One of the longest descents in the Vinschgau Valley: The trail from the Göflaner Schartl

Hardly any other valley is following the development of e-MTBs as closely as the Venosta Valley. Because with the rapid discovery of the many exciting trails in the valley, not only the bikers came, but also the shuttle vehicles. In recent years, this has increasingly led to tensions. Especially among the mountain farmers, who have nothing to gain from this except the increased volume of traffic right on their once cosy and quiet doorstep.

Shuttle or pedalling?

However, even e-bikers need a reserve of energy for this long climb to the Göflaner Schartl. One battery will not be enough for this 1800 metre climb. Alternatively, the shuttle can also help here for the first 900 metres in altitude from Laces through the Val Martello to just before the Covelano marble quarry. And as the remaining metres in altitude up to the trail entrance are no mean feat, the number of ambitious bikers on this tour is limited anyway.

After the shuttle stop, you cycle briefly on tarmac before taking over a steep gravel road. But after the avalanche barriers, the last 300 metres in altitude are a high alpine trail up the mountain flanks. With an e-drive, you can still manage the stony meadow path to some extent, but the joy is short-lived as the path suddenly bends to the left and takes the direct route through the steep scree slope. Only at the very end does a steel cable help with the climb. This is the section where you will curse the extra weight of the e-bike several times.

But at some point, this key section is also completed and you can look out over the entire Vinschgau Valley from the rocky V of the Göflaner Schartl. At the very end of the Apfeltal valley, you can even see the Dolomites to the east.

Momentum, suspension travel and ideal line

If it weren't for the biting wind, we would spend a little longer enjoying the panorama. But as it is, we zip up our jackets and set off on the Holy descent: the trail (no. 23) lolls along a mountain ridge in the most beautiful high mountain flow. Slightly downhill and sometimes a little uphill. There are rocks in the way, but they are caked into the ground. With momentum and suspension travel, you can simply scramble over them.

Then the path tilts more steeply down the slope and there is much more to do. But the real rock garden of the descent awaits shortly after the tree line. It's no longer enough to simply hold on here. Here, the tyres have to find the ideal line around the boulders.

Only towards the Kreuzjöchl do these blocked passages ease off again. From here, you now have the choice: follow the 17er path and zigzag down to the valley, mostly gently but sometimes rocky, or use the gravel road as a short access route to the Holy Hansen Trail? One advantage of the second option is that you pass the Wiebenhof farm and can stop off for a bite to eat. Refreshed, you then fly through the well-kept berms of the Holy Hansen before the route briefly turns up again with a 200 metre ascent, but then rolls out again in flowing ups and downs on Waal paths and through the apple orchards back to Latsch.

Info Göflaner-Schartl-Trail

• Length: 44.7 kilometres
• Uphill: 2425 vertical metres
• Trail share: 11.8 kilometres
• Difficulty: S1-S3

The crux of this loop is the ascent: even if you take the shuttle up to the Covelano marble quarry, you still have to heave yourself up 1468 metres in altitude and will hear yourself swearing again and again. You have to drag the bike through scree fields for a long time and even have to cling to a safety rope at the end. But we can assure you: The 1,800 metre descent including super views is well worth the effort.

Starting point

We started the tour in Laces and took the shuttle to the Covelano marble quarry. This shortens the route by 16.7 kilometres and 960 metres in altitude.

Shuttle

The shuttles in Val Venosta/Vinschgau run from April to the end of October. For example: freeride-vinschgau.com, vinschgaubike.com or bikeshuttle.it

Refreshment tip

On the descent, shortly before the start of Holy Hansen part 2, the Wiebenhof farm awaits with delicious farm produce (wiebenhof.com)

E-MTB info

The steep uphill sections cost a lot of battery power. But because of the strenuous carrying section, the e-MTB is only suitable for this tour to a limited extent anyway.

GPS data for the tour