Salomon Pitz Alpine Glacier Trail P45 Rifflsee Trail: Rank 7 Steepest Uphills and Rank 385 Steepest Descents in European Ultra Racing

Extreme in both directions. The P45 Rifflsee Trail ranks 7th out of 390 European ultras for average uphill gradient steepness (top 1.8%; only 6 races climb more steeply on average) and 385th on the descent gentleness scale (only 5 races demand steeper average downhill gradients). Achieving bilateral gradient extremes at the 43km distance — simultaneously among the top 2% steepest climbing and top 1.3% steepest descending in the European ultra database — is rare. The D+/km of 48.8m/km ranks 210th (mid-table), meaning the route does not accumulate exceptional total vertical, but channels that vertical through consistently extreme gradient in both ascent and descent directions.

The P45 Rifflsee Trail is a loop starting and finishing in Mandarfen, in the upper Pitztal valley of Tyrol, Austria. From Mandarfen the route climbs directly to the Rifflsee (Austria's highest mountain lake), passes Sunna Alm, continues via the Ploder See and Fuldaer Höhenweg to the Taschachhaus (set against glacier panorama views), then returns to Mandarfen. After a brief stop, the Rifflsee ascent is tackled again — this time the lake is fully circumnavigated — before the route descends via the Zirbensteig trail back to the finish in Mandarfen. The Rifflsee is climbed twice in 43km. Total D+: 2,100m official. GPX actual distance: 44.32km.

Yes — the P45 Rifflsee Trail is listed as a qualifier for the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc and is a UTMB Index 50K race, awarding 2 ITRA points at Mountain Level 7. Note that the Golden Trail World Series (GTWS) race at the Pitz Alpine Glacier Trail event is a separate elite distance of 23.5km — the 43km P45 Rifflsee Trail is a UTMB Index qualifier but NOT a GTWS race. Mandatory equipment is required for participation; the compulsory equipment list is published on the official race website at pitz-alpine.at.

Yes — the Salomon Pitz Alpine Glacier Trail has sold out every year since 2018. The 2026 edition is confirmed sold out. Capacity for the P45 Rifflsee Trail is 1,613 places. The 14th edition runs July 31 - August 2, 2026. Given the consistent sell-out history across all distances, registering as soon as registration opens for 2027 is strongly advised. Registration for 2026 opened November 11 at 11:11 AM. Monitor pitz-alpine.at for 2027 registration opening information.

Innsbruck Airport (INN) is approximately 82 minutes from Mandarfen in the upper Pitztal valley by car. Munich Airport (MUC) is an alternative at approximately 3-4.5 hours by car. Public bus service from Imst or Pitztal Bahnhof reaches the valley but is slower and less practical for race morning logistics — a car is strongly recommended for Mandarfen. Accommodation in the upper Pitztal is limited; book early as the event draws participants across all eight race distances. The Austrian Federal Railways (OeBB) is a named event sponsor, but Mandarfen is in the upper valley beyond the train network.