Easy MTB tours in the Zillertal
Easy tours are also possible in the Zillertal. Thanks to the gently sloping valleys that were once carved out by the glaciers, even beginners can easily pedal up to the eternal ice.
Through the Wildgerlostal
A leisurely roll-in tour around the Durlassboden reservoir with glacier, panorama, rustic alpine pastures and a trip to the neighbouring Krimmler Tauern. In midsummer, the lake even has bathing temperature.
You can hardly get much closer to the glacier ice on a bike tour: The tour into the Wildgerlostal valley starts in Gerlos, winds along the Gerlosbach stream and finally climbs up to the dam wall of the Durlassboden reservoir. At an altitude of 1400 metres, you have now left the most strenuous part of the tour behind you. The view follows the lake, which lies wedged between the mountain giants like a crooked fjord. Whether you want to circle it clockwise or anti-clockwise is a matter of taste. Perhaps it depends on how hungry you are, because you simply can't miss the Bärschlagalm on the west bank. The rustic hut is ingeniously embedded in the landscape and is still managed without electricity. Then continue along the gravelled riverside path towards the end of the valley until the glacier fields of the Wildgerlos and Reichenspitze peaks glisten in the sun at the end.
The southern end of the lake is reached in Finkau. Here you can stop off again at the Alpengasthaus and then cycle back down the valley on the other side of the lake. If you still have some energy left, you can pedal another five kilometres closer to the glacier, as the trail only really ends at the Zittauer Hütte material lift. However, this section adds another 500 metres in altitude.
Back at the Durlassboden dam wall, you can enjoy a coffee at the Seestüberl and take a dip in the fresh but still warmest bathing water in the Zillertal. Then it's back along the Gerlosbach stream to the starting point. The Wildgerlostal tour is a perfect tour to roll in or for particularly hot days.
Info about the tour
On the north bank of the Durlassboden reservoir, a few years ago you still had to shoulder your bike and balance it over wooden planks. This stretch has now been upgraded and is completely rideable. If you want to add a few more metres in altitude, take the road up towards Königsleiten and roll back to Gerlos on the main road.
Start and finish point
The tour starts at the music pavilion in the centre of Gerlos.
Retreat
Bärschlagalm, Alpengasthaus Finkau (game dishes!), Seestüberl
To the Bichlalm
This tour probably has the easiest ascent and yet leads very close to the largest glacier in the Zillertal. After a rest on the sun terrace, a short detour to the Schleier waterfall is worthwhile.
When the participants of the Zillertal Bike Challenge have the Bichlalm in their sights after three tough days of racing, they think they have already reached the finish line. The Hintertux Glacier seems to tower so close in front of the sun terrace of the small, cosy mountain hut. But they were wrong. The racers still have to continue up to the Sommerbergalm, and behind it there is another 500 metre altitude ramp to the finish at the Tuxer-Ferner-Haus. However, if you only tackle this short stitch tour, you will actually be celebrating a mountain festival at the Bichlalm (1695 m).
From the car park in Vorderlanersbach, the valley road is pleasantly flat and practically straightforward up the valley to Hintertux. Shortly before the village of Juns, the road bends slightly to the left and suddenly the Hintertux Glacier shines at the head of the valley. It's a sight that will only fuel your cranking efforts on the valley road. Directly after the Hintertux town sign, at an altitude of just under 1500 metres, the time has finally come: a sign points right to the turn-off towards Tuxerjoch and Bichlalm. After a few metres on asphalt, the road surface changes to gravel, which continues to climb gently through the mountain forest in serpentines. After 200 metres in altitude, you have left the last trees behind you and are heading directly towards the glacier again, in front of which a few houses have been built: the Bichlalm. The sun terrace of the small hut is usually well frequented - and rightly so. The homemade cakes made from the valley's hay milk products almost melt in your mouth. If you have good eyesight, you can even recognise the skiers on the glacier who train up there all summer long.
Info about the tour
The tour can be extended at will. You can either start further down in the valley, in Finkenberg, or pedal further up towards the glacier after the Bichlalm. The ascent is moderate up to the Sommerbergalm, after which there are some steep stretches up to the Tuxer-Ferner-Haus.
Start and finish point
Vorderlanersbach, at the car park shortly after entering the village, opposite the Testerhof
Retreat
Various refreshment stops along the valley road and of course the Bichlalm at the apex of the tour. Open from mid-June to mid-October.
GPS data
The GPS data for the tours described here and all other designated tours in the Zillertal can be found in the interactive tour planner from: www.zillertal.at
Medium-difficulty tours
Of course, the panoramic grapes hang high in the Zillertal. But there are the cable cars! Why not simply save a few metres in altitude and continue the tour at viewing altitude?
To the Rastkogel hut
Magnificent views of the glacier peaks, and at the end of the long climb you can enjoy a freshly grilled burger at the hut as a "mountain feast". The rock arena is also a particularly beautiful place to spend the night under a full moon.
Ski tourers love the Rastkogelhütte. At an altitude of 2124 metres, the DAV hut sits enthroned like an exclamation mark in a large rock arena. Full moon nights are said to be particularly beautiful up here. Especially when the Fat Berta is steaming. The smoker grill looks like a small steam engine and sizzles ribeye steaks and the famous Rastkogelhütten burger in front of the hut all year round.
So the catering is taken care of, now you just have to reach the hut with a correspondingly large appetite. And the best way to do that is with the Penkenbahn cable car. In eight minutes, you float from the centre of Mayrhofen up to the Penken and climb another 300 metres in altitude on the panoramic gravel road to the Penkenjoch. At the top, you have a view of all the side valleys of the Zillertal with their rows of peaks, from which the white glacier fields peek out. Full concentration on the following descent into the Horbergtal valley. The gravel road stretches quite steeply downhill to Schwendberg, where the first and only long climb of the day awaits: the route now climbs almost 900 metres in altitude in one go up to the Rastkogelhütte. Up to the toll booth on the Zillertaler Höhenstraße on tarmac, then over the Sidanalm on gravel. The climb is long and steep in places, but as soon as the rock arena to the Rastkogelhütte opens up, the pain is forgotten. And with a freshly grilled burger in your hand anyway. But be careful not to fill your stomach! On the descent into the valley, there is a short but tough counter-climb up to Melchboden. In the valley, take the Zillertal cycle path back to Mayrhofen.
Tour info
The Knorren via ferrata starts at the Penkenjoch. If the urge strikes spontaneously, you can hire equipment at the cable car.
The cable car
The brand new 3S-Penkenbahn is open from 14 May to 9 October.
Start and finish point
At the Penkenbahn valley station in the centre of Mayrhofen
Retreat
Huts on the Penkenjoch, Rastkogelhütte (open in summer from June to the end of October), Melchboden
Penken & Geiseljoch
Colourful hustle and bustle on the scenic Penken mountain and absolute mountain peace on the Geiseljoch. The new 3S-Penkenbahn cable car makes this combination of unequal brothers possible. And at the end, a 1600 metre descent awaits.
You simply have to have been up there, on the 2292 metre high Geiseljoch. The ascent is long and strenuous, but the way the gravel tracks from the Zillertal climb further and further up into the tranquil mountain world is quite an experience.
But there are other experiences to be had first: the ascent on the brand new 3S-Penkenbahn cable car, for example. Thanks to state-of-the-art technology, the gondolas fly up the 1000 metres in altitude to Penken in just eight minutes. You cross the pass on the new panoramic trail and push up the ramps to the Wanglalm. A steep, rough gravel track finally curves down towards Vorderlanersbach until it meets the pass road to the Geiseljoch. At the pass itself, the gravel narrows to a slightly rough but fully rideable path. Alpine crossers descend here to Weerberg, day tourers turn round and only let go of the brakes again in Mayrhofen.
Info about the tour
You can also skip the loop over the Penken and start the tour to the Geiseljoch in Vorderlanersbach.
The cable car
The brand new 3S-Penkenbahn is open from 14 May to 9 October.
Start and finish point
At the Penkenbahn valley station in the centre of Mayrhofen
Retreat
Gasthof Geislerhof
GPS data
The GPS data for the tours described here and all other designated tours in the Zillertal can be found in the interactive tour planner from: www.zillertal.at
Difficult tours
Nowhere in the Alps are there longer climbs than in the main ridge. If you want to go really high, you can quickly cover 2,000 metres of altitude in the Zillertal - and be proud of yourself afterwards.
Kellerjoch circuit
This tour is the first major challenge at the entrance to the Zillertal. From Fügen, a gravel track winds its way up to the Loassattel and then circles the Kellerjoch with panoramic views of the Karwendel and Inntal valleys. A real Zillertal classic.
Like a bastion, the 2344 metre high Kellerjoch watches over the entrance to the Zillertal. Circumnavigating this colossus of a mountain by bike is one of the region's absolute tour classics. Although the tour is long, it can also be shortened depending on your fitness and the weather.
From Fügen, take the road up to the St. Pankraz church and on to the Kupfnerberg. In a left-hand bend, you finally switch straight onto the gravel path through the Finsingtal valley. For many years, this moderately steep ascent to Hochfügen was the opening of the Zillertal Bike Challenge. At the top, you briefly cross the tarmac road and immediately turn off again towards Loassattel. A pleasantly flat gravel road now slowly climbs above the tree line - and the Karwendel peaks come into view. It's worth stopping for a bite to eat at Gasthof Loas, after which it's all downhill towards Grafenaste. If you realise that you're running out of energy, you can already descend into the Zillertal here. Everyone else can continue via the Mehrerkopf and the quaint villages of Hochgallzein and Obertroi.
Info about the tour
2000 metres in altitude are quite a challenge for a one-day tour. If you change your mind on the way for fitness reasons, you can descend directly into the Inn Valley at Grafenaste and later in Hof. Then cycle back to Fügen on the Zillertal cycle path.
Start and finish point
The tour starts at the car park at the festival hall in Fügen. At the junction at the Hotel Alpina, follow MTB route 411 in the direction of St. Pankraz.
Retreat
Gasthof Loas shortly after the Loassattel (delicious schnitzel!)
To the Geolsalm
Where skiers flock in winter, an alpine idyll blossoms in summer. Cowbells instead of alpine hits set the pace for a relaxed ride along the mountain trails. And at the end of the ascent, a rustic refreshment stop awaits.
Not around the Kellerjoch, but in a figure-of-eight loop across the Fügen mountain flank. This tour to the Geols-alm (1774 m) and further up to the Gartalm (1860 m) climbs quite far into the summit regions. And anyone familiar with the slopes around the Spieljochbahn cable car from winter can already guess that the smallest gears will be used uphill here in summer.
And that's right: from Fügen, it's initially quite pleasant uphill on the Pankrazbergstraße and then on the Hochfügener Straße on tarmac. But at the latest at the turn-off towards the Spieljochbahn middle station, the chain will move to the far left. The path now climbs steadily up the bumpy alpine meadows. Anyone cranking up here in spring or autumn will hardly be able to imagine that they were still carving down here on skis in winter. Instead of skiers and booming après-ski bars, only a few cowbells ring here from time to time in summer. From the turn-off to the Geolsalm, a marmot might whistle - otherwise the rhythmic crackling of the pebbles under your own tyres lets you pedal on almost meditatively. After almost 1200 metres in altitude, you reach the Geolsalm. Now you could add the last stitch up to the Gartalm. Alternatively, you can plop down contentedly on the sun terrace of the Geolsalm and order a homemade Kaspressknödel soup with a view of the Reichenspitz group. Return via the Arzjochkapelle and Kaunzalm through the Öxltal valley back down to Fügen.
Info about the tour
This tour on the flanks of Fügen's local mountain Kellerjoch will also be part of the Zillertal Bike Challenge from 2016. So if you want to familiarise yourself with the opening stage of the team race, this is the place to do it. Tip: After the tour, it's worth taking a dip in the small Splitterer See lake, which is at bathing temperature from June.
Start and finish point
At the car park at the festival hall in Fügen
Retreat
Geolsalm and Gartalm, open from May to October
GPS data
The GPS data for the tours described here and all other designated tours in the Zillertal can be found in the interactive tour planner from: www.zillertal.at
2 flow trails and panoramic trail swing
The two flow trails in the Zillertal will give you a rollercoaster feeling. Here, berms, jumps and wooden constructions have been combined in such a way that all bikers can have fun. And as the trails are located on two different peaks, the view also changes.
Wiesenalm Trail
The jewel in the crown of the Zillertal: it's unbelievable how many hairpin bends the Swiss trail builders from Velosolutions have carved into the slope between Wiesenalm and Zell am Ziller. From the middle station of the Rosenalmbahn cable car, no metre of altitude has been left unused. At first, the path circles flat and natural through the forest. At some point, the slope becomes steeper, but the trail still has no intention of leaving the valley floor. Small to medium-high bumps, which you can easily push away, are mixed into its still flat course. Some of the bends are now tighter, but remain just rideable. Wooden bridges provide variety, then berms take over again. Even though the trail is not difficult to ride, concentration is required right to the end, as a tight slalom course awaits on the finishing slope. An absolute top trail for all abilities!
Isskogel trails
Freshly groomed last year: the Isskogel trails above Gerlos. Here, a main trail splits into five downhill variants about halfway up. Below the Isskogel mountain station, a "No pedestrians" sign marks the start of the trail. At first, the trail winds its way up the slope, then takes a wooden ramp and continues at a gentle pace. Once you reach the tree line, you can decide which level of difficulty you want to take: beginners are best off taking the gentle bends of the "Iss Flow" (2470 m) or the spectacular Northshore bridges and steep bends of the "Iss Shore" (666 m). On the other hand, those who branch off towards "Iss Natural" (246 m) and "Iss Tough" (1270 m) should be adept at roots and rear wheel offsets. Only the "Iss Vertical" (290 m) does not have many hairpin bends. You need a good feel in your braking fingers for this variant. Pure rollercoaster!
Panorama trail swing
The Wiesenalm and Isskogel trails have one thing in common: they both branch off from the same panoramic trail. The latter stretches like a panoramic balcony from the Rosenalm to the Isskogel, bobbing along at an altitude of 1800 to 2000 metres. So it's only natural to combine both super trails with a ride along this same panoramic trail.
The Rosenalmbahn cable car takes you from Zell to the summit station. Now there are just under 100 metres of elevation gain to the panoramic trail, but that's just what you need to warm up. Then you simply follow the gravel path towards the view, because after just a few turns of the pedals, the entire main Alpine ridge covered in white sugar spreads out in front of you - for the next 22 kilometres. At the Isskogel, you plunge into the new trails, get back on the gondola in Gerlos and float back up to the panoramic trail. And although you already know the way back, the sun is now lower and illuminates the mountain peaks in a completely different light. Back at the Rosenalm, the Wiesenalm trail awaits. There's no better way to end a day of touring. A super tour!
GPS data
The GPS data for the tours described here and all other designated tours in the Zillertal can be found in the interactive tour planner from: www.zillertal.at
Cable car opening times and prices 2016
Rosenalmbahn in Zell am Ziller: from 26 May to 9 October, daily from 8.40 am to 5.10 pm, price per ride: 7.40 euros. Isskogelbahn/Gerlos: from 11 June to 9 October, daily from 9 am to 5 pm (without lunch break), price: 8.20 euros. Bike transport free of charge. Info: www.zillertalarena.com
Combi-Ticket
For the Panorama Trail Swing, there is a combined ticket for the two cable cars in Zell and on the Isskogel. Adults pay from 14.80 euros for both cable car rides, children from 7.40 euros.
Gitta Beimfohr
Editor
