Churfirsten Trail Run

The Churfirsten Trail Run is an alpine trail race held at the end of August in the upper Toggenburg, in eastern Switzerland, at the foot of the Churfirsten, the row of peaks lined up above Lake Walen. Launched in 2025 by Fabian Lehner, a local trail runner who chairs the organising committee, it draws runners from Switzerland and neighbouring countries. The village of Unterwasser, in the municipality of Wildhaus-Alt St. Johann, hosts the start and finish of all the adult races at its tennis hall.

The CT43, or Churfirsten Marathon, is the headline race: 43.3 km and 2,910 m of elevation gain, starting at 8 am with an eleven-hour limit. From Unterwasser it runs via Munzenriet and Oberdorf before climbing the Gamserrugg, above 2,000 m, and then the Chäserrugg, its highest point. It drops down via Stöfeli, follows the Churfirsten across a long and varied high plateau to the foot of the Selun, climbs one final loop to 2,205 m, and returns via Selamatt. A cut-off at Thurtalerstofel, around kilometre 21, sends slower runners onto the CT25 course.

The CT25, or Panorama Trail, covers 24.2 km and 1,170 m of climbing from 9 am, with a five-hour limit. It reaches Stöfeli, its highest point, passing close to the Schwendisee, runs along the foot of the Churfirsten to the level of the Brisi, then comes back via Selamatt and Alt St. Johann. The CT14, or Klang Trail, starts at 10 am and covers 13.8 km and 620 m of gain within three and a half hours: it follows the Klangweg, a path dotted with sound sculptures, before a last climb to Iltios and a fine descent into Unterwasser. The CT5, or Thur Trail, starts at 10:30 am and covers 5.2 km and 188 m along the river Thur and then up beside the Alt St. Johann chairlift. The day before, children have their own Kids Run in Wildhaus, on loops of 400 m to 1.3 km.

The rules describe the event as a competition in alpine terrain, where sudden drops in temperature, snow or thunderstorms can occur quickly, and real mountain experience is expected on the CT43. For the CT25 and CT43, mandatory kit includes trail shoes, a sun hat, a waterproof jacket with hood, a cup of at least 15 cl, a charged phone with the 1414 emergency number saved, an elastic bandage, a survival blanket and 500 ml of drink. The CT14 and CT5 are more accessible, with minimum ages of 12 and 10, against 16 for the CT25 and 18 for the CT43.

The views are a big part of the appeal: the Churfirsten walls on one side, the Säntis and the Toggenburg pastures on the other. Bibs are collected at the Unterwasser tennis hall the evening before or on race morning, aid stations line the courses, and every runner gets a medal, a pasta meal and entry to the Unterwasser outdoor pool. By public transport, take the train to Nesslau-Neu St. Johann or Buchs SG, then the PostBus; drivers can use the Munzenriet and Chuchitobel car parks, linked to the village by shuttle or bus.