Switzerland · Valais
Distance
46 km
Date
Entry fee
CHF 96
€ / km
€2.27
SwissPeaks Trail 46km: The Intermediate-Classified Alpine Ultra That Ranks 30th of 390 European Ultras for Mountainousness
SwissPeaks Trail 46km — officially called Marathon on the SwissPeaks website and classified as Intermediate level — is the shortest of six flagship distances at Switzerland's SwissPeaks Trail event in Valais, and ranks 30th of 390 European ultras for mountainousness. The point-to-point course starts in Morgins below the Dents du Midi massif and traverses 46km of Valais alpine terrain to finish at Bouveret on Lake Geneva, with 2,480m D+ and 3,450m D- — a net descent of 970m.
D+/km of 53.9m ranks 135th of 390 European ultras for vertical density. Average downhill gradient ranks 341st of 390 for gentleness — only 49 races in the database produce steeper average descent effort. The race awards 2 ITRA points with no qualification required. Entry is 96 CHF, including shuttle from Bouveret to the start, aid stations, finisher medal, and post-race meal in the SwissPeaks village. Not sold out. Nearest airports: Geneva (GVA), 2.5 to 3.5 hours; Zürich (ZRH), 3 to 4.5 hours. Race date: September 5, 2026.
Elevation and Terrain
Total Meters
2,480m
D+/KM
53.9m/km
For context, the Tor des Géants 330 loop has 73 D+/km.
Avg Uphill Gradient
13.5%
Avg Downhill Gradient
-15.9%
Uphill gradient distribution
| 2–5% | 2.4 km | |
|---|---|---|
| 5–10% | 5.8 km | |
| 10–15% | 3.6 km | |
| 15–20% | 2.9 km | |
| 20%+ | 3.8 km |
Route Profile
AnalysedTerrain breakdown
| 41.1% | Uphill |
|---|---|
| 10.3% | Flat |
| 48.6% | Downhill |
Terrain
SwissPeaks Trail – 46 km 46km Top Climbs
Top Climbs
| 1 | 4.9 km · 443 m gain starts km 0 · avg 9.1% · max 37.2% |
|---|---|
| 2 | 4.3 km · 435 m gain starts km 25 · avg 10.1% · max 28.1% |
| 3 | 1.3 km · 305 m gain starts km 23 · avg 23.1% · max 41.8% |
Top descents
| 1 | 4.2 km · 863 m drop starts km 30 · avg -20.7% · max -42.1% |
|---|---|
| 2 | 6.3 km · 698 m drop starts km 37 · avg -11.0% · max -44.9% |
| 3 | 2.5 km · 410 m drop starts km 10 · avg -16.0% · max -49.7% |
SwissPeaks Marathon 46km Course and Mountain Profile
How far is the SwissPeaks Trail 46km and what is the elevation gain?
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The SwissPeaks Trail 46km (Marathon) covers 46km officially (45.23km by GPX analysis) with 2,480m elevation gain confirmed by official figures. The official elevation is 3,450m, reflecting the point-to-point format from Morgins to Bouveret, ranking 135th of 390 European ultras. SwissPeaks Marathon ranks 30th of 390 for mountainous terrain — one of the most mountain-dominated races in the database.
Course Route from Morgins to Bouveret
What is the course route of the SwissPeaks Trail 46km?
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The SwissPeaks Marathon starts in Morgins in the Chablais Alps of western Valais, traverses the terrain below the Dents du Midi massif, and finishes at Bouveret on the eastern shore of Lake Geneva (Lac Léman). It is a fully point-to-point course. The course has 5 aid stations plus one at the finish. The SwissPeaks festival co-stages six flagship distances on the same weekend in Valais: Marathon (46km), Challenge (72.6km), Ultra (101km), 100 Miles (168km), Legend (397km), and Odyssey (643km). For the 2026 course map and roadbook, visit swisspeaks.ch/lescourses/marathon/.
Weather and Race-Day Conditions: SwissPeaks Trail 46km
What is the expected weather and temperature conditions for the SwissPeaks Trail 46km?
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Early September in Morgins/Valais typically brings cool mornings, with daytime highs of 15–20°C at lower elevations and cooler conditions on the higher sections of the course. A 09:00 start (later than the Challenge/Ultra distances) means less early-morning darkness exposure.
Entry Fee, ITRA Points, and What's Included in the SwissPeaks Marathon 96 CHF
What is the entry fee for the SwissPeaks Trail 46km and what is included?
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The SwissPeaks Marathon 2026 entry is 96 CHF from the registration opening (November 9, 2025 onwards). This is inclusive of: shuttle from Bouveret to the start in Morgins, 5 aid stations, a welcome gift, a finisher medal, and a post-race meal in the SwissPeaks village. An additional platform fee via SPTiming may apply. The race is not sold out. Registration is at in.sptiming.com/spt26. Total SwissPeaks festival capacity is 1,572 across all six distances. The race awards 2 ITRA points; no prior qualification or ITRA points are required to enter.
Getting to SwissPeaks Trail: Geneva Airport, Valais Rail, and Accommodation
How do you get to SwissPeaks Trail from Geneva or Zurich?
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The 101km starts in Salvan, approximately 181 minutes from both Geneva (GVA) and Zurich (ZRH) airports. A 5 CHF train ticket to Salvan is available at registration — a practical option given the remote start. The race finishes in Le Bouveret on Lake Geneva, which is considerably more accessible; arranging accommodation near Le Bouveret avoids a long transfer after finishing. A car helps with pre-race logistics.
SwissPeaks Trail – 46 km 46km GPX
Getting to SwissPeaks Trail – 46 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.
