NEWS, TIPS & ARTICLES

High Coast Trail is evolving

Updated routes, new distance, relaunch of children’s race, and introduction of trail buses.

The High Coast Trail has evolved since its launch in 2014 into one of Sweden’s most popular adventure races, attracting participants from around the world to the World Heritage Site. Ahead of the 2024 edition, the experience continues to evolve.
– We’ve been in discussions with the county administrative board, landowners, and past participants, and we’ve seen an opportunity to further enhance the experiences while ensuring that we can continue to organize this popular event in the future, says Jerry Engström at FriluftsByn.

High Coast Trail – 3Peaks 15k is a new distance that allows more participants to take part in the trail running festival.

New Distance with Breathtaking Views.
Due to public demand, a new distance is being launched in 2024 that takes participants up three of High Coasts most popular viewpoint mountains. The experience, named ”3Peaks 15k,” winds its way up Herrestaberget, Getsvedjeberget, and Skuleberget, offering breathtaking views.
– Over the years, many have expressed a desire for an experience that is accessible to more people, and thanks to an even more developed trail system around FriluftsByn, we can now launch a distance that takes us up to some of High Coasts most popular peaks, offering truly extraordinary views, says Jerry at FriluftsByn, who explains that participants will have a generous 5 hours to complete the course, with the final course layout to be reviewed in the spring.

Coast to Summits 26k replaces Twin Peaks 25k with an updated course.

Twin Peaks becomes Coast to Summits.
To enhance participants’ experience and reduce congestion at Entrance South, the course for the previously popular Twin Peaks distance has been redesigned, and the distance is now named Coast to Summits 26k.
– In consultation with the County Administrative Board, participants, and landowners, we saw an advantage in redesigning the course to include Stampberget before venturing through the western parts of Skuleskogen National Park. Starting at the coast and passing through scenic areas like Tärnättvattnen and Slåttdalsskrevan, Coast to Summits feels like a more fitting name for this challenging yet beautiful route, where participants have 7 hours to complete the course, Jerry explains.

Original Distance also evolves.
In its early years, High Coast Trail consisted of only one distance, 43 kilometers, and to this day, the Original Distance attracts participants from around the world. For the 2024 edition, this route is also updated and renamed to Original 45k. The biggest difference from previous years is that participants will now also experience Getsvedjeberget and the Pulpit Rock.
– This is one of the real highlights of High Coast, and it feels really great to showcase this beautiful place to participants in the Original 45k, Jerry comments.

The Original Distance is expanded to 45 kilometers and will now include Getsvedjeberget and the Pulpit Rock starting from the summer of 2024.

During the spring, the trail for Trail Kids will be established in the forest at the foot of Skuleberget.

Trail Kids – For kids with a spring in their step.
Already in 2018, a trail distance for kids was launched, but the pandemic led to a hiatus thereafter. In the summer of 2024, the kids’ distance will return, and preparations will begin in the spring to create an approximately 1-kilometer trail in the forest behind FriluftsByn at the foot of Skuleberget.
– We’ve talked about this for a long time, and now we’re finally making it happen. We know that many participants bring their families, and now there’s an opportunity for kids to participate too.

Take the bus to High Coast Trail
Another new feature for this year is that there will be buses running between hotels and the High Coast Trail. Thanks to this collaboration, those who book accommodation at partner hotels can take the bus to and from the races for only 100 SEK. For those staying elsewhere or who only want to take the bus, the cost is 250 SEK. More information will be available in the coming days as more and more hotels choose to join.

HIGH COAST TRAIL 2024

High Coast Trail takes place on Friday, September 6th, and Saturday, September 7th. Registration opens on Friday, March 8th, at 3:00 PM.