1st Grisons: Gravel biking à la carte
At 7105 square kilometres, Graubünden in eastern Switzerland is the largest canton in the country in terms of area and is known for winter sports destinations such as Davos and St. Moritz in the Engadine. Three languages are spoken there (German, Italian and Rhaeto-Romanic), and large parts of the landscape are criss-crossed by the high mountains of the Grisons Alps. With almost 1000 mountain peaks, around 150 valleys and hundreds of lakes, the canton is perfect for exciting gravel bike tours.
Menu for cyclists: Tour packages for racing cyclists and gravel bikers
Inspired by star chef Andreas Caminada, the region has created the "Menu for Cyclists" - tour packages for both racing cyclists and gravel bikers. There are exactly ten gravel tours on the menu, which lead through the region on gravel roads, mountain paths and asphalt passages. The programme is divided into "starter", "main course" and "dessert". Gravel fans can choose from shorter and easier routes of between 10 and 25 kilometres (from 250 metres in altitude) or day-long, challenging routes of up to 65 kilometres and more than 1500 metres in altitude, as well as tours lasting several days. On the routes, bikers reach vantage points in the high mountains with sweeping panoramic views, sometimes over spectacular Alpine passes. You cycle through breathtaking gorges and idyllic valleys with crystal-clear lakes, past castles and palaces and fragrant flower meadows. On tours lasting several days, you cycle along the Vorderrhein and Hinterrhein rivers to their confluence at Reichenau.
Journey
By car: The A13 Munich-Milano motorway runs right through Graubünden. From Zurich via the A3 motorway in just over 60 minutes. Motorway toll sticker in Switzerland: CHF 40 (valid for around 1 year).
By train: From Germany via Chur or Landquart with the many train connections in the region to the individual towns in Graubünden.
By plane: From Munich, Zurich or Basel airports it takes 2 to 4 hours by train or car to Graubünden.
Accommodation
The "Graubünden Bike Hotels" are geared towards mountain bikers and are also recommended for gravel bikers. These are tested and certified establishments with various services for cyclists. www.graubuenden.ch/de/buchen/unterkuenfte/hotels/mountainbike-hotels
Bike service
The "Graubünden Bike Hotels" (see above) have workshops and expert staff. A mobile service between Davos and Chur is available at https://bikefix-manno.ch/. The railways - including mountain railways - or the Postbus take guests and their bikes. Usually free of charge from one overnight stay in a mountain bike hotel (see above). Or with the "Graubünden Pass Bike". Luggage transport from hotel to hotel is also offered for multi-day tours.
General information
www.graubuenden.ch/de
2. Garda Trentino: Gravel biking between lakes and mountains
Northern Lake Garda and its immediate and wider surroundings have long been an Eldorado for mountain bikers. Now the region is also being discovered by and for gravel bikers. On the west coast, the Alto Gardo, as well as in the mountainous and lake-rich area between Riva del Garda and Trento, there are many trails that are perfect for gravel and natural paths, tarmac cycle paths and roads with little traffic.
Let's go on a gravel adventure!
Here, sporty types can challenge themselves on circular routes such as the "Terlago-Banale Gravel Experience" over 64 kilometres and more than 1650 metres in altitude in the upper part of the Valle dei Laghi. It starts at Lake Terlago and leads south-westwards via Comano at the foot of the Dolomites along other small lakes and back again. The "Ponale Gravel Experience" is shorter. From Riva del Garda, the route runs for around 15 kilometres, mainly along the "Vecchia Ponale", which is closed to traffic, up along the lake to Pregasina at around 530 metres and back again. With magnificent views over Lake Garda and several tunnel passages, the route is a real experience - just like the other gravel tours in the region.
Arrival
By car: From the north via the A22 Brennero-Modena motorway (toll road), exit Rovereto Sud/Lago di Garda. Then take the SS240 into Garda Trentino. 17 km to Riva del Garda. From the south via the A22 Modena-Brennero motorway, exit Rovereto Sud/Lago di Garda Nord or via the SS45 Gardesana Occidentale.
By train: To Rovereto, from there by bus to Lake Garda. From the south, e.g. via Verona railway station and from there by bus to the lake.
By plane: Verona Airport, from there by bus or hotel transfer service or hire car.
Accommodation
The Garda Trentino website filters out "outdoor-friendly accommodation providers": www.gardatrentino.it/de/outdoor/radwelt/bikehotels
Bike service
The region offers a network of bike-stop repair centres where you can get minor repairs done, for example. There are also many bike shops offering service and hire (enquire in advance whether gravel bikes are available). Shuttle cars are also available to chauffeur bikes and riders to their chosen route.
www.gardatrentino.it/de/outdoor/radwelt/überblick-radwelt
General information
www.gardatrentino.it/de
3rd Hunsrück-Nahe: Off into the wilderness
The low mountain region in Rhineland-Palatinate between the Rhine and Moselle, not far from Trier, stretches across a plateau whose highest point, the Erbeskopf, is 816 metres high. The region is sparsely populated and offers pure nature. In the Hunsrück Hochwald National Park or the Soonwald-Nahe Nature Park, you will find a piece of wilderness in the centre of Germany with a particularly diverse fauna and flora.
Dense network of routes in the Saar-Hunsrück Nature Park
The official route network in the Saar-Hunsrück Nature Park with its extensive gravel and nature trails is ideal for gravel biking. There are passages through dense forest, on quiet roads across the slightly hilly plateau with sweeping views across the landscape as well as sections along streams and small rivers. Spectacular rock formations, dams or the impressive viaduct near Rascheid can be discovered on the gravel routes. Depending on your athletic ambition, there are difficult variants available ("Fitness tour to the Primtalsperre": 53 km, 1000 metres in altitude) or more moderate ones ("Over the ridge of the Hochwald": 58 km, 800 metres in altitude).
Journey
By car: E.g. via the A61 motorway into the region, at the Rheinböllen or Bad Kreuznach motorway junction onto the main road and via this and possibly country roads to your destination.
By train: From Trier main station, take the Ruwer-Hochwald cycle bus to Kell am See or Hermeskeil. Timetables at www.radbusse.de
Accommodation
Bicycle-friendly accommodation at www.bike-region-hunsrueck-nahe.de
Bike service
Radhaus Thalfang is located in the immediate vicinity of the route network. Further workshops at www-bike-region-hunsrueck-nahe.de
General information
www.bike-region-hunsrueck-nahe.de
4th Gravel.Tirol: Spectacular mountain world
Tirol is a paradise for outdoor sports enthusiasts, and gravel bikers also get their money's worth here. Gravel.Tirol is an association of the tourist regions of Lechtal, Reutte Nature Park Region, Tannheimer Tal and Tiroler Zugspitz Arena, which form the "Tiroler Außerfern" - and, according to its own statement, "probably the largest gravel region" in Tirol. It runs along the German-Bavarian border from the Zugspitze to Lech, Füssen and Oberjoch.
Spectacular summit views
A total of 1,000 kilometres of routes with many unspoilt paths are marked out, to be ridden on 18 routes. Many of them are extremely demanding: probably the most difficult route, "Through the Lechtal and Ammergau Alps", covers 85 kilometres and 3200 metres in altitude. In contrast, the "Arena Runde" through the Tiroler Zugspitz Arena, for example, is easier at 41 kilometres and 481 metres in altitude. All of them lead through the sometimes spectacular high mountain world with summit views, lake circuits and wild river courses.
Journey
By car: From Ulm via the A7 motorway to Füssen, from there via main roads to the destinations (to Tannheim: exit Berkheim), from Munich also via the A95 motorway to Garmisch-Partenkirchen, via main roads to the Zugspitz Arena or to Reutte.
Train: Train stations in Reutte (from there or from Imst station also by travel voucher to the Lechtal and by bus to the Tannheimer Tal) and in the villages of the Zugspitz Arena; to the Tannheimer Tal by shuttle bus free of charge from Ulm on presentation of a booking confirmation, from Sonthofen by bus.
Accommodation
Specialised bike hotels can be found at: www.gravel.tirol/unterkuenfte
Bike service
Lechtal: At www.lechtal.at, under "Activities", "Cycling"
Reutte Nature Park: At www.reutte.com, under "Experience", "Sports and leisure activities", "Cycling"
Tannheimer Tal: At www.tannheimertal.com, under "Active in summer", "Cycling"
Zugspitz Arena: At https://zugspitzarena.com under "Summer experience", "Biking"
Plus: bike transport on many trains and buses, for example in the Lech Valley and in the Zugspitz Arena.
General information
www.gravel.tirol
5th Ruhr Area Cycle Route: Gravelling over collieries, slag heaps and railway lines
The Ruhr region has become an attractive destination for cycle travellers. The region's unique selling point is its impressive industrial heritage with a high density of industrial monuments such as disused collieries and blast furnaces. In addition, the man-made spoil tips as landmarks and the workers' housing estates tell the story of the Ruhr region. Disused railway lines and canal-side paths along the water are also among the highlights. Many of them are perfect for exploring by gravel bike.
Discover industrial monuments by gravel bike
Waiting sporty, but manageable tours for most gravel fans with a varied combination of tarmac sections, beautiful gravel and field paths, tricky passages through the forest and challenging ascents to the slag heaps. Most of them cover around 50 kilometres with 250 to 450 metres of ascent. The Enneppe circuit (45 km, 460 metres in altitude), for example, leads along the former Haspe-Voerde-Breckerfeld railway line in wide bends over a mixture of gravel and forest paths up to Hasper Talsperre, then up to Voerde and steeply downhill behind the Enneppe dam. The "Haldencross Linker Niederrhein" (48 km, 310 m elevation gain) connects three slag heaps in the far west of the region over 49 kilometres.
Arrival
Car: The A2, A3, A40, A42 and A52 motorways lead to the region.
Rail: Numerous small and large cities are close together in the Ruhr region and are easily accessible by train.
Aeroplane: Dortmund, Düsseldorf or Weeze airports are located in or near the Ruhr region.
Accommodation
Bed+Bike establishments for all towns in the Ruhr cycling region can be found at: www.radrevier.ruhr/radurlaub-im-ruhrgebiet/bett-bike/
Bike service
Bike hire, parking spaces and other services:
www.radrevier.ruhr/radurlaub-im-ruhrgebiet/fahrradverleihsysteme/
General information
www.radrevier.ruhr
6th Andermatt: Alpine pleasure
Around the picturesque town of Andermatt in the canton of Uri near Graubünden, eight passes and bike trails offer a wide range of opportunities for gravel tours to experience the breathtaking Alpine landscape. There is something for everyone here, from the athletically ambitious to the connoisseur. Hard-core cyclists can ride the route of the Events Octopus Gravel with 140 very demanding kilometres (approx. 4,400 metres in altitude), which can also be ridden in individual stages. The tour to the Vermigelhütte is a more moderate 18-kilometre ride with a stop for refreshments at the hut. Even more relaxed is the tour from Andermatt to Realp and back over around 21 kilometres on flat single trails and gravel roads.
Arrival
By car: Take the motorway to Göschenen, from there 10 minutes to Andermatt. Motorway toll sticker in Switzerland: CHF 40 (valid for around 1 year).
By train: Take the national railway e.g. via Basel, Zurich or St. Gallen, change to the Matterhorn Gotthard Railway in Göschenen.
Plane: The nearest airport is Zurich. From there about 2 hours by train. The airports of Basel, Geneva and Lugano are a little further away.
Accommodation
Radisson Blu Hotel Reussen www.radissonhotels.com
Hotel Schlüssel www.hotelschluessel.com
More: www.andermatt.swiss/de/ferien-planen-buchen/uebernachten
Bike service
Many service and hire options. E.G:
- https://imholzsport-andermatt.ch/bikeservice/
- www.intersportrent.de/bikemiete-andermatt~3949547
- www.shimanoservicecenter.com/ch-de/
- www.bikeweltgisler.ch
General information
- www.andermatt.swiss
- www.andermatt-sedrun-disentis.ch/de/
7 Erzgebirge: Through the World Heritage Site on a gravel bike
The Erzgebirge/Krušnohoří region, which stretches across Saxony and Bohemia, with its 850 years of mining history, has been recognised by UNESCO as a "World Heritage Site". The underground treasures - silver, tin, cobalt, iron and uranium - once made Saxony's rulers rich. Today, a network of natural forest tracks, well-maintained forest paths and picturesque roads invites gravel bikers to explore the diverse nature and culture there. The route leads through deep forests, wide fields and picturesque villages. For the more ambitious, there are challenging routes with crisp climbs up the hills of the low mountain range. Those who prefer a more leisurely pace will find their happiness on trails through idyllic river valleys.
The "Kammtour" largely follows the mountain ridge for around 170 kilometres. The multi-day routes "Saxon Central Mountains Cycle Route" in Saxony and "Ore Mountains Cycle Route" in the Czech Republic are ideal for travelling the entire Ore Mountains. However, individual stages are also worthwhile for a shorter trip.
Journey
By car: Via the A72 motorway from Leipzig or Hof, via the A4 from Dresden or Erfurt or via the A17 from the Osterzgebirge/Sächsische Schweiz.
Rail: Larger cities such as Chemnitz or Zwickau can be reached by ICE, while various regional lines and buses serve the smaller towns.
Aeroplane: The nearest airport is Dresden. From there you can quickly reach the Ore Mountains by train or hire car.
Accommodation
www.erzgebirge-tourismus.de/radfahren/unterkuenfte-angebote
Bike service
www.erzgebirge-tourismus.de/radfahren/verleih-service
General information
www.erzgebirge-tourismus.de/gravel
