Well, let's put it this way: an hour-long ascent should be followed by an equally long downhill trail back to the valley. But the German Alpine regions are less able to offer this. Apart from the few bike park lines that can be counted on one hand between the Allgäu Alps in the west and Königssee in the far east. But of course they do exist, these epic descents in a breathtaking alpine setting. But either there is already a no biking sign or caravans of hikers are already disrupting the flow of biking. The pressure of utilisation in the alpine regions is simply great and a concept for trail-seeking mountain bikers has not yet been created. Although the German Alpine Association was officially commissioned to develop such a concept a few years ago, the results are still pending.
However, the Alpine tours are the absolute frontrunners when it comes to scenery, panoramic views and rustic hut stops. Above all, these five tours that we have selected for this Top 5. These include day tours, a long tour with overnight stays in mountain huts and a seven-day stage tour on which you cross the entire length of the Alps. This also has the advantage that you don't have to get stuck in a traffic jam on the way home in the evening. May the alpine touring season start soon!
Garmisch-Partenkirchen: Bernadeinsteig
- Length: 33.3 kilometres
- Uphill: 1237 metres in altitude
- Duration: 3.5 hours
- Difficulty: medium to difficult
On the motorway from Munich towards Garmisch, you head straight for the Wetterstein mountains. One beautifully shaped peak in particular stands out: the pyramid of the Alpspitze. And that's exactly where this tour climbs. It is clear that the view from up there will be overwhelming. But the main reason for the 1000 metres in altitude that you have to pump into your legs beforehand is, of course, an outstanding single trail: the Bernadeinsteig. It starts just behind the Kreuzeck as a rocky, alpine climb and rolls out towards the Stuibenhütte. At some of the steeper sections, you need momentum, then good balance again to avoid tipping over at one or two exposed passages. From the tree line, you can briefly loosen your braking fingers before the path - or rather another climb - begins its steep 150-metre descent towards Garmisch-Partenkirchen. The last 12 kilometres then roll gently down into the valley on gravel. However, there are a couple of short, gruelling counter-climbs!
Highlights of the tour
The tour only climbs up to the foot of the Alpspitze, but even from here the view is gigantic. If you want to get a little closer to the summit, you can also try the final 300 metre altitude ramp up to the Osterfelderkopf on the Kreuzeck. However, we recommend tackling the super trail through the Bernadein slope straight away and then turning right at the Partnachalm to the Reintalangerhütte. This way you would have experienced two top Garmisch tours in one go.
Key points: The Bernadeinsteig is an alpine trail with typically rocky and sometimes somewhat exposed passages. If you are unsure, it is better to descend at these points. The flowing section in the forest is followed by another steeply sloping climb.
Refreshment tip: At the Kreuzalm (1600 m) you can enjoy a dumpling tris with a stunning view of the Wetterstein cliffs.
Chiemgau: Hochgern-Reibn
- Length: 36.5 kilometres
- Uphill: 1451 metres in altitude
- Duration: 4 hours
- Difficulty: medium
There are not many regions in the German Alps that cater for mountain bikers. But the Chiemgau Alps, between Inntal and Watzmann, are definitely one of them. The bike park on the Samerberg was opened a few years ago and the "Chiemgau King", a marked fitness circuit modelled on the famous Stoneman, was created. Even on the popular Kampenwand, bikers can take the lift in the afternoon. But it is mainly touring bikers who feel at home in the green mountains. There is a wide choice of rewarding routes, but our favourite is the Hochgern Reibn from Marquartstein. Even if the first forest path ascent to the Staudacher Alm is enough to make you gasp: 470 steep metres in one go. The following climbs to the Eschelmoos and Jochberg Alm are also steep, but at least you've warmed up by then - and been sufficiently rewarded! Because on this tour, the metres in altitude, trails, landscape and bird's-eye views are constantly changing.
Highlights of the tour
There are bikers who love the first steep climb, because the forest floor is rough but has a good grip and the metres in altitude can be cranked up with courage. At the Schnappenkirche church, you already have a bird's eye view of Lake Chiemsee. After a snack at the rustic Staudacher Alm, the trail chapter of the tour begins: three fun sections with a total length of 7.7 kilometres. The most beautiful trail winds along the northern flank of the Hochgern and leads to the foot of the Hochgern.
Key points: Of course, you need to be in good physical condition for the steep ramps on the tour and have good suspension for the rough terrain. Some of the trail descents are a little exposed, but can be ridden well with medium riding technique.
Chiemgau King: If you are fit, you will get to know even more highlights of the region on this tour (168 km/4629 metres in altitude), chiemgau-king.com
From the Allgäu to Königssee: Transalp dahoam
- Length: 394 kilometres
- Uphill: 11,393 metres in altitude
- Duration: 7 days
- Difficulty: medium to difficult
This super tour was actually born out of necessity. Namely in almost forgotten Corona times, when the border was closed and crossing the Alps to the south was not even an option. So author Christian Penning put together a multi-day route that leads right across the German Alpine strip. From the western Allgäu to Königssee in the very east of Bavaria. Penning had to do without some must-have sections, such as the Gaistal valley around the southern flank of the Wetterstein or the high alpine Karwendel, due to the closed border with Austria, but he was all the more successful on the German side. For seven days, this route winds its way from one beautiful bathing lake to the next, never missing a logical trail connection and scaling the most beautiful viewing platforms in between. The "Transalp dahoam" doesn't even have to do without the kind of stretches you usually experience on the main Alpine ridge. And: you can easily get back by train.
Highlights of the tour
This tour is full of highlights: Allgäu and Ammergau Alps, Wetterstein and Karwendel, Chiemgau Alps and, at the end, Watzmann and Co. in the Berchtesgaden Alps. Each stage ends or passes a crystal-clear mountain lake and an extra detour has been made for a rewarding trail.
The seven stages:
- Halblech - Eibsee, 44 km/1300 m altitude difference
- Eibsee - Elmau, 38 km/1530 m altitude difference
- Elmau - Sylvensteinsee, 49 km/1240 m altitude difference
- Sylvensteinsee - Schliersee, 60 km/1760 m altitude difference
- Schliersee - Samerberg, 54 km/1980 m altitude difference
- Samerberg - Inzell, 86 km/1380 m altitude difference
- Inzell - Ramsau/Königssee, 63 km/2000 m altitude difference
Key points: The route includes a few challenging trails and a couple of pushing sections.
Tip: In the main towns, such as Garmisch, Schliersee, Lenggries or Samerberg, you can hop on the train at any time and shorten the tour as you wish. You can also take the train back from Ramsau.
Karwendel circuit: Little Himalaya
- Length: 97.9 kilometres
- Uphill: 2542 metres in altitude
- Duration: 2 days
- Difficulty: medium
There are Moser Guide disciples from the very beginning who have to do this tour once a year. Otherwise their bike season will be missing something. No wonder, because there is probably no more beautiful mountain range in the entire Northern Alps than the 2749 metre high Karwendel. So it doesn't matter that single trails are pretty much taboo here. The reasons for this: firstly, a large part of the mountain range is already on the other side of the Austrian border and is protected as a nature park. Secondly, the Himalayan-like valleys running through vertical rows of rock are no longer an insider tip. Especially at weekends, caravans of hikers stroll along the often exposed ridge paths. As a biker, you should therefore stay on the main paths and concentrate on the force of the rocks, perhaps spot a golden eagle in the sky and look forward to the super cuisine in the Grosses Karwendelhaus or in the renovated Falkenhütte. It's even best to spend a night in the hut bed, then you'll have this landscape to yourself early in the morning.
Highlights of the tour
The classic Karwendel tour (Moser-Guide, Volume 2) runs leisurely from Mittenwald via Scharnitz up to the Karwendelhaus and leads anti-clockwise back to Mittenwald.
Our tour, on the other hand, starts in Krün and prefers a sporty climb via the Fischbachalm and the Johannestal up to the Falkenhütte (1876 metres altitude). After an overnight stay, we return to Krün the next day via the Kleiner Ahornboden, the Karwendelhaus (2nd breakfast) and past the Barmsee lake.
Key points: Some of the climbs are quite steep and scree-covered. Otherwise there are no technical challenges.
Tip: The best way to travel from Munich is by train. Especially at the weekend, there is a lot of traffic jam on the Garmisch motorway and further into the Eng.
Allgäu Alps: Gschwenderberg Alpe
- Length: 21.2 kilometres
- Uphill: 894 metres in altitude
- Duration: 2 hours
It's hard to say which argument is more convincing on this tour: the far-reaching views over the lush green mountains of Immenstadt, the prettiest cows in Germany, the excellent Kaiserschmarrn pancakes at the hut or the five-kilometre trail through the meadows of the Gschwender Alpe with sensational views of the Alpsee? After all, the latter is considered the most beautiful lake in the entire Allgäu.
However, we don't want to leave the downsides of this tour unmentioned: You need to be in good shape, have a bit of bite and, towards the end, also some spirited riding technique. The tour starts quite harmlessly, with a trail over the idyllic Alpe Rothenfels. But then there are 700 metres in altitude in one go. Marathon riders like to use this ramp for training purposes - because of its particular steepness. But once you reach the high plateau on the Gschwender Horn, the feel-good programme begins. The meadow trail to the Gschwender Alpe is a dream - until its fine gravel track turns into a Brocken slide with root arms over it at the end.
Highlights of the tour
This tour in the Bavarian Oberallgäu could also be called Light and Shadow, as easy and challenging passages often go hand in hand here. But this is exactly what the Immenstadt locals love about their local tour over the Gschwenderberg. After 700 metres of biting ascent, the treeless high plateau offers far-reaching views over the West Allgäu. Two kilometres of flat trail surfing through the meadows are followed by steeply sloping rock and root scrambles. But with a view of the Alpsee and a stop at the 300-year-old Gschwender Alpe. The hop into the most beautiful lake in the Allgäu at the end makes for perfect happiness.
Key points: The mean steep tarmac/gravel climb and the very rough trail finale.
Important! Be sure to close all pasture gates again. Otherwise you will only unnecessarily antagonise the actually well-meaning alpine farmers against us mountain bikers and the trail tour could be closed to bikers!
GPS data of the MTB tours
Click here for the GPS data of the 5 top Alpine tours. You can download the files free of charge.
Gitta Beimfohr
Editor
