Switzerland · Valais
Distance
101 km
Date
Entry fee
CHF 189
€ / km
€2.04
SwissPeaks Trail 101km: The Night-Start Alpine Ultra That's Steep in Both Directions
Night-start Valais alpine ultra, week after UTMB — 101km, 6,000m gain, steep in both directions (top 5% avg uphill AND downhill). Finishes on Lake Geneva. The race purpose-built for runners who don't want to go home after Chamonix.
Elevation and Terrain
Total Meters
6,570m
D+/KM
65.0m/km
For context, the Tor des Géants 330 loop has 73 D+/km.
Avg Uphill Gradient
15.1%
Avg Downhill Gradient
-16.3%
Uphill gradient distribution
| 2–5% | 8.1 km | |
|---|---|---|
| 5–10% | 9.9 km | |
| 10–15% | 8.0 km | |
| 15–20% | 5.8 km | |
| 20%+ | 12.4 km |
Route Profile
AnalysedTerrain breakdown
| 43.6% | Uphill |
|---|---|
| 12.8% | Flat |
| 43.6% | Downhill |
Terrain
SwissPeaks Trail – 101 km 101km Top Climbs
Top Climbs
| 1 | 6.6 km · 1,070 m gain starts km 10 · avg 16.3% · max 52.8% |
|---|---|
| 2 | 6.3 km · 707 m gain starts km 79 · avg 11.3% · max 56.1% |
| 3 | 7.1 km · 616 m gain starts km 41 · avg 8.7% · max 48.6% |
Top descents
| 1 | 6.4 km · 958 m drop starts km 26 · avg -15.1% · max -90.7% |
|---|---|
| 2 | 4.6 km · 838 m drop starts km 86 · avg -18.2% · max -61.5% |
| 3 | 8.9 km · 739 m drop starts km 48 · avg -8.0% · max -77.2% |
How hard is the SwissPeaks 101km? (Gradient, climbs, and what steep means here)
How hard is the SwissPeaks 101km?▼
Very hard — by design. The course gains approximately 6,000m (official) over 101km — around 65m per kilometre, placing it in the top 20% most elevation-dense distances in DTR's database. Average uphill gradient is 15.07% (steeper than 95% of the database) and average downhill gradient is 16.32% — one of the 25 steepest descending averages in the database. Over 12km of the course climbs at greater than 20% gradient. The race starts at 20:00, so the early hours are in darkness on exposed high terrain.
SwissPeaks 101km Starts at Night: Appropriate Night-running Kit is a Must
What time does the SwissPeaks 101km start?
▼
The 101km starts at 20:00 on September 3, 2026 from Salvan in the Trient Valley. This means runners spend the first several hours in darkness on exposed high terrain before dawn. A headlamp and appropriate night-running kit are required.
The UTMB Week Option: Why SwissPeaks 101km Is No Recovery Run
Is the SwissPeaks 101km a good race to run the week after UTMB?
▼
If you're fit and want to stay in the Alps — it's purpose-built for this. SwissPeaks always takes place the week after UTMB, making it a natural extension for runners already in Chamonix. The terrain is comparable in difficulty to UTMB itself; this is not a recovery run. It finishes on Lake Geneva — a very different end-point that adds its own appeal.
How much does SwissPeaks Trail cost? (Entry fee, ITRA points, and value)
How much does SwissPeaks 101km cost?
▼
Entry is 189 CHF — approximately €2.04 per kilometre at current exchange rates. The SPTiming registration platform may add administrative or platform fees on top of the listed price, so check the final total at checkout. A 5 CHF train ticket to the start in Salvan is available when registering or up to one month before the race.
How to get to SwissPeaks Trail from Geneva or Zurich
How do I get to the SwissPeaks Trail 72.6km?
▼
The SwissPeaks village and race finish is at Bouveret on Lake Geneva in western Valais. The nearest major airports are Geneva (GVA), approximately 2.5 to 3.5 hours from Bouveret, and Zürich (ZRH), approximately 3 to 4.5 hours. The race start is in Val d'Illiez, reachable by train via Monthey and the Mont-Blanc Express line — the 5 CHF race organisation train is the recommended option. Accommodation in the Valais/Bouveret/Monthey area fills early during the SwissPeaks festival weekend. The official site recommends the hotel at the Grande Dixence dam for altitude acclimatisation. Given the 05h00 start time, accommodation near Val d'Illiez the night before is strongly advisable.
SwissPeaks Trail – 101 km 101km GPX
Getting to SwissPeaks Trail – 101 km
Nearest airport
Geneva (GVA) / Zürich (ZRH)
Notes
Start: ~3–4.5 hrs (ZRH) or ~2.5–3.5 hrs (GVA) to Valais start towns (route-dependent) / Public transport: possible (train to Valais) but long; race logistics complex / Accommodation: stage/loop formats; book early in Valais. The 2026 edition was cancelled, and may affect the 2027 version.
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.
