Gauja Trail by UTMB 45km: Baltic Forest, Sandstone Gorges, and UTMB Running Stones

The Gauja Trail by UTMB 45km covers approximately 45km with 1,200m D+ (elevation gain) and 1,026m D- (descent), equating to 26.7m of vertical gain per kilometre. This places the course among the lowest-vertical UTMB World Series ultras in the DTR database -- ranking 332nd of 390 European ultras for elevation density. Note: the current official race website (gauja.utmb.world) lists the 50K category as 53km with the same 1,200m D+. DTR's records are based on GPX analysis at 45km. Verify the current course specification directly at gauja.utmb.world before entering, as course distances may have been updated.

The Gauja Trail 50 K (the UTMB World Series category covering this distance) awards 2 Running Stones upon finisher verification. Running Stones are UTMB's qualification currency for the UTMB Mont-Blanc race ballot (UTMB 100 Miles, CCC, OCC, TDS, MCC). Finishers also earn UTMB Index points. Gauja Trail is a full UTMB World Series event with direct-entry Finals Access for the 50K category. Verify current Stone awards and Finals Access eligibility at utmb.world before entering if UTMB Mont-Blanc qualification is your primary goal.

The course runs point-to-point from Ratnieki (near Ligatne) to Cesis. It starts in Ligatne, a 19th-century paper mill town still in operation, known for a nearby secret Soviet-era government bunker built in 1982 as an emergency shelter for Latvian Soviet officials and now open as a museum. The route traverses Gauja National Park -- Latvia's largest protected area -- through Baltic forest singletrack, sandstone gorge terrain, and ski slopes near Cesis before finishing in Cesis's historic Rose Square (Rozu laukums). The terrain profile is exceptionally runnable: the biggest single ascent is just 63m (ranked 364th of 390 European ultras) and the biggest single descent is 71m. Race start is 08:30 on Sunday 2 August 2026; maximum allowed race time is 11 hours.

Entry for the Gauja Trail 50 K is EUR 99, with the UTMB registration platform adding approximately EUR 7.92 per participant on top of the base fee -- approximately EUR 106.92 total. This equates to approximately EUR 2.20 per kilometre, in the mid-range for UTMB World Series events. The race is not sold out as of DTR's most recent records. Registration is open at the UTMB platform. Verify current availability and pricing directly at gauja.utmb.world, as prices and availability change closer to race date.

Riga International Airport (RIX) is the nearest airport, approximately 1 hour 54 minutes from the race area by car. Good public transport connections run from Riga to Sigulda, Cesis, and Ligatne by train and bus. Riga is well connected internationally with direct flights from many European cities. Note that the race is point-to-point: it starts in Ratnieki (near Ligatne) and finishes in Cesis, so transport logistics require getting to the start independently and arranging accommodation near the finish or in Sigulda. Accommodation in Sigulda and Cesis is generally good but should be booked early for August race weekend.