Mt Solitary Ultra.
The Mt Solitary Ultra circles the Jamison Valley and traverses Mt Solitary, packing more than 2,200 metres of climbing into 45 kilometres. Two ascents define the day: a very steep one seven kilometres in and a six-kilometre haul right at the end. You carry your own water, which shapes the preparation as much as the gradients do.
Mt Solitary Ultra 2027: Course, Elevation & Route Profile
Start and finish sit near Queen Victoria Hospital on Tableland Road in Wentworth Falls. The loop opens with an advance it will later collect on: in just under seven kilometres it gives away more than 650 metres. Then the trail turns, and almost 670 metres arrive in 2.9 kilometres at an average of 23 percent. This first portion is rugged, steep and technical, with two short, hard follow-ups before kilometre 13.
From kilometre 15 things settle, and the course holds around 750 metres for several kilometres before just under a kilometre at 20 percent at kilometre 22 lifts you to the highest point of the loop. The aid station at Prince Henry Picnic Area comes at kilometre 25. From there the trail drops, with smaller climbs along the way, to a little over 200 metres.
At kilometre 36 the second big ascent begins, nearly 600 metres over six kilometres, and it takes you almost all the way back to the start. The unmanned water station at kilometre 37 sits on its lower slopes. That is all the support the loop offers, and even the aid station has no cups: on this circuit of the valley you need to be able to look after yourself for long stretches.
| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 7 | 2.9 km | 23 % | 51.4 % | +667 m | Cat. 1 |
| km 10.6 | 0.6 km | 21.3 % | 30.8 % | +122 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 12.5 | 0.5 km | 16.5 % | 39.4 % | +87 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 15 | 1.2 km | 6.1 % | 11.3 % | +72 m | — |
| km 21.7 | 0.9 km | 20.3 % | 36.4 % | +188 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 26.6 | 0.5 km | 12.7 % | 17.6 % | +67 m | — |
| km 32.2 | 1.1 km | 10.7 % | 15.6 % | +113 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 36.1 | 6.1 km | 9.8 % | 19.1 % | +593 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 Mt Solitary Ultra.
Start under control
More than half of the loop is steep, up or down, so an even pace does not exist here. Run on effort and let yourself walk the long steep sections. The first trap comes immediately: the opening descent feels free, but every bit of leg you spend on it is missing on the 23 percent wall straight after and again at the end. Keep it loose and climb the first big ascent so that you can still run at the top.
Hold your rhythm
The day is decided from kilometre 36. The long descent before it, from about 620 metres to just over 200, invites you to bank time and quietly wrecks the quads that then have to climb for six kilometres. Arriving there in control earns more on the final ascent than any minute saved on the way down.
Spend what is left
Water sets the frame. Until kilometre 25 you live on what you carry, so ration it from the start, and refill at the picnic area with enough to reach the station at kilometre 37 safely. Cut-offs are designed so that the race finishes in daylight: do not count on second-half reserves that the first portion has already burned.
Training plan for Mt Solitary Ultra: 12-week build
Build the base
Expect roughly seven to eleven hours depending on fitness and skill. It is an aerobic endurance effort but not a steady run: long stretches of walking uphill alternate with busy, concentrated descending and calmer running, with the hard spikes on the steep ramps.
Train race pace
The two big ascents ask for different things. The first demands strength on very steep ground: train repeats of 20 to 30 minutes on the steepest slope you can find, hiking fast with short steps and controlled breathing. The second demands endurance on tired legs. Build your long sessions so that the longest climb comes right at the end, and you learn what 600 metres feel like after several hours out.
Rehearse the course
Almost a third of the distance falls away steeply, and the early going is technical. Downhill running is therefore no side topic: practise it regularly on uneven ground, including when tired, and add strength work for the quads, because the eccentric load decides what can still climb at the end.
Arrive fresh
Self-sufficiency belongs in every long session. Run with the kit and the full volume of water you will carry on 11 April, so that your back, stride and drinking rhythm get used to it. Practise refilling your own system, since there are no cups, and test how much food and water you really need for 25 kilometres without a station.
Courses
Download the Mt Solitary Ultra course as a GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
Let YOUB adapt your plan for Mt Solitary Ultra dynamically
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Everything about Mt Solitary Ultra.
How long is Mt Solitary Ultra?
Mt Solitary Ultra is 45 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 Mt Solitary Ultra have?
Mt Solitary Ultra has around 2,240 m of elevation gain over 45 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
What is the route profile of Mt Solitary Ultra?
Mt Solitary Ultra is classified as Mountainous, averaging 50.8 vertical metres per kilometre. 10% of the route is flat, 21% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 25% is steeper than 6%.
What climbs does Mt Solitary Ultra have?
The hardest climb of Mt Solitary Ultra starts at kilometre 7, runs for 2.9 km at an average of 23% and gains 667 metres. Cycling-convention rating: Cat. 1. 8 climbs are mapped in total.
Is Mt Solitary Ultra a loop course?
Yes, Mt Solitary Ultra is laid out as a loop: start and finish are in the same place.
Is there a GPX file for the Mt Solitary Ultra course?
Yes. The Mt Solitary 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 Mt Solitary Ultra?
Preparation for Mt Solitary Ultra should account for 45 km, 2,240 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 Mt Solitary Ultra?
The pacing strategy for Mt Solitary Ultra should reflect 45 km, 2,240 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 Mt Solitary Ultra take place?
Mt Solitary Ultra takes place on April 11, 2027.
Where does Mt Solitary Ultra take place?
Mt Solitary Ultra takes place in Wentworth Falls, Australia.
How do I register for Mt Solitary Ultra?
Registration runs through the organiser: runningwildnsw.com. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.
