Lofoten Ultra-trail.
The 100-mile course of the Lofoten Ultra-trail is the only distance that starts on Friday at noon, running from Kirkefjorden to Svolvær. Its hardest mountains sit at the very beginning and, above all, at the end, with a long stretch close to sea level in between. The preparation question is whether you can still climb steeply after more than 140 kilometres.
Lofoten Ultra-trail 2027: Course, Elevation & Route Profile
The climbing starts straight out of Kirkefjorden. From kilometre 2.4 a ramp averages more than 30 percent for just over a kilometre and gains almost 400 metres. After a descent nearly back to sea level, another steep climb begins at kilometre 15.7, and then the course eases.
Between kilometres 20 and 90 the route mostly stays below 100 metres. This is running terrain, but not a cruise: countless short rises add up; on this course a considerable share of the almost 5,800 metres of ascent comes not from the big mountains but from ground like this. The mountains only return after kilometre 90, with a three-kilometre climb, two more steep blocks at kilometres 113 and 121, and each time the descent back down to the water.
The finish belongs to the last 15 kilometres, the same ground every shorter point-to-point distance runs into Svolvær. From kilometre 144 you climb a good 500 metres to the highest point of the course, and just before the finish a final climb of around 300 metres brings extremely steep pitches. Because the race falls in the midnight-sun season, your night into Saturday never gets dark.
| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 0.2 | 1.1 km | 17.2 % | 29.2 % | +194 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 2.4 | 1.1 km | 34.4 % | 49.2 % | +386 m | Cat. 2 |
| km 15.7 | 1.3 km | 19.8 % | 49.6 % | +253 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 90.6 | 3 km | 14.2 % | 34 % | +421 m | Cat. 2 |
| km 112.7 | 2.3 km | 13.6 % | 37.8 % | +316 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 121.1 | 1.6 km | 24.8 % | 42.6 % | +384 m | Cat. 2 |
| km 144.5 | 2.2 km | 23.4 % | 46.7 % | +515 m | Cat. 2 |
| km 153.7 | 1.4 km | 22.5 % | 67.6 % | +303 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 Lofoten Ultra-trail.
Start under control
The opening ramp is not where time is won. At more than 30 percent on average you will be hiking anyway, so hike at a level that keeps breathing and heart rate calm, and take the steep descents that follow under control. Over these first 20 kilometres restraint costs minutes, while overreaching costs hours at the end.
Hold your rhythm
The real trap is the long, low middle section. It is runnable and invites you to bank time, yet after it come five big climbs within about 70 kilometres. Run it at a pace that feels easy for hours, and walk the short rises before they push you into the red.
Spend what is left
The race is decided from kilometre 144: a good 500 metres in one push, and soon after the last steep climb before Svolvær. If you can still climb evenly there, you will pass a lot of people. With the midnight sun erasing the day and night cue, eat and drink strictly by the clock, not by feel.
Training plan for Lofoten Ultra-trail: 12-week build
Build the base
For a typical age-group runner this distance takes roughly 30 to 40 hours. The load is mostly calm aerobic work, broken up by very steep climbs where hiking takes you close to your strength limit, and by descents that are just as steep.
Train race pace
What decides the race is climbing with more than 140 kilometres in your legs. Build long sessions so that the steepest metres come at the end, and link long days into blocks of two or three. Hiking gradients of 20 to 30 percent is a skill in its own right: practise it on the steepest slope you can find, with short, even steps.
Rehearse the course
The descents are as steep as the climbs, so you need eccentric strength in your quads. Downhill running on tired legs and strength work for legs and core protect you from falling apart over the last 15 kilometres. Do not neglect the flat middle either: long, easy runs on level ground train the economy that saves energy there for hours.
Arrive fresh
The midnight sun needs its own preparation. You run from Friday noon through a light night, with no darkness to tell you when to dig in or rest. Rehearse a fixed fuelling rhythm by the clock in long sessions, and decide in advance how you will handle fatigue when your body does not recognise a night.
Courses
Download the Lofoten Ultra-trail course as a GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
Let YOUB adapt your plan for Lofoten Ultra-trail 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 Lofoten Ultra-trail.
How long is Lofoten Ultra-trail?
Lofoten Ultra-trail is 159.7 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 Lofoten Ultra-trail have?
Lofoten Ultra-trail has around 5,783 m of elevation gain over 159.7 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
What is the route profile of Lofoten Ultra-trail?
Lofoten Ultra-trail is classified as Mountainous, averaging 36.2 vertical metres per kilometre. 21% of the route is flat, 25% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 14% is steeper than 6%.
What climbs does Lofoten Ultra-trail have?
The hardest climb of Lofoten Ultra-trail starts at kilometre 144.5, runs for 2.2 km at an average of 23.4% and gains 515 metres. Cycling-convention rating: Cat. 2. 8 climbs are mapped in total.
Is Lofoten Ultra-trail a loop course?
No, Lofoten Ultra-trail is a point-to-point course: start and finish are in different places.
Is there a GPX file for the Lofoten Ultra-trail course?
Yes. The Lofoten Ultra-trail 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 Lofoten Ultra-trail?
Preparation for Lofoten Ultra-trail should account for 159.7 km, 5,783 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 Lofoten Ultra-trail?
The pacing strategy for Lofoten Ultra-trail should reflect 159.7 km, 5,783 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 Lofoten Ultra-trail take place?
Lofoten Ultra-trail takes place on June 4, 2027.
Where does Lofoten Ultra-trail take place?
Lofoten Ultra-trail takes place in Svolvær, Norway.
Which distances does Lofoten Ultra-trail offer?
Lofoten Ultra-trail offers 5 distances — Lofoten Ultra-trail 100 miles: 159.7 km; Lofoten Ultra-trail 50 miles: 87.3 km; Lofoten Ultra-trail 48 km: 47.8 km; Lofoten Ultra-trail 24 km: 24 km; Lofoten Ultra-trail 12 km: 11.5 km.
How do I register for Lofoten Ultra-trail?
Registration runs through the organiser: thearctictriple.no. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.
