The canton of Graubünden is basically one big bike park. Afraid of the Swiss franc exchange rate? The hoteliers offer favourable package deals with free cable car tickets!
1st Alps Trail Davos
It is 38 kilometres long and was named an Epic Trail by the IMBA last year. This makes the Alps Trail from Davos not only the longest trail in Switzerland, but also one of the best in the world. With plenty of flow, the trail leads from Jakobshorn (2590 metres) via Sertig to Davos-Monstein and down to Filisur. There are 615 metres of ascent on the way and you will also have to push along the Via Romantica, but that's all part of the adventure!
Length 38 km/2070 hm
Location Davos/Switzerland
Cable car Mid-June to mid-October
www.davos.ch
2nd Corviglia Flowtrail
The slope below the Corviglia cable car is extremely steep. And what does a good flow trail builder do with it? Right: he simply carves more bends into the mountain. This flow country trail above the rooftops of St. Moritz really is a little rollercoaster wonder. But considering all the other flow trails in the Upper Engadine, you'll only be warming up for bigger challenges here.
Length 3.7 km/480 hm
Location Engadine/St. Moritz
Open Mountain railway opening times in summer: 25.6.-16.10.16
Cable car/shuttle Yes
www.engadin.stmoritz.ch
3rd Wiesenalm Trail
Sensationally smooth and versatile flow trail from the middle station of the Rosenalmbahn cable car down to Zell am Ziller. Thanks to countless hairpin bends, you won't let a single metre of altitude rattle through your speedometer without having fun. Bumps and North Shore bridges provide plenty of entertainment along the way. Can be combined with the new Isskogel Trail via the Panorama Trail!
Length 4.4 km/740 m elevation gain
Location Zell am Ziller/Austria
Cable car End of May to mid-October
www.zillertalarena.com
4th Lenzerheide
The Flowline is just one of five routes in the Lenzerheide Bike Park. It curves from the middle station of the Rothorn cable car across a clearing into the valley. With beautiful berms, small jumps and a wallride.
Length 400 hm
Location Grisons/Switzerland
Cable car May to November (exact opening hours on the Internet)
www.lenzerheide.com
5th Singletrek Pod Smrkem
Eleven kilometres of flowing pump track laps in three levels of difficulty: At the Trail Centre Pod Smrkem, you will learn that flow trail feelings can arise even when riding uphill. Despite the forest, there are hardly any roots, but natural wall rides and berms for days!
Length Eleven rounds that can be combined in different ways
Location Nové Mesto pod Smrkem near the German border near Zittau
Open K. A.
Cable car/shuttle No
www.singltrekpodsmrkem.cz
6. snitches
Waves, tables and rounded curves - the flow country trail on the Petzen in Carinthia is ten kilometres long and one of the first of its kind in Austria. The trail had barely been opened in August 2014 when it received an award from the IMBA for the best-built flow trail of the year for its ingenious rhythm. In fact, you rarely need the brakes on the Petzen Trail, as some of the bends are slightly uphill.
Length 10 km/1000 hm
Location Lake Klopein/South Carinthia
Cable car From June
www.petzen.net
7th Teäre-Line
The newly created trail in the Ötztal valley boasts over 130 bends and follows the flow country principle: little gradient, lots of bends and even more waves. There are no difficult obstacles that could throw you off course. Instead, there are many more signposted flow trails to discover around Sölden.
Length 6 km/700 hm
Location Sölden in Ötztal/Tyrol
Cable car Open from mid-June to the beginning of October
www.oetztal.com
8th Rychlebske Stezky
Never heard of it? Neither had we before, but the Graubünden flow trail builder Darco Cazin recently returned from there and said approvingly: "Respect, they've carved out perhaps the best flow in Europe." A trail centre with circuits up to 21 kilometres long.
Length 7-21 km/80-470 hm
Location Cerná Voda/Czech Republic, west of Prague
Open April to October, daily from 8 am to a maximum of 8 pm in June and July
Cable car/shuttle No
www.rychlebytrails.eu
You can read this article or the entire BIKE 12/2015 issue in the BIKE app (iTunes and Google Play) or buy the issue in the DK shop reorder:
Gitta Beimfohr
Editor
