XXL tour special Tiroler Zugspitz Arena: Trail area on the sunny side of the Zugspitze
Markus Greber
· 06.07.2021
Alpine trails, distant views, challenging enduro trails through mountain forests, simply carefree mountain biking - all of this is becoming increasingly difficult in these times. In Bavaria threatened by the new administrative regulationto let normal touring bikers slip into illegality. In Austria all forest roads that are not specifically designated for bikers are prohibited per se.
But the flow business is flourishing. Fearing a future lack of snow, ski resorts are sensing a chance of survival in bike tourism. Bike parks are springing up everywhere. Crushed sand trails now run through the forests on precisely calculated tracks, not too flat and not too steep. Smooth and flat enough for the masses.
In the Tiroler Zugspitz Arena, you won't find any crushed sand marble runs and you don't have to fear mass bike tourism. Nevertheless, bikers are still legally allowed to ride here. And the Grubigstein was actually one of the very first "bike parks" in Austria. The Blindsee Trail has already become a classic, and all other newly developed mountain bike trails are modelled on it. They are "nature trails" without a net or a false bottom. Here you have to read the terrain, master key sections and find your own rhythm.
Nevertheless, the arena also offers plenty for leisure and family bikers. For example, up to Seebensee, one of the most beautiful places in the Alps. Or on the Mühlwald Trail from Bichlbach towards Berwang - an excursion into the wild and romantic mountain world in the west of the region. In our XXL tour special, we have put together five of the most beautiful routes in the Tiroler Zugspitz Arena - classics and insider tips alike. Bikers are very welcome here.
XXL Tour Special Tiroler Zugspitz Arena: Contents
Photo story: Striking peaks, idyllic mountain lakes, cosy Alpine pastures - the most beautiful tour spots in pictures
From pleasure biking to trail adventures: the five best tours with all the details
Info Tiroler Zugspitz Arena: Hotels, cuisine and everything else you can do in the region
Note: The GPS data of the BIKE tours from the XXL tour special to the Tiroler Zugspitz Arena can be downloaded here free of charge. You will find the download area directly below this article. Have fun travelling!
Two long, natural trails, technical riding challenges and a backdrop like in Canada - this classic tour is one of the absolute highlights of the Tiroler Zugspitz Arena.
- 31.8 KM - 1430 m elevation gain - 4:30 h - trail share 26 %
- Condition 4/5
- Driving technique 4/5
- Landscape 5/5
In view of the two challenging downhills, you should think carefully about whether you really want to pedal yourself up the 1400 metres of altitude on this super tour. Although the gravel roads have a really pleasant gradient and can be cycled comfortably (see elevation profile).
Those who prefer to save their energy can take the gondola from Lermoos over two sections up to the Grubigstein summit house. The tour starts with a view of the mighty Wetterstein massif and a short roll-in phase on gravel. You can comfortably follow this piste down to the Grubigalm or turn off onto an alpine path after a few hundred metres.
Steps, bends and small drops in the fall line await here. Even experienced riders will have to concentrate fully on this ride through the hilly terrain of the Lermoos ski area and demonstrate a steady hand on the front brake. Shortly before the Grubigalm, the actual Blindsee Trail branches off. It swings gently up and down, then the forest gives way to the open, high alpine terrain of the Grubigstein's southern flank. The Wannig and Sonnenspitze peaks greet you on the left, while the Blindsee lake glistens in all shades of turquoise deep below. Almost as if its water had been imported directly from the Caribbean.
Depending on the weather conditions, the key sections of the trail are not without their challenges: steep, dusty and, especially in the bends, very scree-covered. The tyres start to slip relatively quickly. Shortly before the end of the high alpine section, a waterfall cascades down the rock face, then it's much easier down to the bathing bays of the Blindsee.
Refreshed by the crystal-clear mountain water, part two of the tour follows: a short tarmac section, quickly over the Fernpass road, then on gravel and fun trail sections past the idyllic Mittersee lake, down to Biberwier. There, either the Marienberg chairlift or the gravel serpentines (see elevation profile) are waiting to take you up to the start of the Barbarasteig - a genuine enduro trail through the forests above Biberwier.
There is no panorama here, but it is pure riding fun if you can come up with suspension travel beyond 140 millimetres and solid riding skills. You can then coast and crank along the forest and cycle paths back to the Grubigstein valley station.
Note: The GPS data of the BIKE tours from the XXL tour special to the Tiroler Zugspitz Arena can be downloaded here free of charge. You will find the download area directly below this article. Have fun travelling!
The Grubigstein offers excellent trail riding with gondola access. There are three downhill routes to choose from - they can be rounded off with a detour to the Wolfratshauser Hütte.
- 14.2 KM - 191 m elevation gain - 1224 TM - 1 H - trail share 52 %
- Condition 2/5
- Driving technique 2/5
- Landscape 4/5
You should bring some riding skills with you on the Grubigstein trails. Because there are roots, rocks, hairy bends - just what you would expect from a natural trail. And when it has rained, the "slippery" factor is added to the mix. The Lermoos trail builders have modelled three lines in the steep northern flank of the Grubigstein. The trails are kept in good condition, but deliberately not deprived of their natural obstacles.
This loop starts with the Grubigalm Trail, which branches off from the gravel road shortly after the gondola mountain station. After this steep direttissima and the narrow passage through a kind of natural half-pipe, you are well prepared for what is to come. But you can also let the anticipation simmer a little longer and take a detour to the Wolfratshauser Hütte (1753 m) before the long descent. The 150 metres in altitude difference up there are worth it, because firstly the approach is sweetened with a nice feeder trail, and afterwards you are not only served one of the most beautiful views of the Zugspitze at the hut, but also the finest specialities from the region.
With a full belly, it's back to the start of the Grubigstein Trails: this is where we enter the Forest Aisle. A 300 metre descent that embodies something like the ideal state for enduro riders and trail lovers. In the upper section, the trail winds its way through hilly terrain, taking bend after bend. At full lean angle, the drop after the crests gives you an excited tingling sensation in the pit of your stomach. As soon as the rhythm and traction have settled in, roots and small rocky outcrops join in.
Then an off-road edge - and the whole thing becomes steep, bumpy and even more technical. Those who master the seven hairpin switchbacks at the end without putting their feet down can then turn off into Forest Thunder with a clear conscience. This starts around 100 metres lower down, shortly after the Grubigsteinbahn middle station.
Here the forest is denser, the ground wetter. Roots, slippery rocks and ramps require full concentration, but you can go one better and use one of the wooden ramps to take off. Shortly before the valley station, the line finally swings out in a flowing manner. You return to the gondola via the new Lermoos Skill Area.
Note: The GPS data of the BIKE tours from the XXL tour special to the Tiroler Zugspitz Arena can be downloaded here free of charge. You will find the download area directly below this article. Have fun travelling!
The forest peaks around Bichlbach were not previously among the top spots in the Tiroler Zugspitz Arena. Yet there is a challenge here that is reminiscent of Canada's Northshore trails. The Almkopf cable car helps you get there.
- 18.0 KM - 820 m elevation gain - 2:45 h - 20 % trail share
- Condition 4/5
- Driving technique 4/5
- Landscape 4/5
What would a bike region be without dedicated locals who create their own trails with idealism and passion? Without planned squares and tourism interests at the back of their minds. Even world-famous super spots like the Northshore trails in Vancouver would never have existed without the subculture of such trail builders.
But this is exactly what the Lichteköpfle above the village of Bichlbach in the western part of the Tiroler Zugspitz Arena reminds us of. In terms of biking, this region was previously a blank slate. But at some point, a few young freeriders recognised the potential of this 1463-metre-high mountain.
Bit by bit and over the course of several summers, they shaped a forest trail in such a way that not only bikers were able to experience more and more riding fun here. The landowners also gained confidence over time and nodded their approval to the project.
Today, the path is called the Lichte Trail and is officially signposted and open to bikers. And the charm of this trail jewel lies precisely in its history, which is indeed reminiscent of the wild descents in British Columbia. You can easily reach it from Bichlbach with the Almkopf gondola lift.
Or, as described here, you can incorporate it into a longer tour, including an impressive 800 metres in altitude that you have climbed yourself. This way you can also enjoy the newly built Mühlwald Trail, which also offers fantastic views of the wild and rather unknown regions beyond Lermoos and Ehrwald. From the valley station of the Almkopfbahn cable car, the route leads on tarmac, then on gravel through the Mühlwald forest to a saddle. From there, the descent starts on the newly created gravel trail down to idyllic Kleinstockach.
From there, mainly on gravel paths via the Lähner Alm and past Berwang up to the Heiterwanger Hochalm. A good place to gather your strength for the upcoming descent on the Lichte Trail. The earth track initially crosses the ski piste several times, widens briefly into a gravel path and ends in a supposed dead end.
But this is where it starts, and the start of the Lichte Trail is not for the faint-hearted: you tip off the gravel path into a boggy singletrack slide. But the surface is perfectly "loamy", as the Canadians would say. It allows for controlled sliding, sometimes over both wheels, and that is what makes this trail so appealing.
You quickly get used to the steep descent and the fear of rolling over gives way to euphoria. Now a few built-in jumps - if the brakes aren't enough to slow you down, berms in the forest floor help. And before the route switches to easy bike park mode before the valley station, it heads towards another impressive road gap. Wow, a trail like you wouldn't expect to find in the Alps!
Note: The GPS data of the BIKE tours from the XXL tour special to the Tiroler Zugspitz Arena can be downloaded here free of charge. You will find the download area directly below this article. Have fun travelling!
- 17.1 KM - 774 m elevation gain - 2:30 h - trail share 0 %
- Condition 4/5
- Driving technique 2/5
- Landscape 5/5
There are a few prominent places in the Alps that have become world-famous thanks to Instagram and influencers. This may or may not be a good thing. The fact is: hundreds of followers make a pilgrimage to these spots year after year. Lake Seebensee is one of them. And anyone who has been up there will understand why.
However, you have to work hard to reach this natural wonder. If you do without the help of the mountain railway, the 400-metre asphalt ramp up to the Ehrwalder Alm is a tough one. The ride only begins when you switch to gravel: past the well-frequented alpine pasture, then on a varied up and down below the Wetterstein massif. From here, the view towards Lermoos stretches as far as the horizon.
But as soon as you pass the Seebenalm, the gradient of the gravel path increases considerably. But the destination is already heralded by a few streams bubbling up from the Seebensee. And then suddenly there it is, the Instagram star. Perhaps even more impressive in reality. Emerald green and crystal clear, surrounded by the white rock faces of the Mieminger Kette. You can't help but jump in, even if this mountain water is anything but bathing temperature.
After refreshing yourself, you can see the other sights again: the Ehrwalder Sonnenspitze on the right and the striking Drachenkopf on the left. A gravel path leads to the southern end of the lake. You could leave your bikes here and continue up the steep paths to the Coburger Hütte and Drachensee. Or you could simply sit down on the meadow, enjoy the marvellous natural surroundings and later cycle back to Ehrwald along the same route.
Note: The GPS data of the BIKE tours from the XXL tour special to the Tiroler Zugspitz Arena can be downloaded here free of charge. You will find the download area directly below this article. Have fun travelling!
- 17.3 KM - 418 m elevation gain - 1:30 h - trail share 2 %
- Condition 2/5
- Driving technique 2/5
- Landscape 4/5
The idyllic Loisach meanders through Biberwier as a small stream in countless twists and turns and then gushes through the valley basin between Ehrwald and Lermoos. Only when it makes its way towards Germany does it grow into a stately river, fed by many small mini streams. It makes its way through the Bavarian foothills of the Alps for over a hundred kilometres before flowing into the Isar and eventually ending up in the Black Sea with the Danube.
However, the Loisach has its origins near Biberwier. For those who have never seen a river see the light of day, this leisurely tour is highly recommended. From Lermoos, a gravelled mountain trail leads to the exact spot where a rockslide occurred 4000 years ago. Since then, spring water has bubbled out of many small openings in the mossy forest floor above Biberwier.
But the Loisach springs are not the only highlight on this tour. The tour continues via Mittersee and Weißensee. And anyone who only knows the area from the transit route over the Fernpass will be surprised at how idyllic and quiet it is here, just a few metres from the main road. This loop only touches this road briefly after the Weißensee and then dives back into nature.
On easy trails, forest and gravel paths, the route heads towards Biberwier, but then uphill past the valley station of the Marienbergalm and the lower foothills of the Barbarasteig towards Ehrwald. Shortly before the village, there is another trail through an ancient larch forest - the namesake of this tour. Then across the "Moos" back to Lermoos. A nice loop to roll in or as an excursion with the family.
Of course, you come here primarily for biking. But the Tiroler Zugspitz Arena has a lot more to offer. All information about the Tiroler Bike Arena at: www.zugspitzarena.com
Excursion to the Zugspitze
Germany's highest peak is also worth a trip from the south. From Ehrwald, the journey on the Tiroler Zugspitzbahn railway takes just ten minutes. The price for the ascent and descent: 49.50 euros per person.
The alpine adventure gets even more exciting with the Gatterl hiking ticket: take the gondola up, then the cable car down to the Zugspitzplatt and hike for around five hours to the Ehrwalder Alm. From there, take the Ehrwalder Almbahn cable car back down to the valley (47 euros).
5 mountain railways with bike transport
Conveniently take the gondola to the trail entrance - this has been working smoothly in the Tiroler Zugspitz Arena for years. Five lifts with special bike holders:
Ehrwalder Almbahn: lifts bikers to the Ehrwald ski area, which saves energy for the tour to Seebensee (bike transport: 2 euros).
Sonnalmbahn Berwang: the convenient access route to the Heiterwanger Hochalm
Almkopfbahn Bichlbach: the lift to the new Lichte Trail
Grubigsteinbahnen Lermoos: two sections with access to the Grubigstein Trails and the Blindsee Trail
Marienbergbahnen Biberwier: The chairlift to the Barbarasteig.
Tip: With the X-treme ticket for 32 euros, you can use the Grubigstein and Marienberg lifts all day long. Interesting for the Blindsee Trail/Barbarasteig circuit (Tour 1).
Delicious food
WAS Lounge - burgers, steaks, wraps, www.was-cooking.com
Al Castagno - pizza, pasta, ice cream specialities, www.alcastagno.at
S' Wirtshaisl am Heiterwanger See - snacks, cakes, meat and fish specialities, www.wirtshaislamsee.at
Golfino - Tyrolean specialities with an international twist, www.restaurant-golfino.at
Pure 180° - regional ingredients, cakes & chocolates, www.restaurant-180grad.at
More restaurants in the region at: www.zugspitzarena.com
Specialities to take away:
Linzgieseder - traditional family business, spirits specialities, www.linzgieseder.at
Stadlbräu - Austria's highest-altitude home brewery, www.hotelthaneller.at
BieZu Hof & Laden - specialities from our own farm and from the region, www.biezu.at
Living
The best addresses are the four member companies of Mountain Bike Holidays with certified infrastructure for mountain bikers:
Ehrwalderhof - Cosy family business with excellent cuisine, www.ehrwalderhof.at
Sporthotel Schönruh - in traditional style with a cosy atmosphere, www.hotel-schoenruh.com
Sporthotel Loisach - directly at the Grubigstein www.unser-loisach.at
Alpine rose - Four-star superior hotel in Lermoos, perfect for families, www.hotelalpenrose.at
Further accommodation: www.zugspitzarena.com
Bike guiding
He knows every ramp and every bend in the region and conjures up special insider tips for his guests: Elgar KöckLermooser Urgestein and full-time bike guide. Bookable via Bikeguiding Zugspitzarena in Lermoos, bikeguiding.at
Also competent in guiding: Reini from Bergsport Total in Ehrwald, bergsport-total.at
Bike infrastructure
Shops, hire stations, repairs - the bike infrastructure in the region has grown over decades. You are in good hands with these four shops:
Zweirad Zirknitzer, Ehrwald, 2rad-zirknitzer.at
Bike workshop, Ehrwald, radlwerkstatt.tirol
Zugspitz Bike, Lermoos, zugspitz-bike.at
Sport Nagele Bichlbach, nagele.cc
The latter is an experience in itself and is well worth a visit. Flo Nagele offers a special service for its hire service and delivers the high-quality Specialized bikes, perfectly set up, directly to the respective accommodation.
Zugspitz-8
For those in good shape, it is a one-day marathon challenge. Others simply take more time for the route and stop somewhere in one of the beautiful accommodations: The Zugspitz-8 tour measures 112 kilometres in total, circles the entire Wetterstein massif and then the Daniel, the highest peak in the Ammergau Alps at 2340 metres. Thanks to the valley route, the altitude metres are kept within limits, but can be significantly increased with extra loops.
Bike ring
You can confidently leave your car behind in the Tiroler Bike Arena. The Arena circuit connects all the villages in the region beyond the motorways and leads to the start of every tour without barriers. With a total of 41.4 kilometres, 481 metres in altitude and an easy route, this valley route is also ideal for getting to know the region. A great family tour!
Note: The GPS data of the BIKE tours from the XXL tour special to the Tiroler Zugspitz Arena can be downloaded here free of charge. You will find the download area directly below this article. Have fun travelling!
