Event Detail
Ulju Trail Nine Peaks (UTNP) brings a three-day mountain-running festival to the Yeongnam Alps above Ulsan in South Korea. The 2026 edition runs from Friday 30 October to Sunday 1 November, based at the Yeongnam Alps Complex Welcome Centre in Ulju-gun. Its demanding ridgeline courses and steep, sustained climbing make this an event for runners who enjoy technical mountain terrain rather than conventional road racing.
Courses and timetable
The organisers offer 9PEAKS, 7PEAKS, 5PEAKS, 2PEAKS, 1PEAK and a Kids Trail. Published current-edition course information lists approximate competitive-route lengths of 121.7 km (9PEAKS), 95.6 km (7PEAKS), 44.9 km (5PEAKS), 26 km (2PEAKS) and 12.2 km (1PEAK). Course lengths in older third-party listings differ, so rely on the organiser's 12 October 2026 course cards and GPX files for the definitive route before racing. ARC's standardised distance filters are rounded approximations, not substitute official course measurements.
The 9PEAKS and 7PEAKS events are scheduled to start at 13:00 Friday 30 October. Published starts for Saturday 31 October are 06:30 and 07:00 for 5PEAKS waves and 09:00 and 09:30 for 2PEAKS waves; 1PEAK is scheduled for 10:00 Sunday 1 November. Check the latest official notice for your assigned wave and the Kids Trail timetable.
What makes UTNP special
The courses climb and descend through the Yeongnam Alps' mountain trails, exposing runners to long ascents, sharp descents and potentially cold night-time conditions. UTNP is part of the TORX eXperience network; the series says 50 finishers from the 2026 9PEAKS race will be offered entry opportunities for TOR330 in 2027 under its programme. The venue also hosted the first Asia-Pacific Trail Running Championships in 2024; do not confuse that historical championship with a claim that this year's event itself is a championship.
Participant planning
The official website supplies mandatory-equipment documents, course maps, elevation profiles, GPX downloads and race-specific guidance. The 9PEAKS registration rules require a medical certificate. Event organisers have issued specific instructions for runner check-in and shuttle transport from Ulsan Station to the venue, and the registration shop currently shows categories as sold out. Do not assume entries remain available.
Allow time to reach Yeongnam Alps Complex Welcome Centre, 103-8 Alps Oncheon 5-gil, Sangbuk-myeon, Ulju-gun, to collect your bib and to check weather, compulsory kit and transport notices before setting off.