Hochfügen Hightrails Festival.
The Kellerjoch-Gilfert round is the long course at the Hochfügen Hightrails Festival, and it asks for two high objectives in one day. After Kellerjoch and Kuhmesser it drops all the way back to the Loassattel, and from there, with 19 km in the legs, more than 800 m of climbing still lead up to the Gilfert. That second ascent is what your whole preparation has to serve.
Hochfügen Hightrails Festival 2027: Course, Elevation & Route Profile
Start and finish are in Hochfügen at around 1,460 m. Right after the line the round gains almost 250 m in a little over two and a half kilometres, then heads towards the Spieljoch with plenty of short counter-climbs, staying between 1,700 and 1,850 m until about km 10. From there the ground rears up: several steep ramps lead to the chapel and hut on the Kellerjoch, the hardest just after km 15 at close to 30 percent on average over 800 m.
Over the Kuhmesser the course then loses around 600 m in just over three kilometres down to the Loassattel. There, at km 19, the second part of the day begins: three steps up to the Gilfert, the high point at nearly 2,500 m. The last of them is 1.6 km long and brings 366 m on its own. After that, a little over seven kilometres and around 1,000 m of descent remain back to Hochfügen.
Along the way alpine trails and mountain paths alternate with forest roads and pasture, and almost nothing is truly flat. The refreshment stations offer water, sports drink, cola, bars and bananas.
| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 0.1 | 2.7 km | 9.3 % | 15.5 % | +247 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 10.2 | 1.1 km | 12.2 % | 27.3 % | +131 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 11.9 | 1.4 km | 13.3 % | 18.9 % | +183 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 13.9 | 1.1 km | 17 % | 31.3 % | +179 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 15.1 | 0.8 km | 29.4 % | 42.2 % | +228 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 19.4 | 1.3 km | 18.1 % | 29.9 % | +240 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 20.9 | 1.4 km | 16.2 % | 35.4 % | +230 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 22.5 | 1.6 km | 22.9 % | 51.1 % | +366 m | Cat. 2 |
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 Hochfügen Hightrails Festival.
Start under control
Split the round in your head at the Loassattel. The first ten kilometres are the only ones where you can run for long stretches, which is exactly why strength is so easily given away there. Stay easy enough to hold a conversation, and walk the counter-climbs as soon as your heart rate jumps.
Hold your rhythm
The day is decided between km 19 and 24. If you can still find a steady, strong hike at the saddle, this is where you gain the most time; if you went to your limit on the ramps up to the Kellerjoch, you will all but stop on the ramps up to the Gilfert. So eat and drink before the saddle, not on the climb, when your stomach accepts little under the load.
Spend what is left
The biggest trap is the descent from the Kuhmesser. After the ramps it feels like a reward, but 600 m at full speed go straight into your quads, and you still need those for 800 m up and 1,000 m down. Run it smoothly and under control; any speed belongs on the final descent, if your legs still allow it.
Training plan for Hochfügen Hightrails Festival: 12-week build
Build the base
Expect five and a half to eight hours depending on your fitness. Nearly 70 percent of the course is steep, up or down, so a steady running pace barely exists. The effort is mostly aerobic, but it keeps switching between strong hiking, short running and braking work on the descents.
Train race pace
The key is steep hiking on tired legs. Put the vertical late in your long sessions: if you can still hike 600 to 800 m in one go after three or four hours, you have rehearsed the section up to the Gilfert. Look for slopes of 20 percent and more, because gentler hills train a different movement.
Rehearse the course
Descents matter just as much. Long downhill stretches over several hundred metres of vertical, ideally at the end of a session, prepare your quads for the two big descents. Practise them on technical trails as well, so that sure footing does not become an issue only when concentration fades after six hours.
Arrive fresh
The race already starts at around 1,460 m and climbs a thousand metres higher, where the same step costs more than it does at home. If you can, schedule one or two long mountain days at similar altitude. Use them to test clothing for both elevations and to find out how bars, bananas and cola sit after hours of climbing.
Courses
Download the Hochfügen Hightrails Festival course as a GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
Let YOUB adapt your plan for Hochfügen Hightrails Festival 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 Hochfügen Hightrails Festival.
How long is Hochfügen Hightrails Festival?
Hochfügen Hightrails Festival is 31.3 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 Hochfügen Hightrails Festival have?
Hochfügen Hightrails Festival has around 2,150 m of elevation gain over 31.3 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
What is the route profile of Hochfügen Hightrails Festival?
Hochfügen Hightrails Festival is classified as Mountainous, averaging 68.7 vertical metres per kilometre. 4% of the route is flat, 13% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 34% is steeper than 6%.
What climbs does Hochfügen Hightrails Festival have?
The hardest climb of Hochfügen Hightrails Festival starts at kilometre 22.5, runs for 1.6 km at an average of 22.9% and gains 366 metres. Cycling-convention rating: Cat. 2. 8 climbs are mapped in total.
Is Hochfügen Hightrails Festival a loop course?
Yes, Hochfügen Hightrails Festival is laid out as a loop: start and finish are in the same place.
Is there a GPX file for the Hochfügen Hightrails Festival course?
Yes. The Hochfügen Hightrails Festival 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 Hochfügen Hightrails Festival?
Preparation for Hochfügen Hightrails Festival should account for 31.3 km, 2,150 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 Hochfügen Hightrails Festival?
The pacing strategy for Hochfügen Hightrails Festival should reflect 31.3 km, 2,150 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 Hochfügen Hightrails Festival 2027 take place?
Hochfügen Hightrails Festival 2027 takes place on August 8, 2027.
Where does Hochfügen Hightrails Festival 2027 take place?
Hochfügen Hightrails Festival 2027 takes place in Hochfügen, Austria.
Which distances does Hochfügen Hightrails Festival offer?
Hochfügen Hightrails Festival offers 3 distances — SkytrailRun: Kellerjoch-Gilfert-Runde: 31.3 km; HightrailRun: Gilfert-Runde: 17.7 km; FuntrailRun: 4-Almen-Lauf: 7.5 km.
How do I register for Hochfügen Hightrails Festival?
Registration runs through the organiser: hochfuegen-hightrails.at. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.
