The Geiseljoch at an altitude of 2,292 metres is one of the most beautiful, technically interesting and popular crossings for Alpine crossers in Tyrol. Fully rideable from both sides, the direction suggested here from south to north has the great advantage that you can enjoy the fantastic single trail directly from the Geiseljoch on the descent. In addition, the ascent from Vorderlanersbach is only moderately steep and wonderful to ride. The Geiseljoch offers a clear view of the Hintertux glacier, and on the descent you can see far into the Inntal valley and the rocky Karwendel mountains. Numerous variants make the tour a little less extreme. For example, you can cycle from the Geiseljoch to the Inntal valley and return from Jenbach on the Zillertalbahn railway.
The tour starts in the centre of Mayrhofen. It initially follows the well-known Transalp route towards Pfitscherjoch. You leave this route at Gasthaus Jochberg and cycle via Dornau, Finkenberg and the Gfahlweg to Vorderlanersbach.
The long ascent from Vorderlanersbach to the Geiseljoch is very easy to ride and never too steep: first tarmac, then gravel and in the upper part a natural road. The last few metres on a single trail require a real effort. Then you can enjoy the view from the Geiseljoch to the full.
This also applies to the following descent, the highlight of this tour: a narrow but easy to ride dream trail leads towards Weidener Hütte and offers the perfect flow. After a few hundred metres, the rugged south faces of the Karwendel appear - a dream view!
At the Weidener Hütte, you can enjoy refreshments on the large terrace. And you should, because there are still over 1,300 metres in altitude and, above all, many kilometres to go. If you want to split the tour into two days, it's best to spend the night here at the Weidener Hütte.
Via Innerst, Eggeraste and Außerweerberg you head towards Loassattel. A very beautiful and sometimes quite tricky single trail puts your riding technique to the test.
Shortly before the Loassattel, you reach the Gasthof Loas. From here, there are only a few metres in altitude left, so a stop for refreshments is almost obligatory. Over the Loassattel, you reach Hochfügen in no time at all. The long, beautiful descent on the forest road through the Finsingtal valley leads to Kupfnerberg and the church of St. Pankratz. Shortly afterwards you reach Fügen and either take the Zillertalbahn or cycle the last 25 kilometres on the Zillertal cycle path to Mayrhofen to (almost) complete the 100 kilometres.
INFO
Place
This tour also starts in Mayrhofen.
Accommodation
Mayrhofen Tourist Office, Dursterstraße 225, 6290 Mayrhofen,
Tel. 0043/5285/6760, www.mayrhofen.at. If you want to split the tour into two days, it is best to stay overnight at the Weidener Hütte, tel. 0043/5224/68529.
Food + drink
The terrace of the Weidener Hütte is highly recommended. The bacon dumplings here are particularly delicious. At Gasthof Loas, just below the Loassattel, you can enjoy huge schnitzels with a view of the Karwendel. Zillertal specialities are available at the Erlebnissennerei just before Mayrhofen.
Maps
Kompass map "Zillertaler Alpen - Tuxer Alpen", sheet 37, scale 1:50 000. Mayrhofen hiking, cycling, MTB and touring map 1:35 000, sheet 31 Vorderes Zillertal. Bike map of Zillertal Tourismus GmbH 1:40 000, sheet 1, Vorderes 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 directly in front of the car park.
