Trail Alsace Grand Est by UTMB

The Trail Alsace Grand Est by UTMB is a 175-kilometer ultra trail race with 7,500 meters of elevation gain, taking place in the Vosges mountains, starting from Colmar in the Haut-Rhin department. Part of the UTMB World Series global circuit, this race has become in just a few years one of the benchmark long-distance trail events in France and Europe, offering runners the opportunity to accumulate qualification points for the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc.

Colmar, the start and finish city, is one of the jewels of Alsace. Its colorful half-timbered houses, flower-lined canals, and exceptional architectural heritage make it a magnificent setting for the start of an adventure of this magnitude. The contrast between Colmar's urban elegance and the wildness of the Vosges trails that runners are about to face is striking.

The 175-kilometer course traverses the Vosges massif in all its diversity. Runners explore the deep beech and fir forests covering the slopes, the high-altitude chaumes (summit meadows typical of the Vosges where Vosges cattle graze), glacial lakes nestled in cirques, and ridgelines offering panoramic views over the Alsatian plain, the Black Forest, and on clear days, the Alpine chain.

The 7,500 meters of elevation gain are accumulated through an uninterrupted succession of climbs and descents. The Vosges profile, with its rounded ballons and deep valleys, demands a constant effort of surging. The climbs are rarely very long but often steep, and the descents, on sometimes slippery trails covered in roots, put the quadriceps to a severe test. Ridge sections, exposed to wind, offer exhilarating but potentially draining passages.

The diversity of terrain encountered on this course is remarkable. Vosges trails alternate between mossy, damp undergrowth, grassy ridge paths, pink sandstone slabs, technical trails littered with rocks and roots, and wide forest tracks. Night sections, inevitable on a race of this length, add an additional dimension, as the Vosges forests take on a mysterious and enchanting appearance under the beam of headlamps.

The cultural heritage along the way is as rich as the landscapes. The course passes near medieval castles perched on rocky spurs, traditional fermes-auberges where Munster cheese and marc de gewurztraminer reign supreme, and wine villages nestled at the foot of hillside vineyards. Alsace, a land of gastronomy, offers generous and flavorful aid stations: tartes flambees, pretzels, local charcuterie, and Munster cheese.

The Trail Alsace Grand Est by UTMB is designed for experienced ultra-trail runners capable of managing an effort exceeding 30 hours with partial self-sufficiency. Managing sleep, nutrition, and mental state over this distance is a major challenge. But the reward matches the effort: a complete crossing of one of France's most beautiful mountain ranges, an immersion in Alsatian culture, and the pride of completing a UTMB World Series event in an exceptional setting.

Trail Alsace Grand Est by UTMB is a 175 km trail race with 7,500 m of elevation gain, located in Colmar, Haut-Rhin. The next edition is scheduled for 16 May 2026.

Find all official information on the race website.