Sweden · Västernorrland County
Distance
50 km
Date
Entry fee
SEK 1,190
€ / km
€2.26
New date pending
This race has already occurred. A new date for next year’s edition is pending.
High Coast Winter Trail Insane 50K: Sweden's UNESCO Snow-and-Ice 50K, Measured
High Coast Winter Trail – Insane 50K is a winter trail race held each February in Västernorrland County on Sweden's High Coast (Höga Kusten), traversing 50 km through the UNESCO World Heritage–listed Skuleskogen National Park. The course gains 2,100 m (42.0 m/km) across polished granite cliffs, frozen shoreline, and snow-covered forest — conditions the organiser estimates as physically equivalent to 70–90 km on bare ground.
The race's defining moments cluster at the end: Climb 2 at km 44.85 (56.5% maximum gradient) and Descent 3 at km 47.64 (−42.2% maximum) arrive in the final 6 km on potentially icy terrain. The 2022 edition recorded a 45% DNF rate: 53 of 96 starters finished. The average downhill gradient of −10.9% is among the steeper in the DTR database.
Entry cost €2.26/km (1,190 SEK, 2026 fee — 2027 TBC). Stockholm Arlanda (ARN) is 5 hours by road — this race is flagged FAR. The Insane 50K typically finishes 40 runners per year. It suits experienced winter trail runners willing to travel to one of Europe's most remote and technically demanding snow-and-ice 50Ks in a UNESCO landscape unlike anything else in the European ultra calendar.
Elevation and Terrain
Total Meters
2,100m
D+/KM
42.0m/km
For context, the Tor des Géants 330 loop has 73 D+/km.
Avg Uphill Gradient
9.9%
Avg Downhill Gradient
-10.9%
Uphill gradient distribution
| 2–5% | 6.1 km | |
|---|---|---|
| 5–10% | 5.2 km | |
| 10–15% | 3.3 km | |
| 15–20% | 1.2 km | |
| 20%+ | 2.0 km |
Route Profile
AnalysedTerrain breakdown
| 35.5% | Uphill |
|---|---|
| 32.9% | Flat |
| 31.6% | Downhill |
Terrain
High Coast Winter Trail – 50 km 50km Top Climbs
Top Climbs
| 1 | 3.1 km · 274 m gain starts km 4 · avg 8.8% · max 36.0% |
|---|---|
| 2 | 2.1 km · 228 m gain starts km 45 · avg 10.9% · max 56.5% |
| 3 | 3.9 km · 187 m gain starts km 9 · avg 4.8% · max 22.4% |
Top descents
| 1 | 2.7 km · 270 m drop starts km 18 · avg -10.1% · max -32.5% |
|---|---|
| 2 | 2.6 km · 268 m drop starts km 7 · avg -10.1% · max -32.9% |
| 3 | 2.4 km · 231 m drop starts km 48 · avg -10.0% · max -42.2% |
Winter Conditions, Snow, and High DNF Rates: High Coast Winter Trail – Insane 50K Difficulty Profile
How hard is the High Coast Winter Trail Insane 50K?
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Exceptionally demanding — officially estimated as equivalent to 70–90km on bare ground. In 2022, 45% of starters did not finish (53 of 96 completed). The final 6km includes a 56.46% maximum gradient climb at km 44.85 and a −42.19% maximum descent at km 47.64, both on snow and ice. Average downhill gradient −10.86% is borderline top 25% of the DTR database. Temperature can drop to −15°C.
Skuleskogen National Park: The UNESCO World Heritage Setting of the High Coast Winter Trail – Insane 50K
What makes the High Coast Winter Trail route special?
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The 50km Insane route passes through Skuleskogen National Park — a UNESCO World Heritage Site on Sweden's High Coast — including a 14km stretch through frozen cliffs, sea ice, and snow-covered shoreline. The landscape was shaped by continental ice sheet rebound and features polished granite with no equivalent in European trail racing.
High Coast Winter Trail Insane 50K: Entry Cost and Registration Fee Details
How much does the High Coast Winter Trail Insane 50K cost?
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The 2026 edition was priced at 1,190 SEK (~€113 / ~€2.26/km). The 2027 fee has not yet been published. Icebug trail spikes are available to borrow at no charge from the organiser at the start.
February Start, FriluftsByn Venue, and Timing for High Coast Winter Trail 50km
When does the High Coast Winter Trail Insane 50K take place?
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The race runs each February from FriluftsByn, Västernorrland County, Sweden. The 2026 edition was February 14. The 2027 date has not yet been announced — check highcoastwintertrail.com.
Getting to High Coast Winter Trail: Stockholm Arlanda and Closer Alternatives
How do I get to the High Coast Winter Trail start?
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This race is flagged FAR — Stockholm Arlanda (ARN) is approximately 5 hours by road. Sundsvall–Timrå Airport (SDL, ~90 min from FriluftsByn) is a potentially closer option worth verifying. Umeå (UME) is accessible via domestic connection. A car is strongly recommended for February winter conditions. Bus transport from FriluftsByn to the race start is included in the entry.
High Coast Winter Trail – 50 km 50km GPX
Getting to High Coast Winter Trail – 50 km
Nearest airport
Stockholm Arlanda (ARN) / Umeå (UME)
Notes
Start: ~3–6 hrs depending on transfers / Public transport: Possible (train north) but winter timing makes car strongly preferred / Accommodation: Limited in small towns; plan 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.
