Eiger Ultra Trail by UTMB

The Eiger Ultra Trail by UTMB E250 is a 250 km team trail race held in July in the Bernese Oberland, Switzerland. The course gains 18,000 m over 250 km (72 m/km), starting and finishing in Grindelwald, and circumnavigating the UNESCO World Heritage Swiss Alps Jungfrau-Aletsch site — nine 4,000 m peaks and the 23 km Aletsch glacier, the largest in the Alps.

Entry is by team only: 2 or 3 runners race together throughout with no solo entry permitted. Entry costs CHF 598.40 per runner (~€2.61/km), allocated by lottery — the 2026 edition is sold out.

The biggest descent drops 1,596 m over 10.95 km — the 10th largest single descent of 386 European trail distances in the DTR database. The biggest climb rises 1,598 m — the 20th largest single ascent of 385 European distances. 28.71 km of uphill terrain exceeds 20% gradient.

The route carries no markings; teams navigate entirely by GPS across glaciers, passes, and remote alpine valleys. Four life bases provide hot food and sleeping space.

Nearest airport is Zürich (ZRH), approximately 179 minutes by train. Now in its fourth edition in 2026, the E250 suits teams of experienced alpine runners seeking an expedition-style 100-hour challenge through a UNESCO World Heritage landscape.

Q: Why is the E250 a team race? A: The team format was a deliberate choice by race director Ralph Naef — a mountain guide and search & rescue leader in Grindelwald. Swiss mountain infrastructure could not support a fully staffed 250km race at this scale; a team-only, GPS-navigated format made it logistically feasible. Teams of 2 or 3 runners race together throughout, supported by 4 life bases (hot food and sleeping space) and 10 aid stations. No solo entry is permitted. [Feature: Run the Alps / Doug Mayer, runthealps.com, 2021]

Q: How do you enter the Eiger Ultra Trail E250? A: Entry is by lottery only. The 2026 edition's lottery ran September 22–29, 2025, with results posted October 1 and confirmation required by October 6. The 2026 edition is sold out. Entry fee is CHF 598.40 (tier 1) or CHF 637.65 (tier 2) per runner, inclusive of VAT and a 10% processing fee. UTMB Running Stones qualification is likely required — confirm current threshold at eiger.utmb.world before applying. Maximum field is approximately 50 teams (~150 runners).

Q: How do you get to Grindelwald from Zürich airport? A: Zürich airport (ZRH) is approximately 179 minutes by train from Grindelwald — the standard route runs via Bern and Interlaken Ost. Geneva airport (GVA) is an alternative at a similar travel time via Bern. Grindelwald is a major Jungfrau region resort with excellent public transport connections; no car is needed. Accommodation fills early and prices are high — the Jungfrau region is one of Switzerland's most popular resort areas. Book several months ahead.