Gauja Trail by UTMB

Trail and mountain running have experienced remarkable growth over the past five years. The discipline has been officially recognized by World Athletics, with more than 25,000 trail races held worldwide annually. Over the last seven years, participation has increased tenfold. For the first time in 2023, the number of trail race participants globally surpassed that of traditional city marathons, according to UTMB estimates. Meanwhile, serious discussions are underway about including trail and mountain running in the 2032 Canberra Summer Olympic Games.

By joining the UTMB World Series, Gauja Trail by UTMB® will offer Latvian and Baltic runners a direct path to qualify for the legendary UTMB final in Chamonix – the 170 km loop around Mont Blanc with over 10,000 meters of elevation gain. Participants in Gauja Trail by UTMB® can choose from four distances: approximately ~85 km (often listed as 100K on some pages), 50 km, ~25–27 km, and 10 km. The two longer races serve as official qualification races toward the UTMB World Series Finals draw. Course distances and profiles may vary by start location—please consult the official race pages and downloadable GPX maps for precise distances and routes.

Gauja Trail by UTMB is a UTMB World Series trail event held in the Gauja National Park region of Latvia on 1–2 August 2026. The event brings together multiple trail races with start lines in Sigulda (longest route), Līgatne (50K) and Cēsis (shorter distances) and a central event village and finish in Cēsis (Rožu laukums). The race weekend includes an Ultra‑Trail Village and EXPO in Cēsis, organised bib collection (31 July–1 August) and shuttle transfers from the event village to the longer race start lines.

Runners can expect official race services typical of the UTMB World Series: detailed technical information on each race page (including mandatory equipment lists and downloadable GPX/course maps), on-course checkpoints, aid stations, secure bag drop and scheduled award ceremonies. Practical travel to the host towns is straightforward by train or bus from Riga; complimentary race‑morning shuttles are provided from Cēsis to the 100K and 50K start lines for runners. The festival atmosphere is supported by partner activations, a lively event village finish in Cēsis town square, and participation awards (Running Stones) that help athletes progress toward the UTMB World Series Finals.

With routes designed to showcase Latvia’s natural beauty, the event blends runnable sections with scenic river valleys, sandstone cliffs and historic town finishes. Participants should consult the official race pages for precise distances, course maps and the latest competitor information.