SUÈDE · Västernorrland County
High Coast Winter Trail Insane 50K: Sweden's UNESCO Snow-and-Ice 50K, Measured
Informations clés
Distance
50 km
Date
Droit d’inscription
1,190 SEK
€ / km
€2.26
Nouvelle date en attente
Cette course a déjà eu lieu. La date de la prochaine édition est en attente.
Winter coastal grit: snow-and-ice trails with headlamp vibes on Sweden’s High Coast.
High Coast Winter Trail – Insane 50K is a winter trail race held each February in Västernorrland County on Sweden's High Coast (Höga Kusten), traversing 50 km through the UNESCO World Heritage–listed Skuleskogen National Park. The course gains 2,100 m (42.0 m/km) across polished granite cliffs, frozen shoreline, and snow-covered forest — conditions the organiser estimates as physically equivalent to 70–90 km on bare ground. The race's defining moments cluster at the end: Climb 2 at km 44.85 (56.46% maximum gradient) and Descent 3 at km 47.64 (−42.19% maximum) arrive in the final 6 km on potentially icy terrain. The 2022 edition recorded a ~45% DNF rate: 53 of 96 starters finished. The average downhill gradient of −10.86% is among the steeper in the DTR database. Entry cost approximately €2.26/km (1,190 SEK, 2026 fee — 2027 TBC). Stockholm Arlanda (ARN) is approximately 5 hours by road — this race is flagged FAR. The Insane 50K typically finishes approximately 40 runners per year. It suits experienced winter trail runners willing to travel to one of Europe's most remote and technically demanding snow-and-ice 50Ks in a UNESCO landscape unlike anything else in the European ultra calendar.
Élévation et Terrain
Mètres totaux
2,100m
D+/KM
42.0m/km
Pour référence, le Tor des Géants 330 km a 73 D+/km.
Pente montante moyenne
9.9%
Pente descendante moyenne
-10.9%
Distribution du gradient de montée
| 2–5% | 6.1 km | |
|---|---|---|
| 5–10% | 5.2 km | |
| 10–15% | 3.3 km | |
| 15–20% | 1.2 km | |
| 20%+ | 2 km |
Profil de parcours
AnalysedDétail du terrain
| 35.5% | Montée |
|---|---|
| 32.9% | Plat |
| 31.6% | Descente |
Terrain
Ascensions
Principales montées
| Rank | Length | Elevation gain | Start km | Average gradient | Max gradient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3.1 km · 274 m gain starts km 4 · avg 8.8% · max 36% | ||||
| 2 | 2.1 km · 228 m gain starts km 45 · avg 10.9% · max 56.5% | ||||
| 3 | 3.9 km · 187 m gain starts km 9 · avg 4.8% · max 22.4% |
Principales descentes
| Rank | Length | Elevation drop | Start km | Average gradient | Max gradient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2.7 km · 270 m drop starts km 18 · avg -10.1% · max -32.5% | ||||
| 2 | 2.6 km · 268 m drop starts km 7 · avg -10.1% · max -32.9% | ||||
| 3 | 2.4 km · 231 m drop starts km 48 · avg -10% · max -42.2% |
High Coast Winter Trail Insane 50K: Sweden's UNESCO Snow-and-Ice 50K, Measured
Why the Insane 50K Is Harder Than 50km Suggests: Snow, DNF Rates, and the Final 6km▼
Q: How hard is the High Coast Winter Trail Insane 50K? A: Exceptionally demanding — officially estimated as equivalent to 70–90km on bare ground. In 2022, 45% of starters did not finish (53 of 96 completed). The final 6km includes a 56.46% maximum gradient climb at km 44.85 and a −42.19% maximum descent at km 47.64, both on snow and ice. Average downhill gradient −10.86% is borderline top 25% of the DTR database. Temperature can drop to −15°C.
Course Profile — Frozen Cliffs, a 56% Gradient Climb in Snow, and a −42% Descent to the Finish▼
Q: What makes the High Coast Winter Trail route special? A: The 50km Insane route passes through Skuleskogen National Park — a UNESCO World Heritage Site on Sweden's High Coast — including a 14km stretch through frozen cliffs, sea ice, and snow-covered shoreline. The landscape was shaped by continental ice sheet rebound and features polished granite with no equivalent in European trail racing.
70–90km in Disguise: What the Organiser's Effort Estimate Actually Means▼
Q: How much does the High Coast Winter Trail Insane 50K cost? A: The 2026 edition was priced at 1,190 SEK (~€113 / ~€2.26/km). The 2027 fee has not yet been published. Icebug trail spikes are available to borrow at no charge from the organiser at the start.
Getting to the High Coast: Stockholm, Sundsvall, and the Logistics of a FAR Winter Race▼
Q: When does the High Coast Winter Trail Insane 50K take place? A: The race runs each February from FriluftsByn, Västernorrland County, Sweden. The 2026 edition was February 14. The 2027 date has not yet been announced — check highcoastwintertrail.com.
Fichiers de course
Logistique
Aéroport le plus proche
Stockholm Arlanda (ARN) / Umeå (UME)
Notes
Start: ~3–6 hrs depending on transfers / Public transport: Possible (train north) but winter timing makes car strongly preferred / Accommodation: Limited in small towns; plan early
FAR
It’ll possibly take 3+ hours from the closest large airport to arrive. Plan your adventure accordingly, take an extra day for those after-race beers or Curranz.
