Switzerland · Valais
Distance
77 km
Date
Entry fee
—
€ / km
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Trail Verbier St-Bernard X-Traversée 77km: Five Alpine Passes and a Final Wall That Doesn't Quit
The Trail Verbier St-Bernard by UTMB — X-Traversée is a 77 km trail race held in July in the canton of Valais, Switzerland. The course gains 5,000 m over 77 km (64.9 m/km), running a linear point-to-point from La Fouly to Verbier across five high alpine passes. The 2026 edition is sold out; the standard fee is no longer publicly listed on the UTMB registration page.
Just 9.8% of the course is flat — the 23rd least-flat of 390 European trail distances in the DTR database. The biggest single descent drops 1,556 m — the 20th largest of 386 European distances tracked. The course saves its hardest section for last: "The Wall," a 1,192 m climb averaging 21.6% gradient, arrives at km 63 after four alpine passes including the Col du Grand St Bernard. The route crosses a 240 m suspension bridge where running is not permitted. Nearest airport is Geneva (GVA), 134 minutes by car.
The oldest course in the TVSB family, first run in 2009, the X-Traversée recorded 1,156 finishers in 2025 — up from 359 in 2024. It suits fit trail runners with strong technical mountain experience who want the UTMB World Series atmosphere without committing to the full 140 km.
Elevation and Terrain
Total Meters
5,000m
D+/KM
64.9m/km
For context, the Tor des Géants 330 loop has 73 D+/km.
Avg Uphill Gradient
14.9%
Avg Downhill Gradient
-15.2%
Uphill gradient distribution
| 2–5% | 4.8 km | |
|---|---|---|
| 5–10% | 9.0 km | |
| 10–15% | 6.2 km | |
| 15–20% | 5.0 km | |
| 20%+ | 8.9 km |
Route Profile
AnalysedTerrain breakdown
| 45.1% | Uphill |
|---|---|
| 9.8% | Flat |
| 45.1% | Downhill |
Terrain
Trail Verbier St-Bernard by UTMB – 77 km 77km Top Climbs
Top Climbs
| 1 | 5.6 km · 1,200 m gain starts km 63 · avg 21.6% · max 54.2% |
|---|---|
| 2 | 9.2 km · 1,095 m gain starts km 0 · avg 11.9% · max 41.7% |
| 3 | 9.4 km · 861 m gain starts km 25 · avg 9.1% · max 45.6% |
Top descents
| 1 | 11.3 km · 1,556 m drop starts km 52 · avg -13.8% · max -49.3% |
|---|---|
| 2 | 6.2 km · 886 m drop starts km 14 · avg -14.3% · max -34.0% |
| 3 | 8.2 km · 558 m drop starts km 36 · avg -7.0% · max -46.3% |
How hard is the X-Traversée 77km? (Course profile, climbs, and GPX data)
How difficult is the Trail Verbier St-Bernard X-Traversée 77km?
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Very difficult. The course covers 77km with 5,000m of elevation gain (64.9m per km) and just 9.8% flat terrain — the 23rd least-flat of 390 European trail distances tracked. The biggest descent drops 1,556m over 11.28km. The course saves its hardest section for last: "The Wall" — a 1,192m climb averaging 21.63% gradient — arrives at km 63 after four alpine passes already on the legs.
The Wall: The Defining Final Climb of the Verbier X-Traversée 77km
What is "The Wall" on the X-Traversée?
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The Wall is the defining final climb of the X-Traversée: approximately 1,192m of ascent starting at km 63, averaging 21.63% gradient over roughly 5.5km. Run the Alps founder Doug Mayer described it as a "gut-wrenching" climb that follows a fast free-falling descent and a resupply stop in Lourtier village. After The Wall, flowy alpine singletrack descends to the Verbier finish.
Sold Out for 2026: Trail Verbier St-Bernard by UTMB X-Traversée 77km Registration and the UTMB Waitlist
Is the Trail Verbier St-Bernard X-Traversée sold out for 2026?
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Yes. The 2026 X-Traversée sold out via UTMB's registration system before the standard entry fee was publicly visible. The race recorded 1,156 finishers in 2025 — up from 359 in 2024, reflecting strong growth under UTMB management. Check verbier.utmb.world for future edition registration windows.
Getting to La Fouly: Transport Options for the Trail Verbier St-Bernard X-Traversée 77km Start
How do you get to the X-Traversée start in La Fouly?
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The race starts in La Fouly in the Val Ferret, reached via Verbier or directly from Geneva by car via Martigny and Orsières (approximately 134 minutes from Geneva airport / GVA). La Fouly is roughly 30–40 minutes beyond Verbier. Organisers typically provide shuttle transport from Verbier to the La Fouly start; check verbier.utmb.world for current shuttle details.
Trail Verbier St-Bernard X-Traversée History: The Oldest Route, Roman Passes, and 2009 Origins
What is the history of the X-Traversée?
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The X-Traversée is the oldest course in the Trail Verbier St-Bernard family, first run in 2009. The current route covers 77km across five high alpine passes including Col Fenêtre (2,695m) and the Col du Grand St Bernard, following Roman-built paths walked by pilgrims for centuries. UTMB took over race management in 2022, after which the event grew significantly — finishers tripled between 2024 and 2025.
Getting to Trail Verbier St-Bernard by UTMB – 77 km
Nearest airport
Geneva (GVA)
Notes
Start: ~2–2.5 hrs by car or train to Martigny + bus/taxi to Verbier / Public transport: good (train to Martigny) + bus to Verbier / Accommodation: strong but fills fast in Verbier; book early
