Folding Mountain Ultra.
The 25 km at the Folding Mountain Ultra in Hinton, Alberta, is two races back to back: eleven rolling kilometres that end almost where they began, then a slope that takes around 650 m of climbing out of you in just over four kilometres. The part to prepare for is the way home, which comes straight back down that same slope.
Folding Mountain Ultra 2027: Course, Elevation & Route Profile
Start and finish are at Folding Mountain Landing, just above 1,130 m. The opening is a rolling loop between 1,090 and 1,190 m that does not touch the mountain at all: after about eleven kilometres you are less than half a kilometre from the start again, with only a small share of the climbing banked.
Then comes the part this race is about. The ascent of Folding Mountain begins at around km 11.5, and its first two kilometres alone lift you some 500 m. After that the course rolls for a few kilometres between 1,700 and 1,800 m, until a short, very steep kick from km 18 reaches about 1,950 m. That is the turnaround, below the scree that only the long course crosses.
From there you return on the same line, so you meet every steep metre a second time, now from above and on tired legs. Trail, road and alpine ground alternate along the way, and up high the views open onto the surrounding mountains. Three aid stations are spread over the course, and the finish is back at the Landing.
| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 0.1 | 0.9 km | 3.3 % | 7.8 % | +30 m | — |
| km 2.5 | 0.5 km | 4.7 % | 7.8 % | +25 m | — |
| km 3.2 | 0.5 km | 6.8 % | 10.8 % | +36 m | — |
| km 8.6 | 0.6 km | 4.7 % | 5.2 % | +26 m | — |
| km 11.4 | 4.3 km | 15.5 % | 47.6 % | +665 m | Cat. 1 |
| km 16.9 | 1 km | 5.3 % | 19.7 % | +50 m | — |
| km 18 | 0.7 km | 26.2 % | 59.9 % | +177 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 20.6 | 0.8 km | 6.3 % | 14.7 % | +52 m | — |
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 Folding Mountain Ultra.
Start under control
The opening loop is the trap, because it is the only part of the course that looks like fast running. Whatever you take there you pay back with interest on the slope. Run it easily enough that at km 11 you feel you have not really started.
Hold your rhythm
The first two kilometres of the ascent decide the rest. Hardly anyone runs a gradient like this, so settle at once into a strong, even hike you can hold without stopping. The rolling stretch around 1,750 m is your chance to find a running rhythm again; take the final kick to the turnaround calmly, since nothing can be won up there.
Spend what is left
The second test is the way back. The drop from 1,700 m to the Landing costs your quads more in the closing kilometres than everything before it. If you can still run under control there you gain a lot of time; if you overdid the climb you walk the steepest metres on shaking legs.
Training plan for Folding Mountain Ultra: 12-week build
Build the base
Expect around 3:30 to 6 hours. The effort comes in two halves: an easy aerobic hour on rolling ground, then a long block of steep hiking that feels like one sustained threshold effort, followed by a descent that taxes the muscles more than the heart.
Train race pace
The ascent is the key passage, and it calls for steep vertical rather than long runs. Find the steepest slope within reach and hike it briskly in repeats of 15 to 30 minutes, or work on a treadmill at maximum incline. What counts is staying even rather than climbing in surges.
Rehearse the course
Give downhill running just as much time. Around 500 m lost over two kilometres cannot be summoned at the end of a race without preparation, so build steep descents into your sessions regularly, short at first, then longer and after a tiring climb. Strength work for quads and calves, eccentric work above all, helps your legs take it.
Arrive fresh
The early June date puts the key weeks in spring, so decide early where your steep sessions will happen. A rehearsal with an easy hour before the hill, then a long climb and an immediate descent, shows how you cope with the race order. This course stays below 2,000 m, so altitude training is not a concern.
Courses
Download the Folding Mountain Ultra course as a GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
Let YOUB adapt your plan for Folding Mountain Ultra 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 Folding Mountain Ultra.
How long is Folding Mountain Ultra?
Folding Mountain Ultra is 25 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 Folding Mountain Ultra have?
Folding Mountain Ultra has around 1,141 m of elevation gain over 25 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
What is the route profile of Folding Mountain Ultra?
Folding Mountain Ultra is classified as Mountainous, averaging 44 vertical metres per kilometre. 11% of the route is flat, 30% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 15% is steeper than 6%.
What climbs does Folding Mountain Ultra have?
The hardest climb of Folding Mountain Ultra starts at kilometre 11.4, runs for 4.3 km at an average of 15.5% and gains 665 metres. Cycling-convention rating: Cat. 1. 8 climbs are mapped in total.
Is Folding Mountain Ultra a loop course?
Yes, Folding Mountain Ultra is laid out as a loop: start and finish are in the same place.
Is there a GPX file for the Folding Mountain Ultra course?
Yes. The Folding Mountain Ultra 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 Folding Mountain Ultra?
Preparation for Folding Mountain Ultra should account for 25 km, 1,141 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 Folding Mountain Ultra?
The pacing strategy for Folding Mountain Ultra should reflect 25 km, 1,141 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 Folding Mountain Ultra 2027 take place?
Folding Mountain Ultra 2027 takes place on June 5, 2027.
Where does Folding Mountain Ultra 2027 take place?
Folding Mountain Ultra 2027 takes place in Hinton, Canada.
Which distances does Folding Mountain Ultra offer?
Folding Mountain Ultra offers 2 distances — 25 km: 25 km; 60 km: 60 km.
How do I register for Folding Mountain Ultra?
Registration runs through the organiser: foldingmountainultra.com. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.
