off schedule — Hämmermoosalm at 23:00 Friday, Hubertushof / Reindlau at 02:15, Mittenwald at 03:40, Schloss Elmau at 05:30, Hochalm at 11:00 and the finish at 15:00 Saturday — confirms a night-into-day effort for much of the field. Fuel consistently through the dark hours when appetite fades, use the crew points at Hämmermoosalm, Hubertushof / Reindlau, Mittenwald, Schloss Elmau and Hochalm to reset, and pace the long undulating middle conservatively so you can still climb to the 2047 m high point and descend to Garmisch-Partenkirchen inside the 15:00 cut-off.
Conditions to Expect
This is a long alpine point-to-point reaching 2047 m, and the cut-off timings indicate that a large part of the field will run through the night, so cold and darkness are central to the challenge. Overnight temperatures in the Alps can fall sharply, particularly on exposed sections and around the high point, and running in the dark for hours adds navigational and mental demands on top of the physical ones. A dependable headlamp, spare batteries and proper warm and waterproof layers are essential, not optional. Because the course starts at Leutasch (1131 m) and finishes in a different valley at Garmisch-Partenkirchen (698 m), plan point-to-point logistics and drop bags carefully. The high terrain around Hochalm and the 2047 m high point is exposed to wind and rapid weather change, and you reach it late in the race when reserves are low — so carry mountain kit sufficient for the worst conditions the high point might throw at you, even if the valleys are mild at the start.
Race Zugspitz Ultra Trail by UTMB – Ultratrail with Crux
Get the strategy, fuelling and crew plan dialled for this exact course — built from the real route, climbs and cut-offs. Your first race is free.
Plan this race — freeCourse profile
Checkpoints & cut-offs
✓ Course data verified against the official source (2026-07-17) · official source
0 km · 1131 m · —
8.1 km · 1413 m · Fri 23:00
21.6 km · 1074 m · Sat 02:15
30.2 km · 924 m · Sat 03:40
40.2 km · 1002 m · Sat 05:30
53.6 km · 992 m · —
58.6 km · 1701 m · Sat 11:00
67 km · 1363 m · Sat 13:30
74 km · 698 m · Sat 15:00
More races
More UTMB World Series
More in Germany
Similar distance (50–100 km)
Racing Zugspitz Ultra Trail by UTMB – Ultratrail?
Get a complete race strategy — pacing, fuelling, crew plan and the crux moments — built on this exact course.
Plan your race in Crux →Strava is your training. Crux is your races.