Schnalstal Alpine Trail

A trail through the glaciers of Val Senales

The Schnalstal Alpine Trail is a trail running event held in the heart of Val Senales (Schnalstal), in the municipality of Senales/Schnals, in the province of Bolzano, Trentino-South Tyrol. The race headquarters are located in Unser Frau / Madonna di Senales, the start and finish point for the main races. It is here, among high-altitude pastures, alpine lakes, and glaciers, that athletes compete on one of the most spectacular and demanding courses in the Italian Alps.

The five distances

The sporting program features five races, designed to accommodate both ultra-specialists and younger runners:

• ULTRA — 58 km with 3,600 meters of elevation gain, the flagship race, reaching an altitude of around 3,250 meters with ridge sections exceeding 2,500 meters, extending to the border between South Tyrol and Austrian Tyrol;
• SKY — 29.5 km and 2,100 meters of elevation gain, for skyrunning enthusiasts;
• VERTICAL — 7.6 km and 1,250 meters of elevation gain, finishing at the Iceman Ötzi Peak panoramic platform at 3,251 meters;
• SPEED — the most accessible distance, ideal for those new to trail running;
• Kids Run — dedicated to children and younger participants.

The landscape as a protagonist

Val Senales is the valley of Ötzi, the Iceman discovered in 1991 on the nearby Similaun glacier. Here, the terrain becomes an integral part of the challenge: glaciers, alpine lakes, and historic trails dictate the pace, technical choices, and management of physical effort. The race traverses a high-mountain environment where altitude and weather conditions can change rapidly, as demonstrated by the inaugural 2025 edition, when a sudden weather deterioration forced changes to the routes.

Equal prize money

The Schnalstal Alpine Trail is also distinguished by a total prize pool of 19,000 euros, distributed equally between the men's and women's categories. The event is recognized by the ITRA (International Trail Running Association), with points awarded for international rankings. The organization is managed by SALTY Trailrunning, in collaboration with Alpin Arena Senales and local tourism boards.

An event for South Tyrol

Established in 2025, the race has quickly become a reference point for high-altitude trail running in Trentino-South Tyrol, attracting athletes from Germany, Austria, Norway, and Italy. For the public and enthusiasts, it is also an opportunity to discover Val Senales in summer, enjoying hiking, South Tyrolean gastronomy, and the evocative glacial landscapes of the Similaun.