Ultra Trail Gran Sasso (UTGS)

The Ultra Trail Gran Sasso in Prati di Tivo

The Ultra Trail Gran Sasso, known as UTGS, is the premier mountain running event on the Teramo side of the Gran Sasso massif. Every year in mid-July, it brings hundreds of athletes from across Italy and abroad to Prati di Tivo, in the municipality of Pietracamela (Teramo province), drawn by some of the most technical and spectacular trails in the Apennines. The event takes place entirely within the Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga National Park in Abruzzo and is organized by Associazione Sportiva Eclipse with La Sportiva as the main sponsor.

Multiple races for every level

The event offers a range of distances, allowing both expert athletes and those new to the sport to find the perfect challenge:

• UTGS100 — Ultra Trail Gran Sasso: the flagship race, approximately 108.8 km with 6,820 meters of positive elevation gain, a true high-mountain ultra crossing the most demanding peaks and passes of the massif;
• UTGS65 — Gran Trail Corno Grande: 63.4 km with 4,060 meters of elevation gain, dedicated to Corno Grande, the highest peak in the Apennines;
• UTGS30 — Tre Rifugi Skyrace: 31.7 km with 2,070 meters of elevation gain, a fast and technical skyrace between high-altitude mountain huts;
• UTGS15 — Pietracamela Trail: 16.7 km with 1,080 meters of elevation gain, the shortest route, ideal for those getting started with high-altitude trail running.

The courses traverse mountain paths, rocky terrain, scree slopes, and alpine pastures, featuring challenging climbs and technical descents that require experience and good preparation. The longer races are part of the UTMB Index circuit, a recognition that certifies their international level and allows athletes to earn points for access to major global ultramarathons.

A natural amphitheater of rare beauty

Running the UTGS means crossing one of the most evocative landscapes in the entire Apennines: from beech forests to high-altitude pastures, up to the severe, mineral environments surrounding Corno Grande and the Calderone glacier. Prati di Tivo, a traditional tourist and mountaineering hub at the foot of the Gran Sasso, serves as the event headquarters, hosting the start and finish lines, aid stations, and the expo area. Environmental awareness is an integral part of the event, which promotes the Run Clean initiative for proper waste management and respect for the mountains.

Pietracamela and the Teramo Gran Sasso

Pietracamela, with its stone houses and medieval alleys, is listed among the most beautiful villages in Italy and is a historic starting point for mountaineering in Abruzzo. The event combines a passion for outdoor sports with the promotion of a territory of extraordinary natural value, contributing to showcasing the Teramo side of the Gran Sasso to an ever-growing audience of athletes and mountain enthusiasts.