Swiss Highlands Trail 2026

For this challenge, you’ll take on the courses of the "Highlander Marathon" and the "Highlander 15"! 💪

A legendary 42 km format with 2,680 mD+ that kicks off with a bang on the pedestrian street of Gstaad 🎺.

After admiring the resort’s typical chalets 🏘️, you get down to business with the village of Turbach, dominated by the monumental Giferspitz 😎. This alpine “pyramid” serves as the true judge of the peace of the race: get ready to take on nearly 1,500 mD+ packed into the first 11 kilometers 🤯. Once your legs are warmed up, you join a superb singletrack beneath the Wistätthorn ⛰️, where you can take in the border peaks of the Valais, like the Wildhorn and the Wildstrubel 📍.

The route then leads you to the summit of Rüwlishorn (2,234 m ⬆️) for a memorable ridge traverse, with a vertigo-inducing view stretching all the way to the north face of the Eiger 🦅. You’ll stop at Rüwliseeli lake, facing the Gummfluh, the area’s iconic mountain ❄️. After the Zwitzeregg aid station, the Hornberg plateau offers a more runnable section up to Horneggli 🏃‍♀️. The final stretch of your journey crosses the forest of Hornfluh before beginning the long final descent back toward Gstaad.

A triumphant finish awaits you on the main promenade to cap off this marathon of ups and downs 🏆.

A route of 25 km and 1,300 m D+ that offers you total immersion in the landscapes of the Bernese Oberland? ⛰️ This is where it happens! ⬇️

Starting from Gstaad, you begin with a warm-up in the Turbach valley, winding between the chalets and the pastures typical of the region 🌲. After following the Turbach river, the course’s main challenge rises before you: a climb toward the alpine pastures of Zwitzeregg 📈. Once at the Rüwlispass pass (1,715 m), you get a first visual slap with an open panorama over the peaks of the Simmental valley 🤩.

Open your eyes wide: Rüwliseeli lake reveals itself with the Gummfluh in the background 🏔️. It’s time to recharge at the second aid station at Unere Zwitzeregg 🍽️, where you’ll probably get to taste local alpine cheese before tackling the final ascent to the Parwenge pass (1,939 m) 🧀. What follows is much more runnable across the Hornberg plateau, taking you to the last checkpoint at Horneggli 📍. You then skirt the Hornfluh before starting the final drop: a long, technical and playful descent 📉 toward Gstaad for a triumphant finish on the main avenue 🏁.

The route of the "Highlander Family" is the same as the "Highlander 25", with one small difference: about 1 km before the finish, your child joins you to complete the race hand in hand 🤚. You will cross the finish line together on the main street of Gstaad, a memory that will stay with you forever 🥰.

This 15 km format with 900 mD+ is the ideal course if you’re new to mountain running or if you’re a fan of short, intense efforts ⚡.

The start is right in the heart of Gstaad, with an initial climb that winds between typical chalets and luxury hotels 💎. Very quickly, after less than 2 km, you’ll join the trails overlooking the Turbach valley. You’ll be in the Bernese Oberland, with lush green alpine pastures as far as the eye can see 🌲.

Things get tougher once you reach the Grosses Eige alpine pasture: the gradient steepens seriously 📈 to take you up to the Hornberg plateau and its artificial lake 🏔️. It’s time to catch your breath a little before reaching the Horneggli 🍽️ aid station, where your loved ones can even come and cheer you on thanks to the chairlift 🚠. After that, you’ll skirt the Hornfluh to cross a forest straight out of a Brothers Grimm fairy tale 🍄. Save a bit of energy for the final tipping point: nearly 800 m of negative elevation 📉 awaits you for a plunge toward the finish line on the main street of Gstaad 🏁.