Top Dolomites 2027

If you were looking for a trail with no elevation gain, you’ve landed on the wrong page 😂.

Head to Pinzolo, in the province of Trento, in the heart of Trentino-Alto Adige, for the Top Dolomites Ultra Trail 🏃. Six formats await runners, from the “10 km” to the spectacular “102K”. The festival will continue with cycling events 🚵🏻. In early June, the valleys generally enjoy pleasant temperatures, but as soon as the altitude rises, the atmosphere changes: cool air, fog, showers or thunderstorms can quickly join the party on the course ⛈️.

As for the route, get ready for an eyeful… and a calf workout! 🦵You leave Pinzolo late in the evening, headlamp firmly strapped on. The “102K” offers 102 km and 5,300 mD+, with a night start. For a few kilometers, the lights of the villages in the Val Rendena accompany your strides, then the night grows darker and darker as you gain altitude. The villages of Pinzolo, Carisolo, Caderzone, Spiazzo, Giustino and Massimeno go by before the course really starts gaining altitude 🌲. The first 30 kilometers already add up to about 1,300 mD+, then comes the climb to Malga Bandalors. From there, the scenery changes again 🖼️: the trees thin out and the great rock walls of the Brenta Dolomites appear above you 🙆. After several kilometers in the dark, daylight breaks over the peaks and gives you one heck of a reward 🏆. The trail alternates between runnable sections, leg-breaking stretches and switchback paths 😵‍💫. And when your legs start begging for a break, there’s still Lake Ritorto, Malga Zeledria, Lake delle Malghette and Lake Nambino to go and get 🌊. The “71K”, “50K”, “40K”, “22K” and “10K” let you sample these mountains in more accessible formats, with 3,700, 2,560, 1,800, 1,310 and 670 mD+ respectively.

But Top Dolomites isn’t just a long succession of climbs and descents. In 2027, three new distances are added to the program: “102K”, “71K” and “40K” 🆕. The route also has a few moments when you almost forget to check your watch ⌚️. After several hours of effort, spotting a lake around a bend in the trail or finding a bit of cool shade under the trees is sometimes enough to get you going again. Then you have to set off again 🥾. For those who want to push the experience even further, the “Top Challenge” offers the chance to combine the “71K” with the 111 km Granfondo the next day. And even after crossing the finish line, Pinzolo stays lively: a Food Party, prize ceremonies and a nighttime concert are on the program on Saturday evening 🎉. On Sunday, runners give way to cyclists to wrap up this sporty weekend in the heart of the mountains ⛰️.

And after several hours running in the mountains, one thing becomes pretty obvious: enjoying a good meal at the finish 🍝. In the Val Rendena, canederli, polenta and apple strudel are among the specialties to try in Trentino. Plenty to help you regain a bit of strength before going for a gentle walk around Pinzolo, Madonna di Campiglio or in the forests of Adamello-Brenta 🌳. Well, gentle… because after 102 km and 5,300 mD+, even walking down a few steps can become a bit of a challenge.

At Top Dolomites, the scenery will make you want to look up, but your legs will regularly remind you to watch where you put your feet 😅.