The Stillupgrund is one of the many side valleys that run from the main Alpine ridge into the Zillertal. Fed by the glaciers on the Großer Löffler (3,379 m) and the Grünen-Wand-Spitze (2,946 m), the Stillupbach has carved out an impressive valley with almost vertical walls in places. Waterfalls that plunge hundreds of metres into the valley complete the perfect natural spectacle. In the 1960s, a reservoir was dammed in the Stilluptal valley to generate hydroelectric power.
Ambitious mountain bike beginners can also experience this valley characterised by water perfectly by bike. The ascent from Mayrhofen on the toll road is very pleasant. After just 500 metres in altitude, the turquoise waters of the Stillup reservoir invite you to take a long break. A tunnel at the Stillup reservoir can be nicely bypassed on a narrow path before the road climbs more and more towards the Grüne Wand hut. The last few metres to the hut require a real effort. A stop on the terrace in front of the hut is just what you need.
If you don't want to climb any more metres in altitude, you can now make your way back. However, the most beautiful part of the tour begins here at the hut. The route to the Kasseler Hütte material cable car is only tarmac in the steeper sections. Otherwise, you cycle on wonderful meadow paths through an alpine pasture area into the scenically unique valley head directly at the foot of the main Alpine ridge. The three-thousand metre peaks of the Zillertal Alps tower 1,500 metres above, with the Stillupkees and Löfflerkees pushing down into the valley.
As it's all downhill - apart from the short flat section on the banks of the Stillup reservoir - the way back is pretty quick. The last part of the descent is once again great fun: the old access road into the Stillup valley is easy to ride. Spiked with several hairpin bends, it is much steeper than the ascent into the valley, where you end up back in Mayrhofen at the Ahornbahn valley station.
INFO
Place
Mayrhofen is the largest town in the Zillertal. Transalp bikers start in Mayrhofen to cross the main Alpine ridge over the Pfitscherjoch in summer.
Accommodation
Mayrhofen Tourist Office, Dursterstraße 225, 6290 Mayrhofen,
Tel. 0043/5285/6760, www.mayrhofen.at.
Food + drink
There are plenty of places to stop for refreshments along the entire route. However, you should definitely cycle as far as the Grüne-Wand-Hütte, as this is definitely the best place to sit.
Map
Kompass map "Zillertaler Alpen - Tuxer Alpen", sheet 37, scale 1:50 000. Mayr hiking, cycling, MTB and touring map 1:35 000, sheet 33, Zillertal Alps. Bike map of Zillertal Tourismus GmbH 1:40 000, sheet 2, Zell-Gerlos and rear Zillertal (available from May 2007). Digital: Austrian Fly Map 4.0 of the Federal Office of Metrology and Surveying 1:50 000, www.bev.gv.at.
Starting point of the tour
At the beginning of Mayrhofen (at the railway station) turn left to the PM11 Scheulingstraße car park. The tour starts at the crossroads in front of the car park.
