New Alberta ultra set to launch with bold climbs and big views

Nestled on the edge of Jasper National Park in Yellowhead County, near Hinton, Alta., the Folding Mountain Ultra is gearing up for its inaugural run on June 6, 2026. With 25 km and 60 km solo options (plus a 60 km relay), the race offers big-mountain terrain, slick logistics and a base camp built around a brewery, hostel and cabins.

A race with local roots

Folding Mountain Ultra grew out of a simple idea shared by three people who know the area inside and out. Co-race director Sami Cherkaoui told Canadian Running that the three race directors have a deep connection to the area. “We had all been saying that there really needs to be a race at Folding Mountain. It’s so beautiful and the setup at Folding Landing [an outdoor recreational hub near the entrance of Jasper National Park] is like no other.”

Cherkaoui explained that the spark finally caught earlier this year, when Griffiths brought the group together. The brewery, cabins and hostel at Folding Mountain Landing and the backdrop of the Fiddle Range offered a natural base for a race, and the directors agreed it was time to build something around it.

What came next was a course layout designed to keep people in one place. Instead of pushing spectators from point to point, both the 25 km and 60 km routes return to Folding Mountain Landing several times, keeping the centre of the event busy throughout the day. The hope is to create the kind of atmosphere that makes runners feel like they’re part of a full weekend, rather than just a start line and a finish chute.

A trail network shaped by generations

The Fiddle Range has a long human history, and the race folds that into its story. According to the event website, the same slopes and valleys runners will move through were once used by Indigenous peoples, Overlanders, trappers and miners. Remnants of cabins, mills and historic routes still appear along the way. The event pays tribute to that mix of past and present by threading its courses through terrain that holds pieces of earlier life in the Rockies.

The courses

The 60 km route has two sections and roughly 2,430m of climbing. The opening loop moves across Cap Ridge before returning to the Landing. From there, the long climb up Folding Mountain begins, shifting from forest to open ridge with wide mountain views. Only the 60 km runners and Leg 2 relay runners reach the short scree stretch near the summit. Cherkaoui explained, “For the scree section, runners don’t need prior experience. It’s short, well-travelled, and more about moving carefully than anything technical.”

The 25 km course shares the ascent but turns around before the scree. The climb gives runners a mix of runnable trail and steep pitches, with views toward Roche Perdrix and the Athabasca River Valley.

Registration

The Folding Mountain Ultra takes place June 6, 2026, at Folding Mountain Landing in Jasper East. Registration is open for the 60 km, 60 km relay and 25 km events here, and you can check out the race website here.