The precinct
The Zillertal is the widest side valley of the Inn. Over a length of almost 50 kilometres, it branches out into Gerlostal, Tuxertal, Zemmtal, Stilluptal and Zillergrund. These branches in all directions make the Zillertal particularly interesting for touring bikers, as a new panorama opens up with every mountain climbed. As the Zillertal Alps lie in the centre of the main Alpine ridge, the climbs to the summit regions are long and often steep. Beginners in particular can quickly reach their physical limits here - if it weren't for the cable cars. Eight cable cars also lift bikes up the mountain in summer - at a free rate.
Once at the top, bikers can then follow the often kilometre-long panoramic trails. The constant ups and downs add up to a lot of altitude metres. But speaking of summer mountain lifts: Skiing is also possible in the Zillertal in summer. The pistes on the Hintertux Glacier are open all year round. So you could ski here in the morning and set off on a bike tour in the afternoon.
Throughout Tyrol, only trails specially designated and signposted for mountain bikers are officially permitted. In the Zillertal, 1200 kilometres have been signposted so far. These include the two flow trails on the Wiesenalm and Isskogel.
Approach
By car: from Germany, either take the Inntal motorway to the Wiesing/Zillertal exit and continue on the B169 Zillertal federal road (170 km from Munich). A more scenic route without a toll sticker is via Bad Tölz, Lenggries and the Achensee Pass. The road ends in the Inntal valley directly at the entrance to the Zillertal.
By train: from Kufstein and Innsbruck to Jenbach. There simply change to the Zillertalbahn railway.
Best touring time
Depending on the snow conditions, it always takes a little longer in the main Alpine ridge until the trails above 1800 metres are open. However, the cable cars and huts usually start operating in summer at the beginning of June and close around mid-October.
In midsummer, you can expect localised heat thunderstorms that form due to strong sunlight, especially in rocky summit regions. The clouds then cling to the rocks and pour out, while the most beautiful weather prevails down in the valley. It is therefore important to be informed about the current mountain weather: www.alpenverein.at
Accommodation
Bike-friendly establishments of all categories can be found throughout the Zillertal. From 5-star sports hotels, chalets and self-catering flats to small and fine bed and breakfasts, there is something for every taste and budget.
Info under www.zillertal.atTel. 0043/5288/87187
Maps
Compass map "Zillertaler Alpen-Tuxer Alpen", sheet 37, scale 1:50000. info: www.kompass.de
A new overview map showing all the Zillertal tours is available free of charge from the tourist offices.
Tours and GPS data
The GPS data for the designated MTB tours in the Zillertal can be found in the interactive tour planner from: www.zillertal.at
Zillertalbahn & hiking bus
So that you don't have to drive to the various tour starting points within the Zillertal, you can hop on the Zillertalbahn railway or the hiking buses at any time between Strass and Mayrhofen. Bikes are transported free of charge.
In addition, the Zillertal cycle path runs alongside the railway tracks, which also allows you to get from place to place quickly.
Zillertal Activcard 2016
If you are on holiday in the Zillertal for longer than five days, it is worth buying an Activcard. The benefits: one ascent and descent per day on one of eleven cable cars, free admission to six outdoor swimming pools, free use of public transport (except the steam train), admission to the observatory in Königsleiten and discounts at various partner businesses. Price for six days: 61.50 euros, children 30.50 euros. Available from 26 May to 9 October at all tourist offices, cable cars and railway stations.
Guided bike tours
The Zillertal is still full of biking secrets that have not yet appeared in any tour book. And nobody knows them better than a bike guide who has been stalking trails here since he was a child:
Bike School Zillertal, Stefan Eberharter, www.bikeschool-zillertal.at
Bikearena Zillertal, www.bikearena-zillertal.at
Bicycle Holidays Max Hürzeler, www.huerzeler.com
Bikeguide Zillertal, Stefan Kröll, www.bikeguide-zillertal.at
General information
The Zillertal is divided into four tourism regions: Fügen-Kaltenbach, Zell/Gerlos, Mayrhofen-Hippach and Tux-Finkenberg. Information, a list of hotels that regularly offer guided tours and information about the regions can be found at www.zillertal.at
Zillertal - Facts
2338 m is up the Tuxer Joch. Alpine crossers with good riding technique love its rough descent into the Wipptal valley. The Pfitscherjoch (2246 m) to Sterzing is easier.
8 Ropeways transport mountain bikes up the mountain free of charge. A service that you should take advantage of, as the energy you save in this way can be put to good use at high altitudes with great views.
8 minutes needs the new 3S-Penkenbahn from Mayrhofen up to the scenic Penken mountain. And it even has WLAN.
2400 working hours is what the designers at Velosolutions invested in the construction of the new trails on the Isskogel. The trails have been open to bikers since August 2015.
1200 kilometres signposted bike routes criss-cross the entire valley from Strass to the Hintertux Glacier. All routes are available as a free download in the interactive tour planner: www.zillertal.at
20000 square metres glacier ice surface are covered with a fleece tarpaulin in summer to protect the ice from melting. This saves 1.6 metres of ice thickness per year.
Total number of glaciers: 85
20 Alpine cattle drives in autumn: at the end of September, the happy cows are decorated with flowers and bells and driven down into the valley. This has always been a celebration for the locals, but nowadays tourists also travel from far and wide to witness this spectacle.
380 hay milk farmers only feed their cows with fresh alpine grass or hay. As a result, hay milk contains significantly more omega-3 fatty acids, which you can also taste in yoghurt and cheese.
5.2 kilometres is the length of the Wiesenalm Trail from the middle station of the Rosenalmbahn cable car downhill. Spread over 700 metres in altitude, the trail contains every type of bend you can imagine.
152 managed huts can be found on tour in the Zillertal. The food is always cooked with regional products. Whether you have crystal sparkling wine or hay milk with your meal depends on the hut you choose.
9:24.21 hours Record time at the Zillertal Bike Challenge: this fabulous time is held by marathon pro Markus Kaufmann. He has already won the three-day race with a total of 203 kilometres and 9180 metres of altitude difference three times. Information about the new route
here
35 % gradient await you on the last few metres up to the Übergangsjoch. And this is just one of many tough tests in the Zillertal Bike Challenge. The race will be held for the eighth time in 2016.
What mountain bikers must not miss in the Zillertal
You can see a lot of the Zillertal on the mountain bike tours, but beyond the signposted routes there are a few highlights that are better left at the hotel. Perfect for families or on bike-free days.
3-day marathon: Zillertal Bike Challenge from 1 - 3 July 2016
Cross the entire Zillertal in three days and don't miss a single scenic highlight - the Zillertal Bike Challenge leads from Fügen to the Hintertux Glacier in three stages. Two categories are allowed to use the lift so that all racers can enjoy the panoramic views. So it's up to each participant to decide how fast they want to race.
Three-time winner Markus Kaufmann from the Centurion-Vaude team is unlikely to have paid too much attention to the glacier panorama during the race. The 34-year-old marathon pro has already covered the entire route, from the entrance to the valley in Fügen up to the Hintertux glacier, in 9:24.21 hours.
Hobby cyclists take considerably longer, as the Zillertal Bike Challenge is one of the toughest races you can take on in the Alps. After all, the race takes place in the middle of the main Alpine ridge. This means that the climbs are long and sometimes steep to extremely steep. Three times the course scrapes the 2000 metre mark, twice it shoots far beyond it. Those who reach the Tuxer-Ferner-Haus at 2660 metres at the end will have pumped 3000 metres of altitude into their legs three days in a row and have every right to be proud of themselves.
But as with any good marathon, there are of course two easier variants in the Zillertal. The only difference is that they are not simply run halfway up the mountain through the dense forest. In the Zillertal Bike Challenge, participants are allowed to take the mountain railway. This reduces the altitude and kilometres, but not the view. This means that all participants can enjoy the Zillertal panoramic trails.
King/Queen of the Mountain
3 race days, 203.5 km/9180 m uphill/ 7130 m downhill, 0 cable cars
Stage 1: Fügen - Zell am Ziller
67.8 km/3000 m uphill, 2970 m downhill, max. gradient: 28 %
The first stage from Fügen to Zell has a new look this year: From Fügen, the route climbs up to Hochfügen, but then the course turns to the valley station of the new Geols panoramic cable car and on to the Onkeljoch (1850 m). From there down to Hochfügen and via the gravel road in Finsinggrund to Ried/Kaltenbach. Continue through the villages of Kaltenbach and Stumm, then, as always, the Stummerberg and the Kapaunsalm panoramic trail await. The reward of the day: the descent to Zell am Ziller leads over parts of the Wiesenalm flow trail!
Stage 2: Zell am Ziller - Mayrhofen
69.4 km/3070 m uphill, 3100 m downhill, max. gradient: 35 %
2000 metres in altitude immediately after breakfast. The first 1500 metres in altitude to the Kreuzjochhütte are still quite easy to crank up, but very few people have ever been confronted with a 35 per cent ramp like this one up to the Übergangsjoch. But from up here you can see the entire glacier line of the Zillertal and: The descent takes you through the shaped berms of the Isskogel trails down to Gerlos. From there, you climb another 600 metres in altitude to the Kreuzwiesenalm, enjoy the panoramic trail, cycle downhill on sections of the Wiesenalm trail and finally head for the stage finish in Mayrhofen on the Zillertal cycle path.
Stage 3: Mayrhofen - Tuxer-Ferner-Haus
50.5 km/2900 m uphill, 900 m downhill, max. gradient: 29 %
After a short round trip through Mayrhofen, you head up to the Penkenjoch via Finkenberg and Astegg. With your eyes firmly fixed on the glistening glacier, the route climbs steeply up to the Wanglalm before curving down the rough gravel road to Vorderlanersbach. The pleasantly ascending valley road leads up to Hintertux, where the gravel track branches off to the Bichlalm. Here, the Tuxer Ferner really does lie in all its splendour and close enough to touch in front of the handlebars. But the distance is deceptive. From the Sommerberg, you have to slide down to the top of the saddle for the last 500 metres in altitude to the finish, that's how steep the path is. But the finish arch is waiting at the Tuxer-Ferner-Haus!
Prince/Princess of the Mountain
3 race days, 159.5 km/4255 m uphill, 9085 m downhill, 5 mountain railways
The three stages of the Prince and Princess category cover almost the same route as the Kings and Queens, with the difference that you can save a total of almost 4000 metres in altitude with five lifts: Panoramabahn Geols, Rosenalmbahn I + II, Isskogelbahn, Penkenbahn, glacier bus in Hintertux
Lord/Lady of the Mountain
3 race days, 122.5 km/3580 metres uphill, 4715 metres downhill, 4 mountain railways
In the easiest category, four cable cars can be used and the route is also made easier by a few steep ramps. For example, the Glacier Bus 1 helps on the last day, but the lords and ladies still have to fight their way up the final ascent to the Tuxer-Ferner-Haus themselves.
General information
You can also enter the race as a team. The three fastest times of at least five participants are counted at the end of the third stage. A total of 15,000 euros in prize money will be awarded in the Zillertal Bike Challenge. All about the routes, conditions of participation and registration: www.zillertal-bikechallenge.com
Zillertal Bike Challenge" competition
The Zillertal Bike Challenge has established itself as a climbing test. We are giving away two starter packages for the 3-day event including a starting place and overnight stay in a 4-star hotel.
Click here for the competition
Gitta Beimfohr
Editor
