The Wildstrubel by UTMB® 2026 event represents one of the premier alpine trail-running gatherings in central Europe. Circumventing the rugged limestone and glaciated terrain of the imposing Wildstrubel massif (3,244 m), the event bridges the Swiss cantons of Valais and Bern. As an official qualification event within the UTMB® World Series, runners who complete eligible distances earn Running Stones toward the UTMB® World Series Finals in Chamonix.

Centered around the high alpine resort of Crans-Montana, the event combines technical ridge lines, historic mountain passes, and sweeping valley vistas. This comprehensive guide details all confirmed course specifications, start times, mandatory equipment protocols, travel logistics, and spectator access points.

Official 2026 Race Overview

The 2026 event features seven distinct race categories catering to ultra-endurance runners, mountain marathoners, and short-course trail specialists:

• Wild 110: The flagship 113 km circuit completely encircling the massif (+6,600 m), starting in Crans-Montana on Friday night.
• Wild 70: A grueling 72 km point-to-point alpine traverse (+4,600 m) departing from Kandersteg in the Bernese Oberland.
• Wild 55: A technical 55 km mountain ultra (+3,300 m) connecting Adelboden to Crans-Montana across high alpine passes.
• Wild Glacier Marathon: A challenging 42 km marathon route (+2,700 m) departing from Lenk.
• Wild 25: A fast, scenic 26 km mountain race (+1,200 m) originating in the thermal bath town of Leukerbad.
• Wild 10: A short-course 10 km mountain route (+500 m) centered entirely around Crans-Montana.
• Wild NextGen: A dedicated 10 km race (+500 m) tailored for rising youth and junior trail athletes in Crans-Montana.

Race Comparison Table

Course and Mountain Highlights

The routes traverse traditional Swiss alpine paths, high pass corridors, and glacial balconies once utilized by centuries of traders, shepherds, and mountaineers.

Race Schedule & Start Locations

Start locations are distributed across Valais and Bernese mountain villages. Participants must ensure they utilize official race shuttles or public transport to reach their respective start arches on time.

• Friday, 11 September 2026:
  • Wild 70: Starts in Kandersteg in waves at 07:00, 07:10, and 07:20.
  • Wild Glacier Marathon: Starts in Lenk in waves at 08:00 and 08:15.
  • Wild 110: Night start in Crans-Montana in waves at 22:30, 22:40, and 22:50.
• Saturday, 12 September 2026:
  • Wild 55: Starts in Adelboden in waves at 07:50, 08:00, 08:10, and 08:20.
  • Wild NextGen: Starts in Crans-Montana at 09:00.
  • Wild 10: Starts in Crans-Montana in waves at 09:15 and 09:30.
• Sunday, 13 September 2026:
  • Wild 25: Starts in Leukerbad with waves beginning at 08:30.

GPX & Offline Course Maps

Mandatory Equipment Advice

High-alpine weather can deteriorate rapidly. Mandatory kit inspections are systematically carried out before bib distribution and at random checkpoints along the course.

Runners must carry the complete required equipment throughout the entire race duration. The official list generally requires a running pack, smartphone with international roaming and the LiveTrail app, personal cup, minimum water supply, survival blanket, whistle, waterproof jacket, warm thermal layer, and functional headlamp(s).

Depending on meteorological forecasts, organizers may activate mandatory Hot Weather or Cold Weather supplementary kits shortly before race day. Check the official mandatory-equipment page before travelling or racing.

Live Tracking and Following the Race

Follow runners live across all course sectors through verified official channels:

• UTMB® Live Portal: Real-time split times, checkpoint status, and runner tracking are hosted on the official platform at live.utmb.world.
• LiveTrail Application: Spectators and support crews can track athlete progress, receive automatic checkpoint notifications, and view estimated arrivals via the official LiveTrail mobile app.

Transport, Parking, and Accommodation

Public Transit & Access: Take SBB Swiss Railways to Sierre/Siders station. From Sierre, take the SMC funicular railway (12-minute transit time) directly up to Crans-Montana, or use regional post-bus services.

Official Runner Shuttles: Point-to-point race starts (Kandersteg, Adelboden, Lenk, Leukerbad) are served by official event shuttles departing from Crans-Montana. Shuttle tickets must be reserved online prior to the event through the runner portal.

Accommodation: Early reservation is strongly advised. Crans-Montana serves as the primary base for finishing all races. Secondary hubs include Leukerbad, Adelboden, Lenk, and Kandersteg.

Spectator and Support-Crew Information

Personal Crew Rules: Personal support is strictly prohibited on open trails and is allowed only at designated aid stations in designated assistance zones. Only one accredited support crew member per runner is permitted inside these zones.

Overnight Mountain Transit Notice: Support crews driving between the Valais side (Crans-Montana) and the Bernese Oberland side (Kandersteg/Adelboden) should be aware that the Lötschberg car train tunnel does not operate continuously throughout the late night. Driving around the mountain massif by road takes approximately 3 hours. Plan travel schedules accordingly.

Weather, Altitude, and Safety Advice

The courses climb above 2,400 meters across several high mountain passes. In mid-September, weather in the Valais Alps can fluctuate dramatically between mild valley sunshine (15–20°C) and high-altitude sub-zero freezing temperatures, icy winds, or early autumn snowfall.

In cases of severe mountain weather or hazardous high-pass conditions, race management reserves the authority to modify course routes to official bad-weather alternatives (parcours de repli) or adjust cutoff schedules for safety.

Registration and Running Stones Information

Wildstrubel by UTMB® provides finishers with direct qualification opportunities for the UTMB® World Series Finals in Chamonix (OCC 50K, CCC 100K, UTMB 100M).

Finishers who complete their race within the official cutoff time automatically collect Running Stones according to distance category:

• Wild 110: 4 Running Stones
• Wild 70: 3 Running Stones
• Wild 55: 2 Running Stones
• Wild Glacier Marathon: 2 Running Stones
• Wild 25: 1 Running Stone

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Race Preparation Checklist

Official Links and Resources

Always verify final event schedules, transport times, and gear alerts directly on official channels:

• Official Wildstrubel by UTMB® Website (FR)
• Official Wildstrubel by UTMB® Website (EN)
• Official Mandatory Equipment List
• UTMB® Live Tracking Portal