HONGRIE · Veszprém County / Lake Balaton
Ultrabalaton Trail 115km (Hegyestű Trail): Hungary's Lakeside Ultra, Measured
Informations clés
Distance
115 km
Date
Droit d’inscription
32,900 HUF
€ / km
€0.92
Balaton classic: long, flat lakeside miles where nutrition and mental toughness win the day.
Ultrabalaton Trail 115 km (Hegyestű Trail) is a trail race held on October 3, 2026 in Veszprém County, Hungary, tracing the northern shore and uplands of Lake Balaton. The course starts at 7:00 AM from Balatoni Élménypark, Csopak, covering 115 km with 2,137 m of gain — 18.6 m/km, placing it among the lowest elevation densities of any 100 km+ distance in the DTR database. The terrain carries a deceptive edge: climbs average just 2.5% gradient but spike to a 36.7% maximum. Volcanic rock outcrops and sudden Balaton Uplands escarpments are embedded in what reads as flat lakeside running. The course is unusually balanced — 34.8% uphill, 32.0% flat, 33.2% downhill — with the steepest descent arriving at km 97.9 in the final quarter. Entry costs €0.92/km (32,900 HUF at current tier). Budapest (BUD) is approximately 102 minutes away, with frequent train service along the Balaton shore. Now in its 8th edition (2026) , the race drew approximately 93 finishers in 2024 against a 21-hour time limit with 13 aid stations. It suits endurance-focused trail runners who want a long, runnable lakeside course where nutrition strategy and sustained pace — not summit-to-summit climbing — decide the race.
Élévation et Terrain
Mètres totaux
2,137m
D+/KM
18.6m/km
Pour référence, le Tor des Géants 330 km a 73 D+/km.
Pente montante moyenne
8%
Pente descendante moyenne
-8.5%
Distribution du gradient de montée
| 2–5% | 15 km | |
|---|---|---|
| 5–10% | 14.8 km | |
| 10–15% | 6.1 km | |
| 15–20% | 1.9 km | |
| 20%+ | 2 km |
Profil de parcours
AnalysedDétail du terrain
| 34.8% | Montée |
|---|---|
| 32% | Plat |
| 33.2% | Descente |
Terrain
Ascensions
Principales montées
| Rank | Length | Elevation gain | Start km | Average gradient | Max gradient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5.7 km · 141 m gain starts km 51 · avg 2.5% · max 36.7% | ||||
| 2 | 4.3 km · 98 m gain starts km 39 · avg 2.3% · max 32.5% | ||||
| 3 | 6.1 km · 98 m gain starts km 75 · avg 1.6% · max 22.9% |
Principales descentes
| Rank | Length | Elevation drop | Start km | Average gradient | Max gradient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 7 km · 210 m drop starts km 54 · avg -3% · max -31.8% | ||||
| 2 | 3.7 km · 169 m drop starts km 98 · avg -4.6% · max -29.8% | ||||
| 3 | 3.6 km · 140 m drop starts km 48 · avg -4% · max -30.3% |
Ultrabalaton Trail 115km (Hegyestű Trail): Hungary's Lakeside Ultra, Measured
Why 'Flat' Is Misleading: What the Balaton Uplands Actually Demand Over 115km▼
Q: How hard is the Ultrabalaton Trail 115km? A: Demanding by distance, not by gradient. At 18.6 m/km — one of the flattest 100km+ distances in the DTR database — the physical challenge is sustained endurance and pacing over 115km rather than climbing. The 36.7% maximum gradient on Climb 1 at km 51 and a technical descent in the final quarter (km 97.9) are brief exceptions in an otherwise runnable course. The 21-hour time limit requires a consistent minimum pace across all 115km.
Course Profile — Equal Parts Up, Flat, and Down, with a 36.7% Gradient Surprise at km 51▼
Q: Is the Ultrabalaton Trail 115km a flat race? A: Largely, yes — but with sharp exceptions. Climbs average just 2.5% gradient across 115km, but the maximum pitch reaches 36.7% at km 51 and descents spike to −31.8%. Volcanic rock outcrops create short, technical scrambling moments in what is otherwise a very runnable lakeside course. Think: flat running interrupted by brief Balaton Uplands surprises.
€0.92/km for a Day-Start Lake Balaton Ultra, 102 Minutes from Budapest by Train▼
Q: How much does the Ultrabalaton Trail 115km cost to enter? A: 32,900 HUF (~€75) at the current fee tier — approximately €0.92/km. Entry rises to 34,900 HUF (~€80) from June 1, 2026 and 36,900 HUF (~€85) from September 16. No administrative fees — only possible bank transaction costs.
Getting to Csopak: Budapest, the Balaton Shore Line, and the Most Accessible Ultra Start in Hungary▼
Q: When does the 2026 Ultrabalaton Trail 115km take place? A: October 3, 2026, with a 7:00 AM start from Balatoni Élménypark, Csopak, on the northern shore of Lake Balaton, Hungary.
Fichiers de course
Logistique
Aéroport le plus proche
Budapest (BUD)
Notes
Start: ~1.5–2.5 hrs to Lake Balaton start towns (Siófok/Balatonfüred area; TODO: verify) / Public transport: very good trains along lake / Accommodation: very strong around Balaton but peak season fills fast; book early
