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About RaceIndexOur methodologyData coverageCyclingTriathlon

Steepest marathons

The steepest marathons, ranked from trusted raw-elevation route profiles across 138 qualifying races.

Ranking current as of

Which race ranks first — and why is it Foot Levelers Blue Ridge Marathon?

Foot Levelers Blue Ridge Marathon leads this ranking on absolute max grade (92.0%).

Compare Foot Levelers Blue Ridge Marathon vs Stavanger Marathon

#RaceAbsolute max gradeAscentClimb densityDescentNet elevationAs of
1Foot Levelers Blue Ridge Marathon - virginia92.0%1,523 m36.1 m/km1,523 m0 m
2Stavanger Marathon - norway87.3%862 m20.4 m/km887 m-25 m
3Olympus Marathon (Litochoro) - greece84.1%3,465 m78.7 m/km3,192 m273 m
4MIUT - Madeira Island Ultra-Trail Marathon - portugal64.2%1,392 m34.8 m/km1,984 m-592 m
5Zegama-Aizkorri Mendi Maratoia Marathon - spain62.0%2,591 m61.4 m/km2,591 m-0 m
6Salomon Ultra-Trail Hungary Marathon - hungary60.3%1,303 m31.0 m/km1,633 m-330 m
7adidas Innsbruck Alpine Trailrun Festival Marathon - austria59.1%2,366 m54.5 m/km2,738 m-371 m
8Podbrdo Trail Running Festival Marathon - slovenia55.7%3,081 m75.9 m/km3,104 m-24 m
9Sljemenski Maraton (Zagreb) Marathon - croatia54.7%2,187 m52.1 m/km2,188 m-1 m
10Moab Trail Marathon - utah53.1%1,404 m33.3 m/km1,405 m-2 m
11Ultra Trail Učka Marathon - croatia52.8%2,224 m53.0 m/km2,227 m-3 m
12Unicaja Ultra Sierra Nevada Marathon - spain49.7%2,694 m64.6 m/km1,406 m1,288 m
13Garda Trentino Trail Marathon - italy49.1%2,497 m56.8 m/km3,063 m-565 m
14Lake Tahoe Marathon - nevada46.1%737 m17.5 m/km733 m4 m
15Catalina Island Marathon - california44.6%1,530 m36.3 m/km1,526 m4 m
16Endurancelife Peak District (Castleton) Marathon - east-midlands42.6%1,665 m39.5 m/km1,665 m-0 m
17Tatra SkyMarathon (Zakopane) Marathon - poland41.9%2,011 m50.3 m/km1,675 m336 m
18Var Verdon Trail Canyon Marathon - france41.7%1,807 m45.2 m/km1,807 m-0 m
19Endurancelife Coastal Trail Series - North York Moors (Ravenscar) Marathon - yorkshire40.6%1,032 m24.2 m/km1,032 m0 m
20Plitvički maraton (Plitvice Marathon) - croatia38.9%1,313 m31.1 m/km1,314 m-1 m
21Davos X-Trails Marathon - switzerland37.7%1,513 m35.2 m/km1,513 m0 m
22Mohawk Mountain Race (Cornwall) Marathon - connecticut37.1%1,991 m47.2 m/km1,990 m1 m
23Jungfrau-Marathon Interlaken - switzerland35.4%1,960 m46.5 m/km200 m1,761 m
24Girdwood Marathon - alaska34.7%1,076 m25.5 m/km1,073 m4 m
25Mohican Trail 100 Mile Run Marathon - ohio33.1%993 m23.5 m/km980 m13 m
26Portland Coastal Marathon - south-west33.0%715 m16.9 m/km715 m-0 m
27Flying Pig Marathon - ohio32.4%424 m10.0 m/km427 m-4 m
28Cleveland Marathon - ohio31.4%232 m5.5 m/km233 m0 m
29Beachy Head Marathon - south-east31.2%1,144 m27.1 m/km1,143 m1 m
30Jack & Jill's Downhill Marathon & Half - washington31.0%783 m18.5 m/km1,051 m-268 m
31NipMuck Trail Marathon - connecticut29.4%878 m20.7 m/km863 m15 m
32Endurancelife Pembrokeshire Marathon - wales28.8%1,015 m23.1 m/km1,015 m-0 m
33Tollymore Extreme (Tollymore Trail Marathon), Newcastle - northern-ireland28.1%1,084 m25.7 m/km1,092 m-7 m
34Internationaler Schwarzwald-Marathon Bräunlingen - germany27.8%681 m16.1 m/km688 m-7 m
35Gornergrat Zermatt Marathon - switzerland26.2%1,876 m44.5 m/km404 m1,473 m
36Columbia Gorge Marathon - oregon25.5%696 m16.5 m/km778 m-82 m
37Snowdonia Marathon - wales25.2%786 m18.6 m/km801 m-15 m
38Tecumseh Trail Marathon (Tecumseh Trail Challenge), Nashville Indiana - indiana24.5%998 m23.7 m/km998 m1 m
39Balaton Szupermaraton (Siófok) Marathon - hungary24.3%803 m19.0 m/km823 m-20 m
40Fjordkraft Bergen City Marathon - norway24.1%781 m18.5 m/km779 m1 m
41The Kauai Marathon & Half Marathon - hawaii24.0%607 m14.4 m/km612 m-5 m
426 sjöar (Uppsala) Marathon - sweden22.4%426 m10.1 m/km427 m-1 m
43Lakeland Trails Coniston Marathon, Half, Mini-10k & 5k - north-west21.8%900 m21.3 m/km899 m0 m
44Trieste Spring Run Marathon - italy21.0%205 m4.9 m/km204 m0 m
45Two Tunnels Railway Races Marathon - south-west21.0%415 m9.8 m/km413 m2 m
46Rimi Riga Marathon - latvia20.5%273 m6.5 m/km272 m1 m
47Haulin' Aspen Trail Race Marathon - oregon19.7%747 m17.7 m/km780 m-33 m
48Connemara International Marathon (Connemarathon) - ireland19.5%451 m10.7 m/km443 m8 m
49Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay - maine18.7%526 m12.5 m/km527 m-1 m
50Marshall University Marathon - west-virginia18.7%330 m7.8 m/km332 m-2 m
51Maui Oceanfront Marathon - hawaii17.4%392 m9.3 m/km413 m-21 m
52Reims Champagne Run Marathon - france17.4%389 m9.3 m/km551 m-161 m
53Trondheim Skogsmaraton Marathon - norway17.0%907 m21.5 m/km907 m0 m
54Bend Marathon and Half - oregon16.6%388 m9.2 m/km388 m0 m
55Allianz Richmond Marathon - virginia16.1%236 m5.6 m/km272 m-36 m
56Cedar Rapids Marathon - iowa15.8%454 m10.8 m/km455 m-1 m
57Montana Marathon (Billings) - montana15.6%193 m4.6 m/km446 m-253 m
58Maine Marathon (Portland) - maine15.5%357 m8.5 m/km358 m0 m
59SPAR Budapest Marathon - hungary15.5%188 m4.5 m/km182 m5 m
60Richmond Park Marathon (London) - london15.3%423 m10.0 m/km417 m6 m
61Estes Park Marathon and Half Marathon - colorado15.1%256 m6.1 m/km735 m-479 m
62The Hawk Hundred (Lawrence) Marathon - kansas14.3%495 m11.7 m/km487 m8 m
63FirstEnergy Akron Marathon - ohio13.8%350 m8.3 m/km355 m-6 m
64Sioux Falls Marathon - south-dakota13.6%305 m7.2 m/km307 m-2 m
65Run Woodstock Marathon - michigan13.5%547 m13.0 m/km546 m1 m
66Three Forts Challenge Marathon - south-east13.5%922 m21.1 m/km922 m-0 m
67Windermere Marathon (Spokane) - washington13.4%226 m5.4 m/km304 m-78 m
68Albany COMBOS Marathon & Half Marathon - georgia13.0%333 m7.9 m/km337 m-4 m
69Clonakilty Waterfront Marathon - ireland13.0%493 m11.7 m/km497 m-4 m
70Michelob Ultra El Paso Marathon - texas12.5%256 m6.1 m/km255 m1 m
71Bay of Fundy International Marathon - maine12.5%456 m10.8 m/km484 m-27 m
72Madison Marathon (Madison, Wisconsin) - wisconsin12.1%243 m5.7 m/km236 m6 m
73The New Hampshire Marathon at Newfound Lake - new-hampshire12.0%412 m9.8 m/km408 m4 m
74DICK'S Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon - pennsylvania12.0%154 m3.6 m/km154 m0 m
75The Original Las Vegas Marathon - nevada11.9%331 m7.8 m/km331 m0 m
76Arctic Marathon (Rovaniemi) - finland11.9%392 m9.3 m/km391 m-0 m
77YMCA Harrisburg Marathon, Half, and Relay Presented by Enders Insurance - pennsylvania11.8%176 m4.2 m/km176 m-0 m
78Marathon des Alpes-Maritimes Nice-Cannes - france11.8%308 m7.3 m/km310 m-2 m
79Omaha Marathon - nebraska11.5%215 m5.1 m/km216 m-1 m
80Idaho Falls Marathon - idaho10.9%69 m1.6 m/km52 m15 m
81Paavo Nurmi Marathon - finland10.9%179 m4.2 m/km181 m-2 m
82Trondheim Maraton Marathon - norway10.7%253 m6.0 m/km252 m1 m
83Run the Rainbow for Children's Marathon - mississippi10.6%407 m9.7 m/km407 m0 m
84Mississippi Blues Marathon - mississippi10.2%401 m9.5 m/km399 m2 m
85TUI Μαραθώνιος Ρόδου (TUI Rhodes Marathon) - greece10.1%296 m7.0 m/km294 m3 m
86Run Rome The Marathon - italy9.9%135 m3.2 m/km144 m-9 m
87The Great Bangor Marathon & Half (Bangor, Maine) - maine9.9%269 m6.4 m/km280 m-10 m
88Norfolk Festival of Running (King's Lynn) Marathon - east-of-england9.8%558 m13.2 m/km558 m-0 m
89Montpellier Run Festival Marathon - france9.7%303 m7.2 m/km290 m12 m
90Southampton Marathon - south-east9.7%279 m6.6 m/km265 m14 m
91Regensburg Marathon - germany9.3%247 m5.9 m/km247 m-0 m
92TBK Bank Quad Cities Marathon - iowa9.0%180 m4.3 m/km185 m-5 m
93Generali Genève Marathon - switzerland9.0%183 m4.3 m/km236 m-53 m
94The Asheville Marathon & Half - north-carolina8.9%312 m7.4 m/km374 m-61 m
95Zurich Rock 'n' Roll Running Series Madrid Marathon - spain8.7%335 m7.9 m/km362 m-26 m
96Hoag OC Marathon Running Festival - california8.7%182 m4.3 m/km214 m-32 m
97Maine Coast Marathon - maine8.6%219 m5.2 m/km217 m1 m
98Toulouse Métropole Run Experience Marathon - france8.5%209 m5.0 m/km219 m-10 m
99Helsinki City Marathon - finland8.3%226 m5.4 m/km220 m6 m
100Amica Newport Marathon & Half Marathon - rhode-island8.1%270 m6.4 m/km271 m-0 m
2
Stavanger Marathonnorway
Absolute max grade
87.3%
Ascent
862 m
Climb density
20.4 m/km
Descent
887 m
Net elevation
-25 m

As of

3
Olympus Marathon (Litochoro)greece
Absolute max grade
84.1%
Ascent
3,465 m
Climb density
78.7 m/km
Descent
3,192 m
Net elevation
273 m

As of

10
Moab Trail Marathonutah
Absolute max grade
53.1%
Ascent
1,404 m
Climb density
33.3 m/km
Descent
1,405 m
Net elevation
-2 m

As of

11
Ultra Trail Učka Marathoncroatia
Absolute max grade
52.8%
Ascent
2,224 m
Climb density
53.0 m/km
Descent
2,227 m
Net elevation
-3 m

As of

14
Lake Tahoe Marathonnevada
Absolute max grade
46.1%
Ascent
737 m
Climb density
17.5 m/km
Descent
733 m
Net elevation
4 m

As of

15
Catalina Island Marathoncalifornia
Absolute max grade
44.6%
Ascent
1,530 m
Climb density
36.3 m/km
Descent
1,526 m
Net elevation
4 m

As of

21
Davos X-Trails Marathonswitzerland
Absolute max grade
37.7%
Ascent
1,513 m
Climb density
35.2 m/km
Descent
1,513 m
Net elevation
0 m

As of

23
Jungfrau-Marathon Interlakenswitzerland
Absolute max grade
35.4%
Ascent
1,960 m
Climb density
46.5 m/km
Descent
200 m
Net elevation
1,761 m

As of

24
Girdwood Marathonalaska
Absolute max grade
34.7%
Ascent
1,076 m
Climb density
25.5 m/km
Descent
1,073 m
Net elevation
4 m

As of

26
Portland Coastal Marathonsouth-west
Absolute max grade
33.0%
Ascent
715 m
Climb density
16.9 m/km
Descent
715 m
Net elevation
-0 m

As of

27
Flying Pig Marathonohio
Absolute max grade
32.4%
Ascent
424 m
Climb density
10.0 m/km
Descent
427 m
Net elevation
-4 m

As of

28
Cleveland Marathonohio
Absolute max grade
31.4%
Ascent
232 m
Climb density
5.5 m/km
Descent
233 m
Net elevation
0 m

As of

29
Beachy Head Marathonsouth-east
Absolute max grade
31.2%
Ascent
1,144 m
Climb density
27.1 m/km
Descent
1,143 m
Net elevation
1 m

As of

31
NipMuck Trail Marathonconnecticut
Absolute max grade
29.4%
Ascent
878 m
Climb density
20.7 m/km
Descent
863 m
Net elevation
15 m

As of

35
Gornergrat Zermatt Marathonswitzerland
Absolute max grade
26.2%
Ascent
1,876 m
Climb density
44.5 m/km
Descent
404 m
Net elevation
1,473 m

As of

36
Columbia Gorge Marathonoregon
Absolute max grade
25.5%
Ascent
696 m
Climb density
16.5 m/km
Descent
778 m
Net elevation
-82 m

As of

37
Snowdonia Marathonwales
Absolute max grade
25.2%
Ascent
786 m
Climb density
18.6 m/km
Descent
801 m
Net elevation
-15 m

As of

42
6 sjöar (Uppsala) Marathonsweden
Absolute max grade
22.4%
Ascent
426 m
Climb density
10.1 m/km
Descent
427 m
Net elevation
-1 m

As of

46
Rimi Riga Marathonlatvia
Absolute max grade
20.5%
Ascent
273 m
Climb density
6.5 m/km
Descent
272 m
Net elevation
1 m

As of

50
Marshall University Marathonwest-virginia
Absolute max grade
18.7%
Ascent
330 m
Climb density
7.8 m/km
Descent
332 m
Net elevation
-2 m

As of

51
Maui Oceanfront Marathonhawaii
Absolute max grade
17.4%
Ascent
392 m
Climb density
9.3 m/km
Descent
413 m
Net elevation
-21 m

As of

54
Bend Marathon and Halforegon
Absolute max grade
16.6%
Ascent
388 m
Climb density
9.2 m/km
Descent
388 m
Net elevation
0 m

As of

55
Allianz Richmond Marathonvirginia
Absolute max grade
16.1%
Ascent
236 m
Climb density
5.6 m/km
Descent
272 m
Net elevation
-36 m

As of

56
Cedar Rapids Marathoniowa
Absolute max grade
15.8%
Ascent
454 m
Climb density
10.8 m/km
Descent
455 m
Net elevation
-1 m

As of

57
Montana Marathon (Billings)montana
Absolute max grade
15.6%
Ascent
193 m
Climb density
4.6 m/km
Descent
446 m
Net elevation
-253 m

As of

58
Maine Marathon (Portland)maine
Absolute max grade
15.5%
Ascent
357 m
Climb density
8.5 m/km
Descent
358 m
Net elevation
0 m

As of

59
SPAR Budapest Marathonhungary
Absolute max grade
15.5%
Ascent
188 m
Climb density
4.5 m/km
Descent
182 m
Net elevation
5 m

As of

63
FirstEnergy Akron Marathonohio
Absolute max grade
13.8%
Ascent
350 m
Climb density
8.3 m/km
Descent
355 m
Net elevation
-6 m

As of

64
Sioux Falls Marathonsouth-dakota
Absolute max grade
13.6%
Ascent
305 m
Climb density
7.2 m/km
Descent
307 m
Net elevation
-2 m

As of

65
Run Woodstock Marathonmichigan
Absolute max grade
13.5%
Ascent
547 m
Climb density
13.0 m/km
Descent
546 m
Net elevation
1 m

As of

76
Arctic Marathon (Rovaniemi)finland
Absolute max grade
11.9%
Ascent
392 m
Climb density
9.3 m/km
Descent
391 m
Net elevation
-0 m

As of

79
Omaha Marathonnebraska
Absolute max grade
11.5%
Ascent
215 m
Climb density
5.1 m/km
Descent
216 m
Net elevation
-1 m

As of

80
Idaho Falls Marathonidaho
Absolute max grade
10.9%
Ascent
69 m
Climb density
1.6 m/km
Descent
52 m
Net elevation
15 m

As of

81
Paavo Nurmi Marathonfinland
Absolute max grade
10.9%
Ascent
179 m
Climb density
4.2 m/km
Descent
181 m
Net elevation
-2 m

As of

82
Trondheim Maraton Marathonnorway
Absolute max grade
10.7%
Ascent
253 m
Climb density
6.0 m/km
Descent
252 m
Net elevation
1 m

As of

84
Mississippi Blues Marathonmississippi
Absolute max grade
10.2%
Ascent
401 m
Climb density
9.5 m/km
Descent
399 m
Net elevation
2 m

As of

86
Run Rome The Marathonitaly
Absolute max grade
9.9%
Ascent
135 m
Climb density
3.2 m/km
Descent
144 m
Net elevation
-9 m

As of

90
Southampton Marathonsouth-east
Absolute max grade
9.7%
Ascent
279 m
Climb density
6.6 m/km
Descent
265 m
Net elevation
14 m

As of

91
Regensburg Marathongermany
Absolute max grade
9.3%
Ascent
247 m
Climb density
5.9 m/km
Descent
247 m
Net elevation
-0 m

As of

93
Generali Genève Marathonswitzerland
Absolute max grade
9.0%
Ascent
183 m
Climb density
4.3 m/km
Descent
236 m
Net elevation
-53 m

As of

94
The Asheville Marathon & Halfnorth-carolina
Absolute max grade
8.9%
Ascent
312 m
Climb density
7.4 m/km
Descent
374 m
Net elevation
-61 m

As of

97
Maine Coast Marathonmaine
Absolute max grade
8.6%
Ascent
219 m
Climb density
5.2 m/km
Descent
217 m
Net elevation
1 m

As of

99
Helsinki City Marathonfinland
Absolute max grade
8.3%
Ascent
226 m
Climb density
5.4 m/km
Descent
220 m
Net elevation
6 m

As of

Showing the top 100 of 138 qualifying races; use the distance catalogue for the full searchable list. Scores are out of 100 when present; route, elevation and cost figures are shown in their natural units.

How we ranked these

Races are ranked by Absolute max grade. Score metrics use methodology scoring-methodology-v1.0. Elevation rankings use only trusted raw-elevation course profiles. A ranking is only published when at least five races qualify, so the table is never padded with thin data.

See exactly how each figure is calculated →

Route maps for this ranking

How we calculated this

Published facts and derived model outputs on this page are tied to stored sources or a published, version-locked methodology. We show the provenance so runners, coaches and organisers can check it. Data on this page is current as of .

Derived numbers use scoring-methodology-v1.0.

Sources used on this page (140)

Read the full methodology →

Common questions

What is the steepest marathons?

Foot Levelers Blue Ridge Marathon ranks first by absolute max grade, from 138 qualifying races compared under our published methodology.