Vilnius Trail Run 42.4km: City-Edge Forest Trail Marathon — Top Climb 86m, Rank 317 of ~390 for Most Runnable Uphill, Vilnius, Lithuania

Hard in the way that any 42km of sustained trail running is — not by gradient. Average uphill gradient of 8.35% (rank 317 of ~390 — only ~73 courses gentler on average uphill; top 19% most runnable). Average downhill of -7.58% ranks 62nd of ~390 (inverted) — only 61 courses have gentler average descent. Top single climb rises just 86m (rank 352 of ~390 — only 38 climbs in the database rise less). D+/km ranks 320th of ~390 (bottom 18% for elevation density). 0.75km at 20%+ gradient; 35.7% flat terrain. The challenge is 42km of consistent pacing on forest trail where gradient doesn't punish but never fully rests you. 9-hour time limit; expected finish window 3–9h. 77% unpaved / 16% paved. Mandatory gear includes reusable cup.

A 42.4km loop from Kalnų parko stadionas (Hills Park, T. Kosciuškos g. 5, Vilnius), running through the forests, parks, and river valleys surrounding the city. Official +1,144m (Airtable: 1,690m; UTMB: ~1,390m — methodology variation). 10:00 start; 9-hour time limit. 2 checkpoints: km 11.17 (cut-off 2h from start) and km 26.12 (cut-off 5h from start). 77% unpaved / 16% paved / 7% other — 16% paved is a non-trivial share; this is not a pure trail race. Top climbs are 86m, 80m, 78m — gentle forest rises with brief steep pitches (max gradients up to 30%). The Pavilniai Regional Park section features glacially-shaped terrain with undulating forest trail. Course description: "combining forest trails, rolling hills, and river valleys into a constantly changing route that demands focus and consistency." No single-use cups — reusable mandatory.

€42 early-bird (until Dec 31, 2026 — likely for 2027 edition); €47 (until Mar 31, 2026); €55 (Apr 1–May 7, 2026); €70 race-day. ~€1.11/km at standard tier. Not sold out — no sell-out language in any DTR notes. 2026 edition ran May 9, 2026; next edition May 1, 2027. No additional processing fees noted. Register at vilniustrailrun.lt.

Vilnius Airport (VNO) is 30 minutes from the race start — one of the best logistics situations in the DTR database. VNO is served by Ryanair, Wizz Air, LOT, and others from most European cities. The race starts in Kalnų Park — easily reachable by public transport, rideshare, or a short taxi ride from any Vilnius hotel. No transfer challenge, strong accommodation inventory across all price points, multiple daily international flights: Vilnius Trail Run 42.4km is among the most accessible trail races in Europe for international runners.

The combination of urban accessibility and genuine forest running. Top climb of 86m (rank 352 of ~390 — only 38 climbs in the database rise less) makes this one of the most runnable marathon-distance trail races in the DTR database: a pure endurance and pacing test with no gradient management required. The city-edge forest setting — Pavilniai Regional Park, Neris River corridor, Kalnų Park — delivers continuous forest trail within a European capital city. VNO airport 30 minutes. €47–€55 entry. UTMB 50K Index, ITRA 2 points, IAU Trail Label. The 42.4km suits runners wanting their first credentialled trail race or their fastest trail marathon without mountain commitment.