Sierre-Zinal is a 31km ultra marathon in Sierre, Switzerland. Distance: 31km. Elevation: 2,200m D+. Difficulty: moderate (Challenge Rating 49/100). DNF rate: 5%. Time limit: 8h. Surface: trail. Established 1974.
Sierre-Zinal
Sierre, Valais, Switzerland
"The race of the five 4000ers — 31km from the Rhône valley to Zinal with views of five Swiss giants."
One of the oldest and most prestigious mountain races in the world — 31km with 2200m of climbing and views of five 4000m peaks including the Matterhorn.
The Course
A classic mountain running race from Sierre in the Rhône valley to Zinal in the Val d'Anniviers. Known as 'the race of the five 4000ers' — the course offers views of five peaks over 4000m including the Matterhorn, Weisshorn, and Dent Blanche. Pure uphill mountain racing.
mountainous
point-to-point
4
2,425m
Runner Experience
Standard aid station support with food, drinks, and basic medical assistance at regular intervals.
A legendary finish line atmosphere. Sierre-Zinal is a bucket-list race with celebrations that match its reputation.
Race Day Weather
14°C
6° – 24°
50%
25%
August in the Swiss Valais. Warm start, cool at altitude. Clear days offer spectacular 4000m peak views.
Stats & Records
1974
4,000
4:30:00
2:21:33
Kilian Jornet (2019)
2:47:15
Maude Mathys (2019)
Entry
CHF 100
January
weeks
Lore & Trivia
Sierre-Zinal is one of the oldest and most prestigious mountain races in the world — a 31km point-to-point from the Rhône valley floor (533m) to Zinal (1,670m) via the Nava ridge at 2,425m. Founded in 1974, it predates the trail running boom by decades and remains the gold standard for short-format mountain racing. The Golden Trail Series uses Sierre-Zinal as its crown jewel — the race where the world's fastest mountain runners are measured against each other and against 50 years of history.
- ▸ Known as 'the race of the five 4000ers' — Weisshorn, Zinalrothorn, Obergabelhorn, Matterhorn, and Dent Blanche are all visible.
- ▸ Founded in 1974, Sierre-Zinal is one of the oldest mountain running races in the world.
- ▸ Kilian Jornet's 2019 record of 2:21:33 is one of mountain running's most legendary performances.
- ▸ Despite being 'only' 31km, the 2200m of climbing from the Rhône valley floor to the alpine finish makes this a genuine ultra effort.
- ▸ Established in 1974.
Sierre-Zinal is the Champions League of mountain running — 31km straight up, then straight down, as fast as you can.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How long is Sierre-Zinal? +
Sierre-Zinal is a 31km (31km) ultra marathon with 2,200m of elevation gain. The course is point-to-point on trail terrain.
How hard is Sierre-Zinal? +
Sierre-Zinal is rated moderate with a Challenge Rating of 49/100 (Challenging). The DNF rate is 5%. Runners have 8 hours to finish.
What is the weather like at Sierre-Zinal? +
Average temperature is 14°C (range 6°C to 24°C) with 50% humidity and a 25% chance of rain. August in the Swiss Valais. Warm start, cool at altitude. Clear days offer spectacular 4000m peak views.
Are crew and pacers allowed at Sierre-Zinal? +
No crew access is permitted. Pacers are not allowed.
What is the course record for Sierre-Zinal? +
The men's course record is 2:21:33 set by Kilian Jornet in 2019. The women's course record is 2:47:15 set by Maude Mathys in 2019.
What is the average finish time for Sierre-Zinal? +
The average finish time is 4:30:00. About 4,000 runners finish each year. The DNF rate is 5%.
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