The tour around the Karwendel peaks is a real mountain experience - a mountain bike dream tour, even if the term is a little overused. But the kilometres and metres in altitude through the Bavarian-Tyrolean rock bastion need to be mastered. That's why our idea for beginners and leisure bikers is to take two days and spend the night in the Falkenhütte or Karwendelhaus in the middle of the Karwendel, especially as we have opted for the slightly longer tour.
The alluvial forest gets your muscles up to operating temperature
If there's a special mountain bike car park in Mittenwald, then let's take up the offer. So we set off at a leisurely pace along the Isar, zigzagging through the violin-making village, past kitschy, beautiful Upper Bavarian house façades and out into the Riedboden on the way across the Tyrolean border to Scharnitz. The six flat kilometres of forest trail in the alluvial forest of the Isar gently warm up your muscles before heading up into the long Karwendel valley. However, the gradient percentages on the first few kilometres along the Karwendelbach stream remain predominantly in a pleasant range. This allows you to take in the marvellous rocky landscape, waterfalls, secluded mountain pastures and mighty limestone massifs. Unfortunately, the Larchetalm is currently not open. It used to be a popular meeting place for mountain bikers.
The route soon becomes noticeably steeper and more difficult. When the Karwendelhaus already comes into view like an eagle's nest high up on the rock, a few more hairpin bends await. The unique surroundings make up for the effort. Especially when you are finally sitting at the top with a non-alcoholic wheat beer and bacon dumpling soup and gazing at the dream panorama.
At the highest point: the Hochalmsattel
We continue between the Karwendel massifs. A few more rough metres in altitude on loose gravel and at almost exactly 1800 metres you have reached one of the highest points of the tour at the Hochalm. Once again, you could stare open-mouthed at the rock faces and mountain meadows for several minutes. But the cart track downhill to the small Ahornboden and various cow pats require the biker's full concentration. The Hermann von Barth memorial, in memory of the famous Karwendel mountaineer, is located directly on the mountain meadow of the Kleiner Ahornboden.
The 26 per cent ramp forces even some cracks to push
The right place to shake out your forearms and braking fingers before the stony trail up to the Ladizalm. The little trail is great fun and not too much of a problem even for less experienced trail riders. That comes a little later. The Ladizalm lies picturesquely at the foot of the rock faces, but the 26 per cent ramp that follows forces even some crack bikers to push. Fortunately, the gradient eases again after three hairpin bends, but the final metres in altitude to the Spielissjoch (1773 m) and on to the Falkenhütte (1848 m) are anything but flat. But the scenery makes up for the slog. The Laliderer walls rise up behind the Alpine Club hut like a giant photo wallpaper. You'll want to spoon up your bacon dumpling soup outside, even in the cool wind.
Only in the evening do hikers and mountain bikers like to retreat to the cosy, warm parlour of the time-honoured mountain lodge. The next morning, they usually use whatever clothing they can find in their bike rucksack: from arm warmers and leg warmers to hard hats and softshell jackets. Even in summer, it can be freezing cold up there. So we brake our way down the dusty gravel paths over the Johannestal valley into the Rißtal valley with clammy fingers.
A little piece of outdoor adventure
After a section on the toll road along the Rißbach stream, you can stop for a coffee in the village of Hinterriß before the route disappears into the mountain forest again. A steep but mostly shady forest path takes us to the small Vorderbachsau pass. On the other side, you can let your bike roll down into the Bärnbachtal valley. Save your strength for the last ramp! But first comes some outdoor adventure. Bike and biker still have to cross the "border river" between Tyrol and Bavaria. This doesn't always work on dry land. The really cool ones take a refreshing dip in the waterfall around the corner of the ford. The last 300 metres of steep ascent require a good portion of remaining energy. Fortunately, the landscape here is still beautiful. Karwendel rocks stand guard all around. At the Fereinsalm, the work is more or less done. The altitude metre target is almost reached.
If you want to divide your stages even more comfortably and enjoy the mountain world all the more: In the neighbouring Krinner-Kofler hut, you can spend another night in the Karwendel. From the postcard-perfect alpine plateau, it's almost all downhill, steep but on firm ground. In the valley, we cover the last two kilometres on the Isar cycle path and we are back in Mittenwald.
Conclusion on the Karwendel classic
The tour through the Karwendel has some tough sections. But you are rewarded with a fantastic view. If you like the Karwendel, you can extend the tour with an additional overnight stay. A dream tour and a true mountain bike classic!
This text was first published in: "The most beautiful hut tours for mountain bikers"
