Croatia · Zadar County
Naturel Velebit Trail
Distance
160 km
Date
June 20, 2026
Entry fee
100 EUR
€ / km
€0.63
New date pending
This race has already occurred. A new date for next year’s edition is pending.
True Velebit wilderness: remote ridges, harsh karst, and an old-school 100-mile adventure.
Elevation and Terrain
Total Meters
7500m
D+/KM
46.88m/km
For context, the Tor des Géants 330 loop has 73 D+/km.
Avg Uphill Gradient
13.7%
Avg Downhill Gradient
-13.1%
Uphill gradient distribution
Route Profile
Analysed 2026-05-02Terrain breakdown
Terrain
Climbs
Top climbs
15.1 km · 1208 m gain
starts km 0 · avg 8.0% · max 64.5%
6.3 km · 913 m gain
starts km 20 · avg 14.4% · max 75.8%
8.0 km · 250 m gain
starts km 108 · avg 3.1% · max 49.5%
Top descents
14.6 km · 868 m drop
starts km 142 · avg -5.9% · max -30.1%
8.2 km · 645 m drop
starts km 128 · avg -7.9% · max -45.4%
4.9 km · 551 m drop
starts km 37 · avg -11.0% · max -81.3%
How Hard Is the Naturel Velebit Trail 160km? (47 m/km, 13.65% Average Gradient, and 2/3 of the Climbing in the First Half)
Q: How hard is the Naturel Velebit Trail 160km? | A: Very hard. The course covers 160km with 7,500m of gain (~47m/km), only 16.8% flat terrain, and 13.92km above 20% gradient. Distance-weighted average gradients are 13.65% uphill and 13.06% downhill — upper tier in the DTR database. Two-thirds of total elevation gain falls in the first 80km. The course is not marked — runners navigate entirely by GPS download. 56-hour time limit.
Course Profile — Paklenica Canyon to Senj: The 1,208 m Opening Climb, Vaganski vrh, the Premužić Trail, and the Adriatic Finish
Q: What is the history of the Naturel Velebit Trail? | A: First held in 2003, the Naturel Velebit Trail predates UTMB by approximately two months, making it one of the oldest 100-mile trail events in the world. The 2026 edition is the 24th. The race was created by KPS Multisport / Šimun Cimerman and is held as the Memorijal Gorana Perića.
€0.625 per Kilometre for Europe's Oldest 100-Miler (Plus a €60 GPS Tracker Deposit)
Q: How much does the Naturel Velebit Trail 160km cost? | A: €100 entry (€0.625/km), plus a mandatory GPS tracker deposit of €60 paid in cash at registration — returned when you hand back the tracker at the Senj finish. No additional administration fee. Total cost at registration: €160.
Getting to the Naturel Velebit Trail: Why It's FAR, and Why That's Part of the Point
Q: Which airport should I use for the Naturel Velebit Trail? | A: Zadar (ZAD) is approximately 45 minutes from Starigrad Paklenica — the closest airport. Split (SPU) is approximately 1.5–2 hours; Zagreb (ZAG) is approximately 3–4 hours. The race is classified FAR. Public transport to Starigrad is limited — a car is strongly recommended. Accommodation in the start area is limited; base in Zadar or nearby gateway towns and book early.
Race files
Logistics
Nearest airport
Zadar (ZAD) / Split (SPU) / Zagreb (ZAG)
Notes
Start: ~2.0–4.0 hrs drive to Velebit start area (Paklenica or Gospić region; TODO: verify) / Public transport: limited; car strongly recommended / Accommodation: limited mountain lodging; best base in Zadar area or park gateway towns; book 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.
