Untersberglauf: Course, Elevation & Route Profile

Course & Elevation

The start sits at the foot of Salzburg's local mountain in Glanegg, at around 470 metres. After a few flat metres the route enters the forest and first traverses west, before the Reitsteig turns straight into the north face of the Untersberg. From there, across 4.3 kilometres, there is not one section that eases off: the gradient averages just over 30 percent, and much of the path is built as steps.

The upper third turns alpine. The Reitsteig crosses rocky, in places exposed ground; the organisers make sure-footedness a requirement and allow poles. From roughly kilometre 3.3 the slope lies back briefly before the path passes the Zeppezauerhaus and takes the last metres up to the cable car's top station. The finish is at around 1,770 metres, looking out over the Salzburg basin, and the way down is by the Untersbergbahn, with the ride included in the entry.

The race is run by a charitable association founded by mountain rescue volunteers to revive the tradition of earlier races on the Untersberg. 2026 was its ninth edition, with a field of roughly 150 to 200 starters, a team classification and a start in any weather; only in a thunderstorm or gale does the race management reserve the right to shorten the course.

Pacing Strategy

Because the gradient barely changes from the forest edge to the top station, the right plan is an even effort rather than a set of splits. After 500 metres you are already on steps; run the first minutes because they feel fresh and you pay for it on the long middle section, where the steepest pitches of the course sit between kilometres 2 and 2.7. Short, quick steps and purposeful hiking, with poles or hands on the thighs, are faster than running here for almost everyone.

The race is decided at the top. On the rocky, partly exposed ground from about 1,400 metres every sloppy step costs time and carries risk, so keep enough concentration in reserve to climb precisely there. The short, gentler stretch around kilometre 3.4 is the moment to lift the rhythm before the final climb past the Zeppezauerhaus to the top station asks for everything once more.

The main trap is the bottleneck where the field funnels into the narrow path. Lining up at the front to avoid it usually means starting too fast; starting further back, do not burn your first minutes on risky overtaking.

Training plan for Untersberglauf: 12-week build

Depending on your level, expect 45 to around 90 minutes: the course records stand at 45:41 for men and 58:56 for women, and most starters take considerably longer. The effort is one continuous climb near threshold, with no downhill and no recovery, steady and aerobic in character but with a large strength component.

Two things decide your race. First, strength endurance for more than 2,500 steps at an average gradient above 30 percent, with calves, quads and glutes doing the heavy work. Second, sure-footedness on the rocky, exposed upper section, when the legs are full and concentration starts to slip.

Build your training around long, steep uphill sessions of 40 to 70 minutes at around threshold, ideally on steps or steep mountain paths. Add intervals on steep ground for the strength component, stair sessions or a treadmill at maximum incline if you have no mountain nearby, and targeted strength work. If you race with poles, train with them; using them on steps takes practice.

The race is held in late August or early September and starts in any weather. About 1,300 metres separate valley and finish, and the top can be much cooler, wet or windy. Practise steep, rocky ground in the wet too, and plan warm clothing for the finish, which is carried up with the race bag.