1. to the Soiernsee (36 km, 1544 m elevation gain, difficulty: difficult)
The two Soiernsee lakes shine like two blue eyes in the rock arena below the Schöttelkarspitze. A backdrop that even King Ludwig II would have travelled up here for, because on a clear day you can see across the Walchensee to Lake Starnberg from the very top. Of course, Ludwig II had his lackeys to carry him up. From Krün, the route first climbs steeply up to the Fischbachalm. Shortly afterwards, you push 200 metres up to the lakes. Now you could take the path up towards Schöttelkarspitze and crown the view (photo). For a round tour, however, you can take an adventurous climb over the Jöchel (1787 m) and then return to Krün via the Fereinalm.
2nd Great Karwendel Tour (68.2 km, 1838 m elevation gain, difficulty: difficult)
It is the Karwendel classic, which is also very popular with beginners - at least as far as the Karwendelhaus. Because up to there, you roll along almost flat for 25 kilometres through the Himalayan-like high valley. Around half of all bikers simply turn back after the Kaiserschmarrn at the hut. Only the ambitious ones climb over the Hochalmsattel. Knowing that they will have to "iron out" the scenic descent through the Johannestal later in the form of two very crisp ascents to Vordersbachau and Fereinalm.
3rd Pleisenhütte (15.8 km, 788 altitude metres, difficulty: difficult)
As a true Karwendel sportsman, you have to have been up there, with the Pleisen-Toni. Toni Gaugg was a pioneer in the Karwendel. During one of his cave expeditions, he discovered an 8,000-year-old elk calf and, after the war, finally built the hut on his favourite mountain, the Pleisenspitze, on his own initiative. When he died in 2007, he was also buried up there. Today, his son Sigi runs the rustic hut, which still manages without electricity or running water.
"Water!" is what the bikers think as they tackle the ascent to the hut at 1757 metres above sea level. Shortly after the start in Scharnitz, the route soon begins to climb steeply. And it stays that way, except that the path becomes a little narrower, rougher and even steeper towards the end. But Sigi's cooking skills and the view from the sun terrace make up for everything
4th Lamsenjochhütte (37.6 km, 1578 metres altitude, difficulty: difficult)
If you set off from Lake Achensee to the Lamsenjochhütte at an altitude of 1953 metres, you will need to be prepared to suffer. It's an easy ride into the Falzthurntal valley as far as the Gramai-Alm, but soon you reach the end of the valley and then you have to carry your bike uphill, switchback by switchback, on a bumpy path. After 1000 metres in altitude, the enjoyment finally begins: first the rustic stop at the hut, then the high mountain trail down to the Binsalm and the subsequent ride through the Großer Ahornboden. Unfortunately, many of the famous old trees are just skeletons. The reason: sycamores "only" live to be 500 years old and new plantings since the 1960s have only been moderately successful. Over the Plumsjoch into the Gerntal and back to Lake Achensee.
5th Falkenhütte (30.4 km, 1123 altitude metres, difficulty: medium)
After the Great Karwendel Circuit, the tour up to the Falkenhütte is probably the most popular. You should therefore be early at the weekend if you want to get hold of a Kaiserschmarrn and a seat with a view of the Adlerhorst at the hut. From the start in the Rißtal valley, this circular tour takes you through dreamlike scenery. First you climb up the Johannestal, cross the small Ahornboden and fight your way up the mean ramp from the Ladizalm. From the hut, you finally head back down into the valley at the foot of the imposing Laliderer walls.
6th Schleims saddle (61.21 km, 1792 m elevation gain, difficulty: difficult)
At its easternmost edge, the Karwendel massif stands with its feet in Lake Achensee. This is the best place to start in order to get to know the green side of the Karwendel. Between Lake Achensee and the Sylvenstein reservoir, the peaks undulate much more gently. You cross shady valleys and wind up forest roads through woods. You are all the more surprised when you finally reach the Schleims saddle: you would never have expected such a nasty ramp in this area. You just pray that it's at least worth it. And it is: super views!
7th Hallerangerhaus (26.9 km, 840 m elevation gain, difficulty: medium)
In the Hinterautal valley, the Isar gushes out of the moss - as a good Munich resident, you want to have seen its source. You won't have broken a lot of sweat by the time you get there, as the first 15 kilometres are rather flat as you roll through the quiet Karwendel valley. But then you hit the hammer: a 25 per cent gradient over the next 300 metres! And the last 100 metres to the Hallerangerhaus are probably even steeper. On the hut terrace, you look out over the rock face of the Lafatscherjoch and think: Wow, Innsbruck is already behind it!
Gitta Beimfohr
Editor
