10 autumn spots for mountain bikers: Where the trails are particularly bright now
Gitta Beimfohr
· 02.09.2023
Provence: Luberon Nature Park
The Luberon massif in the south of France is just 60 kilometres long, five kilometres wide and 1125 metres high. But the diversity of its rocky backdrops and its inexhaustible network of trails are a magical attraction for enduro riders from all over the world. The best starting point for tours: Saint-Saturnin.
The top tour: Colorado Provencal
- Length: 22.3 kilometres
- Uphill: 628 metres in altitude
- Difficulty: medium
Tour description
June is the perfect time for this enduro tour. This is when the lavender fields add to the already rich colours of the landscape. But even in autumn, this rush through the deep red canyons of the former ochre mining areas is a real experience. The tour starts in the village of Rustrel and climbs up the slopes to the Colorado Provencal. At the top, a trail balances up and down along the abyss, revealing views of the fiery and bizarre rock formations of the gorge time and again. The route then makes a wide loop through the lavender fields before plunging into the deep canyon red at the end. Please note: allow extra time because of the many photo stops! The GPS data for the tour can be downloaded at the end of the article.
Tip for long-distance fans: You can also cross the region on trails. The "Grande Traversée VTT de Vaucluse" is signposted - you will need about a week for its 400 km and 10,000 metres in altitude.
Overnight stay: Beautifully situated campsite with a view of the red ochre cliffs: Camping le Colorado in Rustrel, camping-le-colorado.fr
Belgian Ardennes: Stoneman Arduenna
Belgium, France and Luxembourg share the forest mountains of the Ardennes, which are up to 652 metres high. Three countries that welcome mountain bikers with open arms. That's why not only single trail lovers, but also long-distance enthusiasts can be found here on the marked "Arduenna" Stoneman circuit right into the snow-free winter months.
The top tour: Stoneman Arduenna
- Length: 176 kilometres
- Uphill: 3900 metres altitude
- Difficulty: easy to medium
Tour description
Of course, you won't break any altitude records in the Belgian part of the Ardennes, but if you want to crack the Stoneman route in one day, you might experience your own personal Waterloo. The climbs in Europe's largest upland moor are steep for the most part and take a lot of energy. But it's a good idea to take at least two days for this tour anyway. The small mountain range is criss-crossed by streams, which is why mystical and very photogenic clouds of mist form here in autumn. There are a total of eight stops along the way to bring home the finisher trophy at the end.
Overnight stay: 16 biker-friendly accommodations await you along the route. All information: www.stoneman-arduenna.com
Ore Mountains and Zittau Mountains
Basalt columns, kilometres of trails all the way to the Czech Republic, a Stoneman long-distance trail, a trail centre, an iconic marathon, surging seas of clouds and rocks that sprout up like mushrooms in the far east - hardly any other German low mountain range is as diverse as the Ore Mountains with the adjacent Zittau Mountains. Steffi Marth, Germany's best fourcrosser, is practically at home in the Ore Mountains, so naturally we asked her about the tour that is not to be missed in the area.
Steffi's top tour: To the Klínovec trail park
- Length: 50.5 kilometres
- Uphill: 5088 metres altitude
- Difficulty: medium
Tour description
From the legendary Bar Prijut 12 in Oberwiesenthal, the route takes you via the ruined village of Königsmühle across the green border to the Czech Republic and onwards on beautiful forest trails to Pürstein. From here, the steep southern flank of the Erzgebirge mountain range winds its way up a whopping 800 metres in altitude, some of it rough and gravely, to the 1244-metre-high Keilberg. The much-praised Klínovec Trail Park with its Baron and Rubin super lines awaits here. The chairlift makes a second descent easy. But you shouldn't waste too much time, because another 500 metres in altitude await you back to Oberwiesenthal via the Kleiner Fichtelberg with a subsequent blocked trail descent.
Download the GPS data for the tour at the end of the article.
Overnight stay: At the "Waldeck" you can sleep in a dormitory for 15 euros, in a double room for 50 euros or park your campervan for 25 euros, www.waldeck-oberwiesenthal.de
The trail centres of Ireland
Only slightly larger than Bavaria in terms of area, has Ireland has now opened its fifth trail centre - and each one, with up to 50 kilometres of trail networkis actually worth a whole week's holiday. Incidentally, September is one of the most stable weather months in Ireland (14 to 18 degrees).
The top tour: Trail centre road trip
- The 5 Irish trail centres: Ticknock, Coolaney, Ballinastoe, Ballyhoura, Slieve Blooms
- Difficulty: easy to very difficult, various lines to choose from
Trail centre description:
All five trail centres have different characters, although they are under the leadership of one man, Niall Davis. The former World Cup racer was officially entrusted with the task of developing trail centres all over the island. And the results are impressive. Ticknock: The local mountain above Dublin inspires with 22 challenging trails. The newest centre in Coolaney already has 39 kilometres of elaborately constructed play elements, while Ballinastoe has 28 kilometres of trails and offers a large service core. Ballyhoura is the oldest centre with a trail network of 50 kilometres, closely followed by Slieve Blooms with 49 kilometres.
Overnight stay: The hospitality of the Irish is best experienced in a bed & breakfast. If you are travelling with a camper: farmers often make their meadows available!
Czech Republic: Rychlebské stezky
Perhaps the best trail centre in Europe is located on the Czech-Polish border and is lovingly cared for by its creators, who are constantly adding more and more fun gimmicks. With the "Dr Wiessner" trail, there is now even the finest uphill fun. The only ban: e-MTBs!
The top tour: Dr Wiessner & Superflow
- Length: 18 kilometres
- Uphill: 415 metres in altitude
- Difficulty: medium
Tour description
Bike parks usually build uphill trails to appeal specifically to e-athletes. Not so at the Rychlebské stezky trail centre near Cerná Voda: here, the creators have draped the Dr. Wiessner into the terrain in such a way that you almost don't feel its 400 vertical metres on a normal bike. However, e-MTB riders would be riding into the path of other riders, causing unnecessary stress, congestion and increased trail wear. The latter would be a real shame, as the best trail builders in Europe look enviously at these creative lines. Once you have easily mastered the superflow descent, you can feel your way down the red and black runs. Trail information and opening times: www.rychlebskestezky.cz
Overnight stay: There is a campsite with sanitary facilities directly at the trail centre (no advance reservation), pitch for camper van: 10 euros per night. There are also holiday flats and guesthouses nearby.
I can do without alpine glacier panoramas for perfect flow trails. However, Rychlebské is too far for me. The 60 kilometres of trail rollercoasters in nearby Pod Smrkem are enough for me. They are not muddy even when it rains. - Tour author Christian Penning
Provence: Terres Noires-Toboggans
Event specialist Karen Eller spends the whole summer travelling in the Alps. In autumn, as the season draws to a close, she simply packs the family into the camper. Her destination: Digne-les-Bains in the south of France.
The black sandstone hills of the French Terres Noires are covered with a unique trail network. The nearby Evo bike park is also one of the best bike parks I know. Pre-book your shuttle! - Karen Eller, bike guide
Info about the bike park: www.evobikepark.com
French Pyrenees: Lourdes
The smaller sisters of the Alps form a 430-kilometre border fence between France and Spain. Although the mountains here are only up to 3404 metres high, the valley sides are steep and the paths and trails are usually challenging. A cycling hotspot in the middle of the central mountains: Lourdes. Road cyclists make a pilgrimage here for the Tourmalet and Col d'Aspin passes, mountain bikers for the trails on the Pic du Midi du Bigorre (2877 m).
The top tour from Lourdes: Pic du Midi
- Length: 47 kilometres
- Uphill: 1500 metres in altitude
- Downhill: 4200 metres in depth
- Difficulty: difficult
Tour description
At the top station of the 2877 metre high Pic du Midi, a magnificent view as far as the Biarritz lighthouse 150 kilometres away and a 25 kilometre long super trail descent with 2700 metres of descent and only two uphill sections await. But in the land of the famous Tour de France passes, there are of course also steep climbs: 1300 metres of steep ascent to the Col de Riou, on the back of which another 1200-metre descent awaits in the form of a winding but generally flowing natural trail. You can download the GPS data for the tour at the end of the article.
Overnight stay: Hôtel Christian in Lourdes, 10 rue Richelieu, www.hotel-christian.fr, accommodation in the Val d'Azun: Hôtel Le Picors, www.hotel-picors.fr
Punta Ala: Trails on the Tuscan coast
Bike adventurer Holger Feist travels to Punta Ala on the coast of Tuscany once a year:
Because of the Sentinel and Fast & Furious trails, but I particularly like the more technical lines at Tirli. This small mountain village is also home to our favourite restaurant, Leccio Moro, which serves authentic Tuscan cuisine. We spend the night at the campsite right by the sea or at the Massa Vecchia bike hotel. - Holger Feist, bike adventurer and EVOC co-founder
France: Cantal Mountains
Tour author Patrick Kunkel loves French trails. Also because of the good cuisine:
The Cantal Mountains are a six-and-a-half hour drive from Freiburg. But it's worth it if you tackle the four-day tour around what was once Europe's largest volcano (180 km/7000 metres in altitude). On the trails in the almost treeless slopes of the Kegelberg, you are alone on the road, but in the evening you sit at long tables in company and are served the best food. - Patrick Kunkel, author
Tuscany: The Apuan Alps
Bike mountaineer Harald Philipp's favourite place to ride is the Garfagnana, the high mountainous part of Tuscany that stretches through the Apuan Alps.
My mate Richard has been building ridgeline trails here in the Apuan Alps for years, which can even be combined into multi-day trips. Sometimes his wife Sandra shuttles us to the trailheads. If you're ever in the area, be sure to stop off at the Ceragetta hut and try the house schnapps "Niente". The cherry in it is enough to get you drunk! - Harald Philipp, bike mountaineer
Gitta Beimfohr
Editor
