Ecotrail Oslo.
On its longest course the Ecotrail Oslo runs from Nedre Foss through the forest and trail sections around the city to the finish at Huk on Bygdøy. Start and finish sit close to sea level, four long climbs stand between them, and the final 25 km or so reveal whether you kept enough legs for the way home.
Ecotrail Oslo 2027: Course, Elevation & Route Profile
From Nedre Foss the course climbs steadily at first: the opening eight kilometres already gain around 180 metres before the trail drops back a little. At km 13 comes the steepest of the long climbs, nearly three kilometres at almost ten percent. Three more ascents of that order follow at km 26, 34 and 49, with several short kicks between them, and the ground never stays level for long.
After the last big climb the race turns. From about km 54 the route falls almost without interruption to the water, which it reaches around km 70. The final ten kilometres stay close to the fjord and nearly level, broken only by a short rise just before the finish. From km 32 you are on the route of the 50 km, from km 49 on that of the 31 km: each shorter distance is the closing part of the long one.
Underfoot you get forest roads, technical and easy trails and gravel, with only about nine percent on asphalt. The organiser frames the Ecotrail as an environmentally conscious trail race in Oslo. Support points include Maridalen church, Holmenkollen, Sørkedalen, Fossum and Thaugland.
| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 4.2 | 1.4 km | 3.3 % | 7.1 % | +47 m | — |
| km 13.3 | 2.9 km | 9.9 % | 22.8 % | +288 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 25.7 | 3.1 km | 7.4 % | 23.1 % | +229 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 30.7 | 1.1 km | 3.7 % | 9.8 % | +41 m | — |
| km 34.2 | 2.1 km | 8.5 % | 16.1 % | +181 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 41.4 | 0.9 km | 5 % | 9.7 % | +46 m | — |
| km 43.1 | 0.8 km | 7.9 % | 13.1 % | +61 m | — |
| km 49.4 | 2.8 km | 6.9 % | 10.7 % | +195 m | Cat. 3 |
Climb categories follow the road-cycling convention and rate the terrain itself (length and gradient) regardless of sport: Cat. 4 marks the easiest rated climbs, Cat. 1 the hardest, and HC (hors catégorie, “beyond categorization”) is reserved for the most brutal ascents. Short climbs below the Cat. 4 threshold stay unrated.
How to pace Ecotrail Oslo.
Start under control
Nearly four fifths of the course point either up or down, so there is no steady pace to hold here. Run it by effort: hike the long steep climbs briskly and jog the links between them. Most of the ascent sits between km 13 and km 52, and those almost 40 km should feel controlled all the way through.
Hold your rhythm
The race is decided on the climb at km 49 and by what follows it. It is not the steepest, but it arrives past halfway and leads into a stretch where running is the only option left. If you still move well uphill here, the next 30 km pay you back.
Spend what is left
The trap is the long descent between km 54 and km 70. After so much climbing it feels like recovery, yet it spends your quads, and you need them on the level final ten kilometres. No gradient there excuses a walking break. Let the descent roll instead of pushing it or braking hard.
Training plan for Ecotrail Oslo: 12-week build
Build the base
Expect roughly 9 to 14 hours depending on form. This is a long, mostly aerobic effort that alternates walking and running. Hard spikes only appear if you take the steep climbs too fast.
Train race pace
The key session is the long run with its climbing placed in the final third, because the ascent at km 49 sits exactly where the legs are already tired. Add back-to-back long days, and brisk uphill hiking on slopes of two to three kilometres, since that is how long the big climbs last here.
Rehearse the course
Downhill running on tired legs matters just as much. The 16 km of descent before the fjord load the quads above all, so long descents and leg strength work belong in the plan. Finish some long runs deliberately on level ground and hold a calm running pace there, so that the flat closing kilometres do not catch you out.
Arrive fresh
The surface shifts between forest road, gravel and technical trail, so train on all three rather than only on wide paths. Use your longest runs to test your fuelling over many hours. With the race on 29 May, those biggest sessions fall in April and early May.
Courses
Download the Ecotrail Oslo course as a GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
Let YOUB adapt your plan for Ecotrail Oslo dynamically
Ben connects your goal, the course, current load, recovery, and calendar. Your plan stays pointed at race day even when real life is not perfectly plannable.
Everything about Ecotrail Oslo.
How long is Ecotrail Oslo?
Ecotrail Oslo is 80.2 km long. That distance shapes how much aerobic endurance, pace durability, and race-specific work belong in the training plan.
How much elevation gain does Ecotrail Oslo have?
Ecotrail Oslo has around 1,835 m of elevation gain over 80.2 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
What is the route profile of Ecotrail Oslo?
Ecotrail Oslo is classified as Hilly, averaging 22.8 vertical metres per kilometre. 23% of the route is flat, 29% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 9% is steeper than 6%.
What climbs does Ecotrail Oslo have?
The hardest climb of Ecotrail Oslo starts at kilometre 13.3, runs for 2.9 km at an average of 9.9% and gains 288 metres. Cycling-convention rating: Cat. 3. 8 climbs are mapped in total.
Is Ecotrail Oslo a loop course?
No, Ecotrail Oslo is a point-to-point course: start and finish are in different places.
Is there a GPX file for the Ecotrail Oslo course?
Yes. The Ecotrail Oslo course is on this page as a free GPX download — ready to import into Garmin, Wahoo, Komoot, Strava or any other app that reads GPX.
How should I prepare for Ecotrail Oslo?
Preparation for Ecotrail Oslo should account for 80.2 km, 1,835 m of elevation gain, current training load, and available training time. An adaptive plan helps place key sessions without ignoring recovery and real life.
What pacing strategy works for Ecotrail Oslo?
The pacing strategy for Ecotrail Oslo should reflect 80.2 km, 1,835 m of elevation gain, and your current fitness. Start controlled and keep margin for sections where the profile or fatigue makes target pace harder.
When does Ecotrail Oslo take place?
Ecotrail Oslo takes place on May 29, 2027.
Where does Ecotrail Oslo take place?
Ecotrail Oslo takes place in Oslo, Norway.
Which distances does Ecotrail Oslo offer?
Ecotrail Oslo offers 5 distances — Trail 80 km: 80.2 km; Trail 50 km: 50.5 km; Trail 31 km: 31.3 km; Trail 21 km: 21 km (Half marathon); Trail 10 km: 10 km.
How do I register for Ecotrail Oslo?
Registration runs through the organiser: ecotrailoslo.com. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.
