Montafon Totale Trail: Is this trail running event worth it?

From 23.07.2026

Love & Compass

My personal experience on the 16-km route

This is how my race day went

The start area at the Valisera cable car valley station is very large. There was plenty of space to warm up, plenty of toilets, and there was even a really good DJ playing at the start. But then we got straight down to business: the first climb led very steeply upwards, mainly along wide forest tracks and narrow, root-strewn paths through woods and meadows. This is exactly where you can tell who’s trained beforehand and who hasn’t. Looking back, hill intervals and long speed hikes with a decent amount of elevation gain were by far the most effective preparation for me.

This was followed by a much flatter loop with a short downhill section into the beautiful Novatal valley (approx. 200 hm downhill). For me, this was the most relaxed section of the whole circuit. Ideal for catching your breath and picking up the pace. After that, the second, steeper climb began and the paths gradually became rockier and more alpine.

The most beautiful section of the route came right at the end: a narrow ridge just before the finish line with an absolutely stunning panorama. Simply pure mountain spectacle! Here, you quickly forget for a moment just how tired your legs already are.

The finish line itself is right next to the large Nova Stoba mountain restaurant and is simply amazing. Hundreds of people cheer you on, and every finisher even gets a medal. And not just a plain wooden medal like at so many other events, but a really high-quality one.

My finishing time was 3 hours and 37 minutes. I’d set myself a target of 4 hours and was all the happier for it

My thoughts on the 16-km route

I’d describe myself as an average runner with plenty of mountain experience, so the 16-km route was ideal for me to get a taste of trail running events. Anyone who’s only ever run on flat terrain and isn’t yet used to climbing should definitely work on their mountain fitness beforehand; otherwise, it’ll be a long, gruelling day.

Just how difficult is the Montafon Totale Trail really?

Regardless of the specific routes and distances, the following question always arises before a trail run: just how tough is it really? I’ll now go through the key points for you.

Elevation gain rather than kilometres

The most important thing to bear in mind for the Montafon Totale Trail is this: it’s not necessarily the kilometres that matter, but the elevation gain and the length of the ascents and descents. There are races with lots of short ascents and descents, and races with fewer but longer ones. The MTT definitely falls into the latter category. Depending on the distance, the ascents and descents can easily amount to 700 to 1,500 metres of elevation gain in one go. This is exactly what you should base your expectations of pace and time on.

Terrain

The terrain is varied and challenging in equal measure. You can expect gentle alpine meadows, wide forest tracks, narrow and root-strewn woodland paths, as well as alpine, stony ridges. On the longer distances, you’ll also tackle several peaks. So you should have a bit of a taste for technical terrain.

Sure-footedness and a head for heights

You need to be sure-footed on all distances. The trails are simply too uneven to run without staying focused. You’ll need a head for heights from the 31-km distance onwards; by then at the latest, there will be a few more exposed sections. As a general rule: For all routes, you should have hiking experience and stamina; for the long runs of 31 km and above, you’ll also need experience of alpine terrain.

Weather

The weather can also make a trail run more difficult or easier. If it rains, it gets slippery on rocks and roots. If, on the other hand, it’s too hot, you’ll sweat profusely and become dehydrated more quickly. During my run, I had sunshine all day, no wind and warm temperatures. As the MTT always takes place in early July, you can generally expect sunny summer weather.

However, you shouldn’t rely on this. In the mountains, the weather can change in the blink of an eye and rain is always a possibility. At the higher altitudes of the run, it can suddenly get really cold. That’s exactly why a rain jacket and thin gloves should be in your kit.

In the event of truly dangerous weather, such as storms or thunderstorms, the race will be cancelled in advance or stopped or suspended whilst underway. Safety is clearly the top priority here.

Cut-off times

The time limits are set generously. If you’re not a professional but train regularly, you’ll make it without any panic. You can also find the exact cut-off times for your distance on the official MTT website.

Costs of the MTT

The organiser applies a sliding scale to entry fees based on the time of registration and the distance: those who book early pay significantly less. The early-bird rates (as of the 2027 race, registration by 31 December) are roughly as follows:

10 km mountain run: approx. €30
16 km trail run: approx. €48
31 km trail run: approx. €58
31 km relay: approx. €80 (per team)
45 km ultra: approx. €60

The closer the race day gets, the more expensive the entry fees become; by the end, the entry fee is around 50% higher. So here’s our tip: register early and save money.

A nice bonus: the gondola ride back down from the mountain into the valley is free for runners.

What equipment do you need?

When it comes to trail running, the rule is: as little kit and weight as possible. However, a few items are still essential. Here’s our handy checklist for beginners.

Essential kit:

Trail running shoes
Running vest*
Hydration system with at least 1 L (hydration bladder or trail running flasks)
Energy gels* & energy bars as required
Running poles
Sunglasses
Cap
Lightweight rain jacket
Sun cream
Blister plasters*
Mobile phone
If the weather forecast suggests it: lightweight gloves
Emergency blanket* (usually only for longer distances)

Mandatory kit:

For trail running events, the organiser always specifies an official list of mandatory kit. This may vary depending on the distance, but is usually similar to our list. Mandatory kit is usually checked before the start. As the requirements may change, be sure to check the exact mandatory list for your distance shortly before the event on the official Montafon Totale Trail website.

Ausrüstung MTT 26 - Silvretta Montafon | ©Silvretta Montafon - Sara Kluber

Refreshments during the race

You don’t need to worry too much about refreshments during the MTT. There’s a refreshment station roughly every 5 to 6 kilometres, and the selection is excellent: gels, fruit, energy bars, potatoes and a variety of drinks are available (from water and isotonic drinks to cola).

As a rule, these supplies are more than enough to get you through the race. To be on the safe side, I’d still advise you to pack two or three of your own energy gels. Ideally, choose varieties that you know you can tolerate well.

I helped myself at every station and managed just fine. If I were to change anything personally, it would be to drink a bit more disciplined at the early stations, rather than waiting until I felt thirsty.

Organisation & Procedure

The organisation was one of the real highlights of the whole weekend. Here’s a breakdown based on specific criteria:

Race number collection: either the day before in St. Gallenkirch from 4.00 pm, or on race day itself, one hour before the respective start.
Briefing: takes place around 20 minutes before the start. Here, important information on the route, refreshment stations and so on is explained.
Signposting: was extremely good on the 16-km route. It’s simply impossible to get lost. We cannot comment on the other distances from first-hand experience.
Volunteers: are reliably stationed at all key points and point the way.
Finish area: is located at the Nova Stoba mountain restaurant and is a little highlight in its own right. There’s also another large refreshment point here with food, drinks and even free massages. If you like, you can also stop for a bite to eat directly at the mountain restaurant.
Luggage: is transported free of charge to the finish at Nova Stoba for all distances.
Showers and changing facilities: also available at the mountain restaurant.
Communication before the event: Also very good. All the information was sent in good time by email, and it was easy to follow up on any queries.

My verdict: The organisation is thoroughly well thought out, well managed and very runner-friendly.

Is the event also worth it for those accompanying participants?

One point that often gets overlooked: the MTT is also great for anyone who isn’t taking part themselves. Marco wasn’t there this time, unfortunately, so he can give an honest account from a spectator’s perspective.

Even as a non-runner, it’s well worth walking sections of the route and cheering on the participants. The action is at its liveliest in the start area, at the refreshment points, on the ridge just before the finish line and, of course, at the finish itself. That’s where the real excitement is! You can get between the spectator spots either on foot or in complete comfort using the mountain railways.

And what if your partner doesn’t feel like cheering on the runners at that moment? Even then, it doesn’t get boring: a short hike, a cosy stop at the Nova Stoba, a free massage or simply relaxing at the wellness hotel are all great alternatives. The MTT is therefore an excellent choice for a weekend away together, even if your partner doesn’t want to or can’t take part in the race.

Recommended hotel: Sporthotel Silvretta Montafon

A runner has different requirements when it comes to accommodation than a regular guest. That’s why we ended up at the Sporthotel Silvretta Montafon. It’s in Gaschurn, just a five-minute walk from the Versettla cable car. The cable car’s mountain station is right by the finish line, which means that after the race you can take a leisurely ride down in the gondola and find yourself practically right outside the hotel door. Gaschurn itself is quiet and cosy, with a few good restaurants. Depending on the distance, it takes between 5 and 20 minutes by car or bus to reach the start of your chosen race.

Particularly handy for runners: breakfast starts as early as 7.15 am with a generous selection to top up your carbohydrate stores. The rooms are lovely ‘mountain-style’ rooms with plenty of wood, modern bathrooms and, in some cases, a balcony with mountain views. We found it pleasantly quiet at night and really dark in the room. We haven’t always experienced this in other hotels, so we’d still recommend a sleep mask just to be on the safe side.

After your run, the Sporthotel boasts a large, beautiful wellness area: several saunas, a swimming pool, a cold-water plunge pool, a Kneipp path and really cosy lounging areas are ideal for pampering your tired legs. There’s also a well-equipped gym with barbells and dumbbells, multi-gyms and treadmills. For dinner, you can book a delicious half-board option with a three-course meal. And the service? Very attentive and always friendly. We even got a free room upgrade!

Our verdict: The Sporthotel is a 4-star sports and wellness hotel, making it the perfect choice if you want to combine the event with a short wellness break. We stayed on for a few more days afterwards and thoroughly enjoyed it!

Parking & Public Transport

You don’t need to worry too much about parking, as there’s plenty of free parking available at all the starting points. That said, it’s best to arrive a little early, as the Montafon Totale Trail always takes place on a Saturday and attracts large crowds.

Transport back is also provided: shuttle buses will take you from the finish line at the Versettla Bahn valley station back to the starting points.

Pros & Cons of the Montafon Totale Trail

The pros:

stunning scenery and beautiful mountain trails
five distances ranging from 10 to 45 km – something for almost every ability level
excellent, well-organised event
a motivating atmosphere from start to finish
the perfect combination of sport and a short break
Relay option for teams
lovely wellness hotels in the region

Things to bear in mind:

quite steep, long ascents and descents
on the shorter distances (10 & 16 km), there’s hardly any downhill. I like it, but it’s not to everyone’s taste.

An honest assessment

So, is the Montafon Totale Trail worth it in the end? My answer is “Definitely”! But only if, like me, you love climbing, have mountain experience, and really value the scenery and the experience itself. In that case, you’ll find this is an all-round fantastic event with a stunning backdrop and brilliant organisation. For runners who are used to flat terrain and aren’t keen on steep climbs, however, the MTT is probably a bit too much.

For my part, I loved it, and next time I might even have a go at the 31 km!