Julian Alps Trail Run by UTMB® 2026

Do you remember?

The night of September 21st🕺. That’s when you’ll breathe in the fresh mountain air in Slovenia for the Julian Alps Trail Run by UTMB ! This monument is simply the country’s biggest trail event 🇸🇮. The backdrop? A true natural masterpiece carved by the Julian Alps and the wild corners of Triglav National Park 🏔️. Suffice to say, if you like postcard views, you’re in for a treat! The central hub of the festivities is in Kranjska Gora, a charming alpine resort that knows how to welcome athletes in search of breathtaking panoramas 🤩.

To satisfy every craving for elevation gain, the organization has gone all out by offering a gargantuan menu of 6 distinct distances, all designed to make you explore the region from top to bottom 🏃‍♂️. The celebrations kick off with a bang with the flagship race, the “I feel Slovenia” course: 124 km for 5,893 mD+ 😍. This edition’s great journey starts in the medieval town of Radovljica amid a delirious crowd 🎉. The first climb takes you onto the Jelovica plateau before dropping toward the rocky spur of Babji zob 📍. After a technical descent, a short bump leads you straight to the shores of the magnificent Lake Bled 💧. The route then heads to Žirovnica to tackle the big chunk of the profile: the brutal climb to the summit of Mount Stol ⛰️. Once up there, you’ll follow an airy ridgeline via Golica and Klek, with splendid views of the Austrian peaks 🔎. Next comes a long descent to Mojstrana, then a flat section along the valley 🏃. The final challenge is climbing from Gozd Martuljek up to the perched village of Srednji vrh, before diving down to the final deliverance in Kranjska Gora 🏁. If you prefer a slightly shorter format but just as tough, the “Lake Bled” route of 80 km offers 3,826 mD+ of thrills 🤩. This adventure starts right on the shores of the world-famous Lake Bled 🌊. The first kilometers take you through the picturesque Vintgar Gorge area with superb views over the lake and its island 🏝️. The course reaches Žirovnica, where the day’s biggest challenge awaits: an impressive wall of 1,700 meters of elevation gain in one go to reach Mount Stol at 2,174 meters above sea level ⬆️. The effort gives way to bliss across nearly 30 km of incredible trails along the ridges of Golica and Klek 😫. The descent drops into the Upper Sava Valley to rejoin the course of the Sava River 💧. One last bump up to Srednji vrh delivers a final spectacular glance at the Julian Alps before the last 5 km of descent to the same finish line 🌲. Fans of mid-range formats won’t be left out with the “Sky Trail” and its 50 km for 2,665 mD+ , starting from the cultural village of Žirovnica, considered the cultural capital of Slovenia 🏛️. The route pushes into the Završnica Valley to take on the climb to the race’s high point on the Karavanke ridge 😍. For those who want to put down the watts without burning their wings, the “Kranjska” 25 km packs 1,028 mD+ of pure fun on a loop profile around the resort 🔄. The first half of the route is shared with the 15 km distance. Runners follow the Pišnica River, pass the calm waters of Lake Jasna, and head toward Gozd Martuljek 🙌. The second part of the race veers toward the charming village of Podkoren, home to the last aid station to top up your energy 🍌. Finally, you can take on the “Intersport Speed” 15 km for 553 mD+, a fast route that shares its start with the 10 km course, the “Funny” route and its 308 mD+, ideal for discovering the joys of the mountains 🌲. The final flat segment offers an unbeatable view of majestic Mount Špik in the background to finish in style 🤯.

Once you’ve crossed the finish line and your medal is firmly hung around your neck, the crucial question arises: what to do after the race? 🤔 The region is packed with treasures to discover to help your sore muscles recover 🦵. You can stroll through the historic streets of Kranjska Gora to soak up its warm mountain-resort atmosphere 🫕. We highly recommend taking a trip to Lake Bled to admire its enchanting island and its castle perched on the cliff—a true fairytale vision 🏰. If your legs can still take it, a post-meal stroll through the picturesque Vintgar Gorge will let you take in spectacular gorges 🛶. For the food lovers, it’s the perfect opportunity to try local culinary specialties in the nearby inns and recharge your batteries after such an effort 🍰 !

Ready to become Slovenia’s king Julian? 👑