Germany's mountain bike trails: a root system for riding technicians. Only from an altitude of 1000 metres upwards do the first rocky steps mingle with the otherwise velvety-soft forest floor. We show you the 10 best MTB single trails in Germany:
1. KANDELHÖHENWEG
50 km/1300 m elevation gain/cycling time: 4:30 h. Starting point: Münsterplatz in Freiburg.
The Celts used to cavort on the Kandel, then the witches and now the Freiburg freeriders. However, the mountain bikers don't just come for the iconic view, but because they know that they will experience four hours of pure riding fun on this tour via the Kandelsteig. In Freiburg, the route leads up to the Schlossberg and on to the Rosskopf (737 m). The well-marked Kandelhöhenweg (red diamond) now winds its way along the ridge to the summit of the Kandel (1243 m). The reward for your efforts: the rough trail descent past the Kandel rock all the way to the Rhine plain!
Map: Landesvermessungsamt Baden-Württemberg, sheet 4 "Kaiserstuhl, Freiburg, Feldberg" (1:50 000).
2. READING PATH
37.5 km/1050 m elevation gain/cycling time: 3:30 h. Starting point: Hikers' car park in Liesertal, 5 km south of Daun.
23 kilometres of the finest single trail - but this tour in the Eifel volcano region is also one of Germany's top tours in terms of scenery. The route leads through the romantic Liesertal valley on marvellous trail sections, over the Manderscheid castles and down to the Wolfsschlucht gorge. An ascent over ancient lava fields climbs up to the Windsborn crater, the only mountain crater lake north of the Alps. After a loop around the juniper heath, you return to the starting point.
Map: Hiking map no. 20 of the Eifelverein "Daun, around the crater lakes" (1:25 000).
Tour description: Lieser Trail in the Eifel
3. STÜLPNER-TRAIL
40.5 km/1000 hm/cycling time: 3 h. Starting point: Lengefeld/Vorwerk.
The Ore Mountains offer plenty of kilometres of tours. Several routes have already been signposted, especially in the central Ore Mountains. But unfortunately the most beautiful trail tour has not yet been signposted: the Stülpner Trail. From Lengefeld, the route leads over the dam wall of the Obere Neunzehnhainer Talsperre across wide fields into the Bornwald forest. The legendary Stülpner Steig runs along here - an old smugglers' trail on the edge of the Zschopau valley. Later, a winding path plunges down to the Zschopau and follows the course of the river up to the Teufelstein viewpoint. After the beech trails near Börnichen, simply follow the Miriquidi Trail signposts back to Lengefeld.
Map: Compass map no. 807 "Central Erzgebirge" (1:50 000).
Tour description: www.miriquidi-bike-trails.de
4. CAMPAIGN WALL
27 km/1350 m elevation gain/cycling time: 3:15 h. Starting point: Hikers' car park in Rottau.
The Bavarians have it easy: one long climb and the panoramic views are a given. But the permitted trail descents are few and far between. There are plenty of hikers on the Kampenwand, but there is no ban on bikes in sight. From the start to the Steinlingalm at the foot of the famous Kampenwand, you have to climb almost 1000 metres in altitude. But then the apple spritzer tastes good with a dream panorama over the Bavarian Alpine foothills. Invigorated, you then set off on the trail descents and only come to a halt again in Rottau.
Map: Bayerisches Landesvermessungsamt UK L7 "Chiemsee und Umgebung" (1:50 000).
Tour description: BIKE-Guide "Chiemgau Alps" and Kampenwand trails
5TH ISAR-TRAIL
130 km/250 metres uphill, 750 metres downhill/2 days. Starting point: Scharnitz railway station (Austria).
From the source of the Isar to Munich: You should take two days for this adventurous single trail trip. After all, the Isar gushes out of the swampy ground in the Austrian Karwendel mountains. From Scharnitz, you turn into the idyllic Hinterautal valley and reach the source of the Isar after a flat 250 metres in altitude. Now you follow its course across the German border, the Sylvenstein reservoir, Lenggries, Bad Töz and Schäftlarn to the state capital. The trails lead through gravel banks, dense primeval forest, rooty trails over the high banks and then again around tyre widths directly along the water.
Map: Landesvermessungsamt Bayern, sheets UK L1, UK L18 and UK L30 (1:50 000).
Tour description: Favourite tours of the BIKE editorial team
6. PEGNITZ-TOUR
35 km/750 m elevation gain/cycling time: 3 h. Starting point: Pegnitz, Aldi/Freibad car park.
The karst mountains in north-east Bavaria offer one of the most exciting tour backdrops in Germany: the trails balance along steep walls, dive into caves and curve around limestone towers. The Pegnitz tour combines the absolute trail highlights of the area: the first trails undulate towards Hollenberg. A steep climb leads out of the Püttlach valley, culminating at the Kleiner Kulm observation tower (626 m). From here you can enjoy a marvellous view over Franconian Switzerland and - the final downhill trail to Pegnitz.
Map: Landesvermessungsamt Bayern, "Naturpark Fränkische Schweiz" (1:50 000).
Tour description: MTB tours in Franconian Switzerland
7. GREEN BORDERS
35 km/720 m elevation gain/cycling time: 2:30 h. Starting point: District office in Zittau.
In the extreme south-east of Saxony, Germany's smallest low mountain range rises into the sky: the Zittau Mountains. But be careful: take your identity card with you, as many tours cross the border into the Czech Republic. This super tour from Zittau via Scharfenberg, Mönchsfelsen and Töpfer is no exception. Here, the old smugglers' trails wind around bizarre rock towers reminiscent of the slickrock landscape in Moab. On the Czech side, on the other hand, the forest trails wind around dilapidated bunkers from the Cold War era. All in all, the loop impresses with 18 kilometres of trails and forest paths!
Map: State surveying office sheet L5154 "Zittau" (1:50 000),
Tour description: MTB tours in the Zittau Mountains
8TH FULDA-TRAIL
approx. 31 km/570 m elevation gain/cycling time: approx. 3 h. Starting point: Lutterberger Höhe car park near Hannoversch Münden.
In our selection of the ten most beautiful trail tours in Germany, the Fulda Trail is the second bike adventure by the river: right at the start, the trail winds its way through a steep ditch. It zigzags along the banks of the stream on wooden footbridges. Later, the trail follows the Fulda towards Kassel at eye level. A weir just before Ihringshausen finally helps you to the other bank, where shady smugglers' paths along the high bank lead back to the starting point. A total of 15 kilometres of single trails!
Map: Hesse State Surveying Office "Reinhardswald" (1:50 000)
Tour dates: upper loop of this tour here
9. BROCKEN-ROUND
60 km/1700 m elevation gain/cycling time: 5 h. Starting point: Wurmberg cable car, Braunlage.
The Brocken (1,142 metres) is shrouded in thick fog 300 days a year. However, most bikers don't come to the Harz Mountains for the view anyway, but for the single trails. That's why insiders don't attempt the summit. They ride round the Brocken: After the descent from the Wurmberg summit, a 1.5 kilometre long trail branches off to the right. Shortly after the Eckersprung, the next trail winds its way to the Eckerstausee and on to the Scharfenstein. But probably the most beautiful trail in the whole of northern Germany awaits at the Ilse Falls. Winding and rooted, it follows the Ilse for five kilometres.
Map: Hiking map no. 20 of the Eifelverein "Daun, around the crater lakes" (1:25 000).
Tour description:
Crossing the Harz Mountains
10. PANORAMA TRAIL
28 km/642 m elevation gain/cycling time: 3 h. Starting point: Cochem tourist information centre.
The bike routes through the vineyards are as winding as the Moselle itself. The paths climb steeply up and down over the rounded ridges. The rooty trails take many turns and are sometimes very exposed on the steep slopes. The most beautiful tour, with a bird's eye view of the Moselle valley and marvellous trails, leads from Cochem up the Altarberg and through the vineyards down to the Moselle. Here you take the ferry to Beilstein on the other bank and fight your way up the steep climb past the ruins of Metternich Castle. At the top, the Apollo Trail leads to one of the most beautiful downhill trails in the region at the end of the tour.
Map: LVA "Ferienland Cochem" (1:25 000)
In the free PDF download below you will also find the short descriptions of these 10 top single trails in Germany.
Downloads:
Gitta Beimfohr
Editor
