07.03.2025, SATURDAY, 16:00 - 21:00
08.03.2025, SUNDAY, 07:00 - 07:45
AMPHITHEATER @ VAROSH, PRILEP
GOOGLE MAP LOCATION
Kamena Baba Trail 40K is the longest and most demanding trail race of Krali Marko Trails. With a length of approximately 40 km and a total ascent and descent of around 2,300 m D+/D-, the course connects Prilep, Treskavec Monastery, the village of Dabnica, the hills of Glajca and Kukul (Kamena Baba), as well as the higher slopes of Edinak, running through the heart of the protected area of Markovi Kuli.
Location: Amphitheater in the Varosh neighborhood (690 m a.s.l.), Prilep – a millennia-old settlement beneath the Markovi Kuli fortress.
From the start, the route climbs uphill on cobblestones, and after several hundred meters enters a narrow trail that steeply ascends toward the Markovi Kuli fortress. The course passes through the remains of the ramparts and towers, creating the first strong visual and historical impression of the race (~2.5 km, 945 m a.s.l.).
The first ~8 km are shared with all race distances. From Markovi Kuli, the trail continues over the peak of Zelenik (993 m a.s.l.), past the area of Nakovalna, following a centuries-old and well-trodden hiking path toward the location of Crkvishte (1060 m a.s.l.), where there is a spring and a small aid station.
At 6.2 km from the start lies the most adventurous section of the shared route: a steep granite rock face approximately 50 meters high, equipped with a fixed safety cable for ascent. This section requires full concentration and careful movement.
At the 8th kilometer, there is a split where runners in the 40K and 23K races continue straight ahead, heading west toward Treskavec Monastery.
From Crkvishte, the trail joins a centuries-old ancient road that leads through the pass between Zagradski Steni and Javi Steni toward Treskavec Monastery. This section represents the longest continuous climb on the course, with approximately 600 m of positive elevation gain. The final 700 meters before the monastery follow the asphalt road.
Treskavec Monastery (~13.5 km, 1256 m a.s.l.) is one of the key points of the race, featuring a full aid station and an open view over Pelagonija.
From the monastery, a long, technical, and dynamic descent follows along an old mountain road toward the gravel road leading to the village of Dabnica (~18 km, 742 m a.s.l.). This section allows for fast running but requires stability and caution due to the rocky surface and water-cut grooves along the trail.
After Dabnica, Kamena Baba Trail separates from the 23K route and continues along a gravel road and then a hiking trail toward the southern slopes of the Edinak ridge. This section leads to the highest point of the race (~22.5 km, around 1250 m a.s.l.), with an additional ~520 m of positive elevation gain.
The trail passes beneath the ridge of Edinak without a direct summit ascent, featuring a series of short, steep, and technical segments that require continuous focus.
The middle section of the course is the most diverse and visually striking. A sequence of spiral descents and ascents follows over the elevation of Glajca (1016 m a.s.l.) toward the rocky hill of Kukul, known as Kamena Baba. This part offers wide panoramas over Pelagonija and the surrounding mountains, as well as close-up views of distinctive rock formations with recognizable local toponyms.
After a short flat section, the course climbs once again along an old goat trail back toward the Markovi Kuli massif. An ascent follows over the rock of Nakovalna (900 m a.s.l.), after which the trail skirts Markovi Kuli from the northwestern side.
In the final ~1.5 km, a gentle and fast descent leads into the Varosh neighborhood and the finish at the Amphitheater—an ideal setting for a strong and decisive finish.
The terrain of Kamena Baba Trail 40K ranges from approximately 690 m a.s.l. to over 1,250 m a.s.l., featuring pronounced gneiss-granite formations, narrow ridgeline trails, steep climbs, and long technical descents. The course is complex and demands smart pacing and efficient energy management.
This is not just a race—it is a long and profound encounter with the landscape, history, and one’s own limits.
Feel the myth – run the legend and become part of Krali Marko Trails.
