HARZ: ALPS OF THE NORTH
What the Alps are to the south, the Harz is to the north of Germany: three federal states share the 110 kilometre long, up to 40 kilometre wide and 1141 metre high low mountain range. There are signposted tours that even officially include plenty of trails. Nature trails with honest "playmates" such as roots, stones, steps and hooky changes of direction. Only the nature reserves need to be avoided here too. Like everywhere else, these are taboo. All in all, the best conditions for exploring the mountains not only on day tours, but also for adventurously crossing them in three stages. Wild river valleys, footbridges through swampy areas, steep climbs up into treeless zones, reservoirs and, in the south-east, bizarre rock formations and sandy paths provide a variety of landscapes.
Bike parks are now sprouting up from the forest floor at the chairlifts here too. There are now five facilities. These include the two-kilometre-long, challenging Rosstrappen Downhill and the Hahnenklee Bike Park with its seven varied trails near Goslar.
Harz crossing (156 km | 4094 m altitude difference | 3 stages)
In two days from Goslar to Nordhausen in the south-east, then back towards Brocken on the narrow-gauge railway and on the third stage from Torfhaus back to Goslar. The route crosses the highest peak, the Brocken, twice. Once long and pleasant, once shorter, but mean and steep. The crossing of the death strip, which once marked the German-German border, is historically interesting. The most beautiful trails await after the Granetalsperre dam, just before Torfhaus, in the Brandenbach valley and at the end of the tour around the Eckertalsperre dam.
Information about the tour The GPS data for the three stages, including accommodation addresses, can be found at: www.bike-magazin.de, webcode #14835
Further tours Three tours in the eastern Harz Mountains, www.bike-magazin.de, webcode #33902.
Guided tours From the day tour to the Trans-Harz e.g. at www.trailtech.de and www.mtb-harz.de
INFO
Bike parks in the Harz Mountains:
- MSB-X-Trail The latest achievement in Sankt Andreasberg. The park, including five trails and a chairlift, is open daily. Info: www.msb-x-trail.de
- Racepark Schulenberg, www.racepark-schulenberg.de
- Bikepark Hahnenklee near Goslar, www.boardnbikes.de
- Bikepark Braunlage on the Wurmberg, www.bikepark-braunlage.de
- Rosstrappen Downhill in Thale, www.rosstrappendownhill.de
Volksbank Arena Harz
74 tours with a total of 2200 kilometres have now been signposted in the Harz Mountains. You can access this network around the Brocken from 31 different locations. Information on the tours and map set is available at: www.volksbank-arena-harz.de
General information
Accommodation and all information about the bike trail network: www.harzinfo.de
SAUERLAND: PARK MILE
Even the highest peaks in the Sauerland do not make it above the 900 metre mark. This makes it all the more astonishing that storm Kyrill was able to chop down entire forests here in 2008. The damage is still visible today, just like after a fire: shaven mountain flanks with broken tree stumps sticking out of them. And what can you do with such a forest cemetery? Mountain bikers seem to have had the best ideas. Nowhere in Germany is the density of bike parks as high as in the Sauerland. There are the three well-known Ws: Willingen, Winterberg and Warstein. But the trails in Attendorn and Saalhausen are also worth a detour. Since 2015, however, the Brilon trailground has managed without any lifts at all. Following the Scottish and Rabenberg model, three routes with a total length of 28 kilometres wind their way over the rolling hills - with 60 per cent of the trails. The trails are single-track only and are not too steep, neither uphill nor downhill. There is no need for hectic manoeuvres that could leave marks on the ground. This should be good news for the regrowing forests.
Via the Rothaarsteig (151.7 km | 3476 metres altitude difference | 3 stages)
A horizontal R on a red background points the way on these three stages through the Sauerland. It is the trail marker for the Rothaarsteig, a hiking trail that winds its way through the Sauerland for 150 kilometres. The starting point is Brilon. From here, you climb over the 843 metre high Langenberg to Winterberg. The next morning, you head for Kahle Asten (842 metres) before crossing a suspension bridge, a plateau with 360-degree panoramic views and many fast trail sections to Zinse.
The queen's stage with 62 kilometres and 1252 metres of ascent is to be tackled on the third day. The route leads through the idyllic Eder Valley and therefore tends to be more downhill than uphill. Most of the metres in altitude are hidden in the last 15 kilometres over partly steep hills to Dillenburg.
Info about the tour GPS data and info: www.bike-magazin.de, webcode #19621
Guided tours www.mtb-xpert.de
INFO
BIKE Festival Willingen
This year, the biggest biker party in our country will feature the German Enduro Championships. Lots of international stars will be travelling to the Ettelsberg again, because there's plenty else to do: pump track race, marathon, Junior Trophy, tours, test bikes and of course: parties! Info: www.bike-festival.de
Trailground Brilon
Less than 30 minutes by car from Willingen: the trail centre with 28 signposted kilometres of tours - 60 percent trail. Free admission. Info: www.bike-arena.de
Bike parks - All info:
- Winterberg with ten routes: www.bikepark-winterberg.de
- Warstein with six routes: www.warsteiner-bikepark.de
- Willingen with World Cup runs: www.ettelsberg-seilbahn.de
ERZGEBIRGE: PIONEER
The first marathon, the first trail centre, the first Stoneman trail - when it comes to innovative bike ideas, the people of the Ore Mountains play in the premier league in Germany. In fact, you could take a whole week to ride along the entire ridge of the Ore Mountains, travelling from one bike adventure world to the next. And what makes the whole thing even more exciting is that the border with the Czech Republic runs along the ridge of the Ore Mountains. So a visit to the neighbours is always possible. The highest peak on the German side is the Fichtelberg at 1215 metres. You will come across it and its 600 metre ascent to the summit on the Stoneman Miriquidi circuit, for example, if you want to collect a stamp (see tour tip). Those who are more interested in trails, on the other hand, should head for the Rabenberg Trail Centre, go on a tour around Seiffen or head into the neighbouring Zittau Mountains. Trails in a fantastic rocky landscape await you here.
Stoneman Miriquidi (162 km | 4400 m elevation gain | 1-3 days)
To get straight to the point: Most people need two days for the 162 kilometres. The constant ups and downs in the Ore Mountains and the nine long climbs to the panoramic peaks take a lot of energy. The idea for this challenge, which you can take on at any time, came from the South Tyrolean ex-racer Roland Stauder. The procedure: The route is signposted and the official starting point is Oberwiesenthal. You book one of the four different starter packages and receive a stamp card and a corresponding service package. Along the way, you collect the stamps at the nine summit stations and receive a trophy at the end - depending on how long it took you. Tip: If you take longer than a day, you will get more out of the landscape, as the route also crosses over into the Czech Republic.
Info www.stoneman-miriquidi.com and www.bike-magazin.de, webcode #20507
Three tours Seiffen: #2994, Zittau: #924
INFO
Erzgebirge Bike Marathon
Germany's oldest MTB marathon celebrates its anniversary! Long-distance racers meet again and again in Seiffen for the legendary 100-kilometre distance. Info: www.ebm100.de
Trail centre Rabenberg
The Saxons were also the first in terms of trail centres: five fun trail circuits (between 6 and 26 km long). Admission 9 euros. Event tip: Biketestival Erzgebirge. All information: www.trailcenter-rabenberg.de
Trailtrophy Breitenbrunn
The Trailtrophy series for enduro riders stops off in the Ore Mountains every year. The two routes: 24 km/700 metres and 18 km/600 metres. Info and registration: www.trailtrophy.eu
PALATINATE FOREST: PEACE TRAILS
Why are hikers in the Palatinate Forest not startled when they come across a mountain biker? Because they are prepared for it. "Trail sharing" is the successful motto in the Palatinate Forest, which has been turning bikers and hikers into equal and satisfied forest visitors for twelve years now. But mountain bikers have always loved it here: Where it says "trail" in the Palatinate Forest tour, there is also a single trail in it. You can access this network of trails at the railway stations in Hochspeyer, Lambrecht, Schopp, Waldfischbach-Burgalben and Rodalben. From here, you can either immerse yourself in the forest on one of the five suggested routes or create your own route using the special tour maps. The only drawback: there are not many viewpoints. Only on the 673 metre high Kalmit can you let your gaze wander to the horizon. But that is only the centre of the Palatinate Forest. The route network has now been extended from 300 to 900 kilometres of tours towards the French border. You can now start from 20 locations and have a total of 20 circular tours to choose from.
Palatinate crossing (148 km | 3557 m altitude difference | 2 stages)
When marathon ace Karl Platt goes on tour with his mates Udo Bölts and Christoph Listmann, it can be a bit more in terms of distance and trails. So don't be ashamed if you need three days for this tour: From Neustadt an der Weinstraße, the route takes you up to Wolfsburg and from there on a rooty 300-metre downhill to Lambrecht and along winding forest paths to Waldfischbach. 85 kilometres, mainly on single trails, will cost you time and energy. Even a Karl Platt is done by the evening. The second day leads back to Neustadt, but is somewhat shorter at 66 kilometres. Only the trails remain long. Past Johanniskreuz, Fischerfelsen, Toter Wal, Eschkopf-Turm and at the end the super descent into the Kaltenbrunner valley.
Info GPS data for the tour, plus a challenging supertrail tour at: www.bike-magazin.de, webcode #27079
INFO
Card material
The 20 routes are signposted and you can download the GPS data, but if you want to keep track of the route, you should also get the maps. All information about the tours can be found at www.mountainbike-park-pfaelzerwald.de
Trail camps
Riding technique courses, day tours, but also combinations of multi-day trail camps are offered by some guides around the Palatinate Forest. However, the Palatinate bikers go on tour with prominent racers. Information and dates at
www.pfalzbiker.com
Trippstadt Bike Park
Nine routes, from the flowline to the professional dirtline, are offered here on 15,000 square metres. In addition to night ride sessions and girls' days, the bike park also organises bike flea markets. Info and opening times:
www.bikepark-trippstadt.de
RUHR AREA: TRAIL-CLUB
Okay, the Ruhr region doesn't have any serious mountains on its doorstep. But that's no reason for Ruhr Valley bikers to be in a bad mood, because: Which German low mountain range can boast four top singletrail spots? The landmarks of the Ruhr region, the slag heaps, are famous beyond the borders of the country. These piles of rubble from the mining industry tower up to 100 metres high, and trails that can even be combined into 100-kilometre circuits wind their way over them. Dortmund bikers are also drawn to the Ruhr Valley after work. The steep slopes above the river are criss-crossed with the finest trails. To the north of Recklinghausen, sandy trails lead through wild forest mountains in the Haard. Although the latter are only 160 metres high, they challenge bikers with steep ascent ramps. The idyllic region around Lake Baldeney is a favourite weekend destination. The great thing about the Ruhr region is that there are so many biker meeting points that nobody has to ride alone.
On the Ruhr-Höhenweg (244.9 km | 5258 m elevation gain | 4 stages)
The Ruhr rises as a small trickle in the Rothaargebirge mountains, three kilometres north-east of Winterberg. By the time it reaches Olsberg, the source has turned into a babbling brook, which is now really picking up speed. Just like the trails on this four-day tour, which now follow the Ruhr as far as Duisburg to the mouth of the Rhine: From Winterberg, the route leads via Meschede's trail network to Arnsberg. Shortly after Menden, you leave the Sauerland mountains behind you, the river soon widens into a traffic artery, but is now flanked to the west by the Rhenish Slate Mountains. As a result, the route not only winds through the floodplains, but also up to panoramic heights where the trail entrances await.
Tour info GPS data and info: www.bike-magazin.de, webcode #28105
Guided tours in and around the Ruhr region: www.mtb-xpert.de, www.bergradtouren.de, www.simply-out-tours.de
Riding technique expert Manfred Stromberg is THE address in the Pott: www.bikeride.de
INFO
Ruhr Area MTB Marathon
107 kilometres and 2150 metres in altitude - that almost sounds like a BIKE Transalp stage. However, the start is not in Mittenwald, but in Dortmund. www.ruhrgebiets-marathon.de
Bike park kids
At Bikepark Aplerbeck, children and young people from the age of 10 meet up for group tours and riding technique sessions. Also with trips to the Bikepark Winterberg. Enquiries to: info@asc09mtb.de
Bike get-togethers
For example, you can arrange to meet up for joint rides around the Ruhr region here: in Dortmund at the Reuber bike shop, in Essen at the Loco Cycles shop or online at www.frc-herten.de and www.haardbiker.de
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Gitta Beimfohr
Editor
