BUT Val Formazza — Bettelmatt Ultra Trail
High-altitude trail running through the Walser mountains of Upper Val Formazza
About Bettelmatt Ultra Trail
A great trail running celebration in the Walser mountains
The Bettelmatt Ultra Trail, also known as BUT Val Formazza, is the summer event that draws runners and mountain enthusiasts to the Upper Val Formazza, in the municipality of Formazza, in the far north of the Verbano-Cusio-Ossola province, in Piedmont. The event takes its name from the famous Bettelmatt cheese and the mountain pasture of the same name, a symbol of the Walser culture that has shaped this alpine valley on the border with Switzerland.
The race courses
The start and finish are located in Valdo, a hamlet of Formazza, at the municipal festival area at an altitude of about 1,200 meters. The race offers several distances designed for every level of preparation:
- Bettelmatt Walser Ultra: approx. 57 km with 3,436 meters of elevation gain, the flagship race for the most experienced trail runners;
- Bettelmatt Walser Marathon: approx. 44 km with 2,745 meters of elevation gain;
- Bettelmatt Walser Race: 24 km with 1,320 meters of elevation gain;
- Bettelmatt Walser Mini: 6 km with about 200 meters of elevation gain, dedicated to younger runners and those new to trail running.
An international event
Over the years, the BUT has grown into an internationally renowned event, with hundreds of participants from numerous nations and most Italian regions. The technical and spectacular tracks wind through alpine pastures, glacial lakes, waterfalls, and panoramas that sweep across the peaks of the Lepontine Alps, offering participants an authentic mountain experience.
Walser culture and the territory
The race is also an opportunity to promote the Walser culture, traditions, and natural beauty of the Upper Val Formazza. The organization, managed by the Formazza Event ASD association, is highly regarded for its hospitality, logistics, and course maintenance—elements that bring numerous athletes back to this pristine corner of northern Piedmont every year.
Bettelmatt Ultra Trail — edition 2026
Il Bettelmatt Ultra Trail 2026 è in programma sabato 11 luglio 2026 a Formazza, con partenza e arrivo nell'area feste di Valdo a circa 1.200 metri di quota.
Le distanze in gara sono quattro: Bettelmatt Walser Ultra (57 km, 3.436 m D+), Bettelmatt Walser Marathon (44 km, 2.745 m D+), Bettelmatt Walser Race (24 km, 1.320 m D+) e Bettelmatt Walser Mini (6 km, dedicata ai giovani). Tra le novità dell'edizione, il BUT Warmup: una corsa preparatoria di circa 8 km in programma il 3 luglio sulle strade della piana di Formazza, organizzata in collaborazione con la Croce Rossa Italiana.
L'attesa è alta: già a giugno gli iscritti sono quasi 400, in arrivo da 12 nazioni e da numerose regioni italiane, a conferma del crescente richiamo internazionale dell'evento.
Programme Bettelmatt Ultra Trail 2026
- 3 luglio 2026 — BUT Warmup, corsa preparatoria di circa 8 km nella piana di Formazza (in collaborazione con la Croce Rossa Italiana, Comitato di Domodossola)
- 11 luglio 2026 — Giornata di gara con le quattro distanze: Bettelmatt Walser Ultra (57 km), Marathon (44 km), Race (24 km) e Mini (6 km), partenza e arrivo a Valdo
Highlights Bettelmatt Ultra Trail 2026
- Quattro percorsi da 6 a 57 km nel cuore delle Alpi Lepontine
- Partenza e arrivo nell'area feste di Valdo (~1.200 m)
- Novità BUT Warmup: corsa preparatoria di 8 km il 3 luglio
- Evento internazionale con atleti da 12 nazioni
- Valorizzazione della cultura Walser dell'Alta Val Formazza
Prices Bettelmatt Ultra Trail 2026
Practical information — Bettelmatt Ultra Trail
How to get there
Formazza can be reached by car by driving up the Valle Antigorio-Formazza from Domodossola (nearest A26 motorway exit) along the SS659 road. The reference railway station is Domodossola, which is well-connected on the international Simplon line.
Registration and fees
Registration is exclusively online via the official platform; discounted rates are available for early bird entries. Please consult the official website for updated prices for each distance.
Tips
Technical mountain clothing and the mandatory equipment specified in the race regulations are recommended. For accommodation, there are various facilities available in Formazza and in the towns of the Antigorio Valley.
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Where does it take place — Bettelmatt Ultra Trail
Area feste di Valdo