The 60K route covers three peaks in the Gastein Valley. The first summit is Gamskarkogel, the highest grass-covered mountain in Europe. The adventure begins at the Alpenarena. After less than a kilometer on asphalt through the town center, the course dives straight into the breathtaking world of trail running. Following the Höhenweg, the climb leads up to Annencafé before repeatedly crossing a forest road, always taking the shortcut through the woods, passing the Rastötzenalmen.
The flowing trail continues to wind upward until reaching the ridge between the Gastein and GroÃarl valleys. This section offers breathtaking panoramic views over vast parts of the surrounding landscape.
Soon, the trail reaches the Gamskarkogelhütte. At this point, 1,900 meters of elevation have been gained. From here, the route transitions into a beautiful, runnable downhill section toward Poserhöhe. A steep descent follows via the Zwergalweg to Hoteldorf Grüner Baum before the next long climb towards the Graukogel mid-station begins. The ascent continues along a forest road through dense woodland before the summit push to the second peakâGraukogel. Here, itâs all about keeping the legs fresh, as 1,000 steep meters of elevation still lie ahead.
At the mid-station, the route turns left onto a scenic hiking path leading to the Graukogel mountain station. The trail then gently ascends around the Graukogel, offering stunning views of Palfnersee to the right. Upon reaching Palfnerscharte, keeping left is crucial, as the most technical part of the route beginsâthe Graukogel ridge. The climb over rugged, rocky terrain leads to the Graukogel summit, where a breathtaking view over the Gastein Valley awaits.
From the summit, the course returns along the same path to the Graukogel mid-station. This time, the trail veers right, leading towards Bad Gastein. A series of steps take runners into the historic town center, past the famous waterfall, and into Merangarten. Next comes a short but very steep asphalt section.
The course then follows the Böcksteiner Höhenweg toward Böckstein and Hotel Rader. From here, the toughest climb begins: 6 km and 1,300 meters of elevation gain up to Tischkogel. The trail narrows and winds steeply upward, passing scenic alpine pastures such as Böckfeldalm and Zittrauer Alm. The ascent to Tischkogel is rocky and demanding, but the summit rewards runners with incredible views over the Gastein mountains.
Following the ridge, the route descends slightly before another short climb along a forest road to Stubnerkogel. The final 14 km to the finish are mostly downhill: flowing trails and ski slopes lead into Angertal. A final 100 meters of elevation remain before a spectacular downhill section (partially along the bird-themed educational trail) guides runners back to the Alpenarena.
