Gravel Transalp: Stage 1 Reschen - Scuol

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The Gravel-Transalp starts in South Tyrol in Reschen in the Vinschger Oberland. Although the start is at an altitude of 1,500 meters, the route leads straight through the forest to over 2,000 meters in the direction of Austria/Tyrol – with a great view of Lake Reschen and the surrounding mountains. From there down and across the border to Austria and Nauders.

A short stretch of road follows to the Nobertshöhe, then - after crossing the border into Romansh-speaking Switzerland - forest roads and trails on the bright, promising south-east side of the Inn Valley. After a six-kilometre-long forest path - and an unlit tunnel (take your light with you!) - to the Inn, the route follows the river 18 kilometers moderately uphill to Scuol.

The Max Trail — across the Alps from West to East

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Crossing the Alps is the most sought-after, once in a lifetime experience of many mountain bikers. And while most people think of a north-south crossing, the Alps offer many more possibilities.

A relatively unknown route is a cross along the Maximilianweg (also called Maxweg or Königsroute), named after the patron saint of this route, King Maximilian II of Bavaria, who took this path for the first time in 1858. He crossed the German Alps from west to east—from Lake Constance to the Königssee—and in honor of his achievement, the German Alpine Association officially named this route Maximiliansweg in 1991.

Originally intended as a long-distance hiking trail, the Maxweg also offers something for mountain bikers, however, and guarantees an adventurous ride over twelve stages. On it, you’ll cycle straight through (and sometimes over) five mountain ranges: the Austrian Bregenzerwald Mountains, the Allgäuer Alps, the Ammergauer Alps, the Bavarian Alps, the Chiemgauer Alps and the Berchtesgadener Alps. Unspoilt nature, lonely valleys and panoramic peaks are just as much a part of the programme as idyllic villages, rustic mountain pastures, deep gorges and a lot of forest. And while the Maxweg is, for the most part, relatively easy to ride, there are some longer, tougher trails and even a few sliding passages. After all, this is a true Alpine crossing.

You’ll start your adventure in Lindau on Lake Constance and finish it directly at the last corner of Germany—at the Königssee, at the foot of the legendary Watzmann. In between, you’ll cross the German-Austrian border over and over again—and you’ll cycle past innumerable Highlights that will turn this into an unforgettable trip. For example, right at the beginning of your ride you’ll visit Mount Pfänder, Lake Constance, and the Hochgrat, as well as the charming town of Füssen containing some of the world’s most revered castes, namely Hohenschwangau and Neuschwanstein. As you continue, you’ll visit the renowned singletrack playground of the Schützensteig, Lake Plansee, Lake Eibsee at the foot of the Zugspitze, the incredible Ahornboden valley, and many, many more. Mentioning them all is unfortunately outside of the scope of this introduction; the best thing to do is to visit them all yourself—and to properly experience this incredible Tour.

Your starting point and end point are both very easy to reach by train. This ensures that you can arrive and depart by public transport. As is the case with adventures like this, however, there is always the possibility of a planned or unplanned exit at a different stage of your Tour. Therefore, if the twelve stages seem like they might be too much for you, we recommend you divide the Maxweg into several sections.

#1. Maxweg E01 – Von Lindau nach Hörmoos

56.6 km 05:31 1,790 m. 

In Lindau on Lake Constance your adventure starts on the trail of the royal route, or Maxweg, as the crossing of the Alps from west to east today is called. For holiday makers, the place is particularly popular because of its Mediterranean climate and the cheerful-casual way of life. The region is not called the "Bavarian Riviera" for nothing. Just a few kilometers after the start, you can swap the lively atmosphere for the peace and serenity of the mountains and the beauty of nature. Right at the beginning you climb the Lindau local mountain, the Pfänder. Most visitors reach the summit, which is just over 1,000 meters high, by cable car. But you can be proud of your performance and strengthen you in the mountain restaurant. Afterwards you will cross the Bregenzer Wald and enjoy the great views of the nearby Nagelfluhkette again and again. The end of the stage marks a high plateau, which is again slightly higher than the Pfänder. There you will find the Alpengasthof Hörmoos, which certainly offers you a pleasant stay and well-deserved rest.

#2. Maxweg E02 - From Hörmoos to Bad Hindelang

52.5 km  05:44 2,060 m

 Some portions of the route may require you to push your bike.

Well recovered, you start into the second stage of the Maxweg.Today, a real chunk awaits you with the Hochgrat. The mountain of Oberstaufen is 1,834 meters high and thus the highest elevation of the Nagelfluhkette. A great view rewards for the sweaty driveway. On the further route you cross the Nagelfluhkette and the Iller valley in the Allgäu. Numerous opportunities for retreat line the way and you are spoiled for choice, where you want to strengthen yourself for the further journey. And you can use the strengthening well, because next to the Hochgrat you have to conquer two more mountains - the Rangiswanger Horn and the Imberger Horn. The summit success, however, remains, unless you can stop the bike and climb the last altitude on foot. If you still have enough grains, time and desire, you can turn a few laps in the local bike park at the finish of the stage in Bad Hindelang. In any case, the ascent to the start of the two routes will be made easier with the Hornbahn Hindelang.

#3. Maxweg E03 – Von Bad Hindelang nach Füssen

41.0 km 03:33 900 m

Today's third leg on the Maxweg is a bit shorter than the first two. Nevertheless, a veritable increase over almost 400 meters of altitude waiting for you right at the beginning. From the starting point Bad Hindelang you pedal on the old Jochstraße to Oberjoch. Fortunately, the road is closed to normal traffic. At the top is the almost 1,200 meters Oberjochpass. Then follows a long descent, past the Vilsstausee and along the Vils to Pfronten. There you climb the Falkenstein with the castle ruins of the same name, which is especially worth seeing because of its exposed location. As far as Füssen, you can now let it roll and, if you like, take a break at the romantic and idyllic Weissensee. In Füssen is the end for today. Here you can let the day fade away in the romantic old town.

#4.

Maxweg E04 - From Füssen to Garmisch-Partenkirchen

69.1 km 06:14 1,360 m

Some portions of the route may require you to push your bike.

Truly royal is on the fourth leg of the royal route. Soon after the start, you pass two world-famous figureheads from days gone by of the Bavarian monarchy: Hohenschwangau Castle and Neuschwanstein Castle. Until then, you already have a few scenic highlights of this section behind you. Absolutely worth seeing is for example the Lechfall and the Alpsee. A great driving technical highlight is the Alpenrosenweg. Of course, the royal castles are very turbulent, but as soon as you leave Neuschwanstein behind you, peace and the experience of nature come to the fore. You are now on a stretch of track that was described many years ago in a legendary Moser tour - "Around the Säuling". In the summer months, a stop in the quaint "hunters hut" is not missing. There you can strengthen yourself for the demanding descent on the top trail "Schützensteig". A scenic dream is the Plansee. If you want to stay there, the "Musteralpe" is an absolute insider tip. But actually your way leads you today to Garmisch-Partenkirchen, past the equally beautiful Eibsee at the foot of the Zugspitze. There you will stay overnight and recover for the next day.

#5. Maxweg E05 – Von Garmisch-Partenkirchen nach Scharnitz

51.7 km 05:14 1,210 m

Some portions of the route may require you to push your bike.

Today it gets alpine and the Zugspitze is your constant companion during the first part of the day. The highest mountain in Germany greets you in the morning at the start of the stage in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. Then it says: From now on it's uphill! Passing the famous ski jumps, it's on an increasingly steep side road in the direction of Reintal. The Reintal is one of the scenic highlights of the Maxweg. And the singletrack, which you first pedal uphill and "surf" after a stop in the Reintalangerhütte down, is really awesome. One last look over the shoulder to the Zugspitze and on to Schloss Elmau, the lakes above Mittenwald and Mittenwald. These highlights are also very entertaining today. Last but not least, you will roll along the Isar River on a wonderful bike path through the Karwendel to your current overnight stay in Scharnitz in Austria.

Bike Everest Tirol

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Across two national borders and up Mount Everest in seven days - at least according to the altimeter. This long-distance bike tour takes trained and more leisurely e-mountain bikers over 8,848 meters in altitude from Garmisch-Partenkirchen through the Tyrolean Alps to the Plamort high moor on the Reschen Pass.

Tour character

A varied long-distance cycle tour with a particularly high elevation gain and sights for experienced, fit mountain bikers or more leisurely e-bikers. However, the routes, which are at least moderately difficult, require physical and technical fitness from everyone. Seven 25 to 60-kilometre stages lead from Garmisch-Partenkirchen to Plamort on the Reschen Pass. The route passes through nature parks with waterfalls, gorges, mountain pastures and castles. There are also famous peaks such as the Zugspitze and the Ortler along the route.

Description

This seven-day mountain bike adventure brings the world's highest mountain to the heart of the Alps – or at least the 8,848 vertical metres of climbing from sea level to the peak of Mount Everest. The route measures 285 kilometres in length and takes riders from Garmisch-Partenkirchen in Germany to Plamort on the Austrian-Italian border. Bikers relying 100% on pedal power will have to be pretty fit to complete the Bike Everest Tirol, while those taking on the challenge with an e-bike can afford to take things a little easier. The route leads through several nature parks and offers fine views of some of the most famous mountains in the Alps, including the Zugspitze and the Ortler. Lakes, waterfalls, canyons, lush meadows, huts, castles and medieval fortresses provide lots to see and explore along the way. The Bike Everest Tirol is best completed between May and October. It can be ridden all in one or split up into several shorter stages. A special package is on offer for riders wishing to ride the route from start to finish in one holiday.

Stage 1: Garmisch-Partenkirchen – Mittenwald – Garmisch-Partenkirchen

Distance: 51.6 kilometres, ascent/descent 1,121/1,126 vertical metres, difficulty: intermediate

Stage 2: Garmisch-Partenkirchen – Eibsee – Ehrwald

Distance: 28.7 kilometres, ascent/descent: 897/610 vertical metres, difficulty: intermediate

Stage 3: Ehrwald – Gipfelhaus Grubigstein – Fernpass – Nassereith – Imst

Distance: 62.5 kilometres, ascent/descent: 1,639/1,810 vertical metres, difficulty: intermediate

Stage 4: Imst – Mils – Kronburg – Landeck

Distance: 40.9 kilometres, ascent/descent: 1,306/1,331 vertical metres, difficulty: intermediate

Stage 5: Landeck – Fließ – Fiss – Serfaus

Distance: 37.9 kilometres, ascent/descent: 1,496/883 vertical metres, difficulty: intermediate

Stage 6: Serfaus – Pfundser Tschey – Pfunds

Distance: 25.3 kilometres, ascent/descent: 822/1,267 vertical metres, difficulty: intermediate

Stage 7: Pfunds – Martina – Nauders – Plamort

Distance: 39.4 kilometres, ascent/descent: 1,567/511 vertical metres, difficulty: difficult

BIKE TRAIL TIROL: Kössen - Kitzbühel

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This stage is a real challenge, finishing with a climb over the Kitzbüheler Horn and down to Kitzbühel’s town centre

From the start at the roundabout, first you cycle towards the main square and continue along the road to the river, going past the Le Pirat outdoor center. Shortly thereafter, you cross over the river and main road. Then there’s a short ascent up to the road to Kitzbühel, which you stay on until junction "248 Klausenberg-Eggenalm". Next is an ascent to around 1000m above sea level. Cycling in a southerly direction along the side of the valley you will come to a fork in the road with signs for “249 Straubingerhaus-Eggenalm”. Here you turn right and the road descends for 5 kilometers towards Erpfendorf. Joining cycle path no. 18, you now cycle along the river, past Erpfendorf and past Kirchdorf, until you reach the footbridge across the river. There you turn left following the green bike trail signs for St. Johann in Tirol and then for Fieberbrunn. In the hamlet of Mühlbach, before you get as far as Fieberbrunn, you leave the cycle path and cycle down to the road at the bottom of the valley. After going along the road for about 500m you take the turn to the Kitzbüheler Horn (254). Now the ascent to the Hornköpflhütte begins (approx. 3 hours). After reaching the restaurant, the gravel road continues through the ski area for a further 2.5 kilometers until you reach the tarmac Panoramastrasse road that will take you down the Kitzbüheler Horn. Before the road reaches the bottom of the valley, you turn left just after going across a small bridge and continue along that road to the center of Kitzbühel.

1. Etappe KAT Bike Sport+

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A scenic, moderately difficult tour with steep sections through beautiful alpine terrain on the Hohe Salve. The first section of the "Kat Bike Sport +" MTB tour requires strength and stamina. After the asphalted road to the middle station, the composition of the trail becomes more challenging. Here begins a gravel road along route 268 to the reservoir on the Kleine Salve and on through alpine pastures. After the highest point of the stage at 1,600 meters and the Salvensee lake, there should still be enough energy left for a steep descent on gravel. Only at an altitude of around 1,120 meters does the trail rejoin an asphalt road down to Brixen im Thale.

Up to the Hohe Salve

From Hopfgarten, follow the MTB route 269 towards the Hopfgarten middle station. The tour first leads up the Lindrainweg on tarmac.

After a few more hairpin bends, the trail leads past the Hopfgarten middle station. From there, follow MTB route 268 along the gravel path until you reach the beautiful alpine slopes at the foot of the Hohe Salve. You can recognise the Gasthof Rigi from afar. But just before you reach this waymark, it is worth making a detour to the Kleine Salve with its idyllic reservoir directly below the summit.

Rest at the Alpengasthof Rigi

After a nice souvenir photo of the reservoir on the Kleine Salve, you continue towards the Alpengasthof Rigi. Here, at the latest, you have earned a stop and a refreshing drink. And the best thing about it: everything tastes even better on the sun terrace with a view like this.

Descent to Westendorf

Once you have regained your strength, you now follow MTB route 297, which initially takes you briefly uphill but soon takes you to the Salvensee lake, another highlight of the tour. From here you cycle downhill towards Westendorf. Passing the Hohe Salve reservoir, you finally reach the village of Westendorf in Brixental Valley via a few bends. There you change to the opposite side of the valley and follow the Brixental Valley cycle path towards Brixen, where you reach your destination for the day.