Ultra-Trail Australia

Ultra-Trail Australia is a challenging 100km running event held in the magnificent Blue Mountains in New South Wales.

Local and international runners come to NSW yearly to participate in this endurance event, with hundreds of competitors making the trek around the challenging course.

From 16-19 May 2024, the scenic and serene town of Katoomba in the heart of the stunning Blue Mountains, NSW, will once again welcome thousands of runners, spectators and support crew to Ultra-Trail Australia by UTMB (UTA).

Located in the world heritage-listed Blue Mountains, the stairs won’t be the only thing taking your breath away at UTA. From the vast cliff tops and exposed rock formations to the cascading waterfalls and chorusing native bush alive with the sounds of nature, there’s something to take in at every point along the UTA course.

We might be biased, but we think Ultra-Trail Australia by UTMB has the best playing field in all of sports. The Blue Mountains provide an almost purpose-built trail-running nirvana. There’s a variety of trails and terrain across one of the most spectacular natural landscapes anywhere in Australia or around the world.

Course Overview

All UTA distances are designed to take in the best of this spectacular location… and whilst all have their challenges, they are achievable enough to give all runners the best chance to cross the finish line.

The first race of the weekend is the UTA11 on Thursday. This is a great introduction for new trail runners and is stunningly beautiful but also just the right mix of fun and run to have you puffing hard and smiling all the way to the finish line.

On Friday, UTA22 provides runners with a true taste of the longer courses over a distance that is achievable for first-timers and fun for all.

The perfect race for runners taking on their first ultra or stepping up from shorter distances, the UTA50 course is challenging but rewarding. It tracks the second half of the UTA100 route through the beautiful Kedumba Valley.

One hundred of the most beautiful and awe-inspiring kilometres that you will ever run. The UTA100 course takes you along cliff tops, through lush valleys, across scenic ridges … and then up the famous Furber steps (all 951 of them) to the finish line.

Rounding out the weekend, the 1km-4-Kids is a chance for the future stars of trail running to hit the trails and finish under the UTA arch!

UTA100 Race Details

One hundred of the most beautiful and awe-inspiring kilometres that you will ever run. The UTA100 course is a mix of trails that take you along cliff tops, through lush valleys, across scenic ridges and then up the famous Furber steps to the finish line.

Golden Stairs, Ironpot Ridge, Leura Forest, Wentworth Falls, Kedumba Pass, and Furber Steps are names that have become trail running legends as part of the iconic UTA100 course. It’s the race that every trail runner in Australia aspires to do at least once … but all too often once is never enough.

You start at the famous Scenic World in the idyllic town of Katoomba and experience a mix of terrain – mostly single track and wide trails – and a mix of emotions as you run through the very special World Heritage-listed national park of the Blue Mountains.

After some lush bushland, beautiful escarpments, epic ridgelines, 7 checkpoints, and about 99 km, you’ll stand at the bottom of the most famous set of steps in trail running – just 951 of them are between you and the finish line back at Scenic World.

UTA50 Race Details

It is the perfect race for runners taking on their first ultra or stepping up from shorter distances. A challenging but rewarding course follows the second half of the UTA100 through the beautiful Kedumba Valley.

The UTA50 course traces the second half of the UTA100 course and does not lack the beauty or stunning landscapes of its longer counterpart. You’ll start at Scenic World in Katoomba and be heading along the cliff tops, checking out the breath-taking views of Mt Solitary and the escarpments before you know it.

The spectacular Wentworth Falls is the next highlight after around 25km, before cruising down the epic Kedumba Pass.

The only way is up from there, culminating with those infamous 951 steps and the finish line back at Scenic World!

UTA22 Race Details

On the Friday of event weekend, UTA22 is a super-fun and achievable introduction to distance trail running. The loop course takes in all the beauty of the Blue Mountains… including those famous Furber steps.

UTA22 is a challenging and fun loop course that takes in all the beauty of the Blue Mountains but is still achievable for those newbies to trail running.

Your start is at Scenic World. The route takes you along UTA course highlights like Narrow Neck, down Golden Stairs, across Landslide and Federal Pass, Three Sisters, Leura Cascades, Echo Point and Prince Henry Cliff Walk before heading up the final section of the Furber Steps to your finish line at Scenic World.

Whether you’re new to trail running or looking to take in some UTA highlights without going ultra distance – the UTA22 is perfect for you!

UTA11 Race Details

UTA11 is a great introduction to Ultra-Trail Australia by UTMB and trail running. The course traverses some of the Blue Mountains’ most stunning tracks, and while you encounter the odd lump along the way, it is very achievable for all abilities.

You’ll start at Scenic World. The route takes you out Cliff Drive and along Glenraphael Drive to the turnaround point on Narrow Neck. Return to Golden Stairs, then down Golden Stairs along Federal Pass through Landslide to the base of Furber Steps.

To get the real taste of UTA, you’ll get to take on all of the 951 Furber Steps up to the finish back at Scenic World.

Start Lines

For the UTA100 and UTA50, your start line will return to being under the big finish arch. We will flow you into the chute as you line up pre-start before heading out through recovery, turning right and then left onto Cliff Drive.

For the UTA22 and UTA11, runners are so speedy that there will be finishers in these distances before all runners have even started. This means we will have a separate start line set up for you, as shown on the map. You’ll roll straight out and left onto Cliff Drive.

Finish Line

The finish line will be in a slightly different location than previous Scenic World finish lines. However, runners will still make their way right to the top of Furber Steps, along the boardwalk, past the entrance to Scenic World, through the hoards of cheering spectators, and underneath the finish arch.

There will be more opportunities for high-fives and pictures to soak up the emotion of your amazing achievement. Remember, you can have friends and family join you in the finish chute – they’ll be able to do so just next to the Scenic World entrance. Please be courteous to other finishers – this is their moment, too!

After you cross the finish line and have your medal placed around your neck, you’ll flow through recovery – with food and beverage options for you to peruse and medical on hand. When you’re ready, you can exit recovery, join your friends and family, kick back, and cheer on other runners.

Free Shuttle Buses

On Friday, Saturday and Sunday, there will be a free event shuttle bus service to take runners, support crews and spectators between Katoomba town centre and Scenic World.

On Friday and Saturday there will also be a free shuttle bus service to take runners, support crews and spectators between Leura and Scenic World from 5am Saturday.

NOTE: If you are starting in one of the first three start groups in UTA100 or UTA50, it is recommended that you be ready to catch one of these early buses so you do not miss your start time.

Refer to the bus timings and operating bus stops in the bus maps in the image gallery below. During their operating times, the buses will be on a continuous loop.
– It is a 10–15-minute ride from The Carrington Hotel to Scenic World.
– It is a 20–25-minute ride from Fairmont Resort to Scenic World.

Car Parking

A limited number of parking passes are available for pre-purchase until sold out. Parking will be available at the KCC Oval, adjacent to the trail village at Scenic World. Parking will be available to purchase closer to the event date.

Road Closures

The maps in the image gallery below show the road closures on the streets surrounding Scenic World so the event precinct can be completely sealed off from vehicles.

The roads surrounding Scenic World will be open to traffic at all other times.

Every runner who steps on our start lines is a new member of the UTA family. Become part of the welcoming and inclusive trail running community, where you can chat with fellow trail frothers at our trail running expo, make new trail friends in town, and get to know strangers on the trails – they’re not joking when they say lifelong friends are made on the trails of UTA!