Croatia · Zadar County
Distance
160 km
Date
Entry fee
€100
€ / km
€0.63
New date pending
This race has already occurred. A new date for next year’s edition is pending.
Naturel Velebit Trail 160km: Croatia's Pioneer 100-Miler — Founded 2003, Unmarked Course, Velebit Wilderness
Naturel Velebit Trail 160 km is a point-to-point mountain race from Starigrad Paklenica to Senj harbour on the Adriatic, starting at 08:00 on June 20, 2026. The course covers 160 km with 7,500 m of gain (47 m/km) across the Velebit range — Paklenica National Park canyon, the high ridge including Vaganski vrh (1,757 m) at km 35, the iconic Premužić Trail (km 80–138), and a 22 km coastal descent to Senj.
Distance-weighted average gradients are 13.7% uphill and 13.1% downhill; only 16.8% of the course is flat; 13.9 km sits above 20% incline. The course is not marked — runners navigate by GPS download throughout. Entry costs €100 (€0.625/km) plus a €60 mandatory GPS tracker deposit returned at the Senj finish. 56-hour time limit. Founded in 2003 — approximately two months before UTMB's inaugural edition — making it one of the oldest 100-mile trail events in the world. 24th edition in 2026. IS FAR: Zadar ZAD 45 min.
Elevation and Terrain
Total Meters
7,500m
D+/KM
46.9m/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
| 2–5% | 13.0 km | |
|---|---|---|
| 5–10% | 17.0 km | |
| 10–15% | 11.8 km | |
| 15–20% | 8.2 km | |
| 20%+ | 13.9 km |
Route Profile
AnalysedTerrain breakdown
| 40.7% | Uphill |
|---|---|
| 16.8% | Flat |
| 42.5% | Downhill |
Terrain
Naturel Velebit Trail – 160 km 160km Top Climbs
Top Climbs
| 1 | 15.1 km · 1,208 m gain starts km 0 · avg 8.0% · max 64.5% |
|---|---|
| 2 | 6.3 km · 913 m gain starts km 20 · avg 14.4% · max 75.8% |
| 3 | 8.0 km · 250 m gain starts km 108 · avg 3.1% · max 49.6% |
Top descents
| 1 | 14.6 km · 868 m drop starts km 142 · avg -5.9% · max -30.1% |
|---|---|
| 2 | 8.2 km · 645 m drop starts km 128 · avg -7.9% · max -45.4% |
| 3 | 4.9 km · 551 m drop starts km 37 · avg -11.0% · max -81.2% |
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)
How Hard Is the Naturel Velebit Trail 160km?▼
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.
A Race That Predates UTMB: The History of the Naturel Velebit Trail 160km Route
What is the history of the Naturel Velebit Trail?
▼
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.
Entry Cost and the GPS Tracker Deposit: Naturel Velebit Trail 160km Fees
How much does the Naturel Velebit Trail 160km cost?
▼
€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
Which airport should I use for the Naturel Velebit Trail?
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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 Dates, Start Location, and Cutoff for Naturel Velebit Trail 160km
When does the 2026 Naturel Velebit Trail take place?
▼
Race starts at 08:00 on Saturday June 20, 2026, from Starigrad Paklenica. 56-hour time limit; cutoff is 16:00 June 22 at Senj harbour. The race spans two full nights. Registration and packet pickup: Friday June 19 from 08:00 at the 'Bikarija' quay, Starigrad Paklenica.
Naturel Velebit Trail – 160 km 160km GPX
Getting to Naturel Velebit Trail – 160 km
Nearest airport
Zadar (ZAD) / Split (SPU) / Zagreb (ZAG)
Notes
Start: ~2.0–4.0 hrs drive; start is Starigrad Paklenica (Stjepan Radić square) / 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.
