Crossing the Alps Via Claudia - easy
345 km/3 857 m elevation gain - 5 stages - Difficulty: * (max. 6 stars)
This Transalp route is suitable for: absolute Transalp beginners or the impatient who are already drawn to crossing the Alps in spring.
The highlights: Lechtal, Inntal, Etschtal, the easy trails on the Fernpass (1,266 m), Vinschgau cycle path with Ortler views
There are only 4,000 metres in altitude between Ehrwald and Lake Garda - at least on the easy version of the Via Claudia. Hardy souls can squeeze this into their legs in one day. However, these altitude metres are spread over 345 kilometres and if you can manage this in two days, you are probably in better shape on the difficult variant of the Via Claudia.
Crossing the Alps Via Claudia - difficult
588 km/20 293 m elevation gain - 8-9 stages - Difficulty: ****** (max. 6 stars)
This Transalp route is suitable for: Mountain goats with the strength to climb 2,500 metres in one go and good riding technique for high mountain trails
The highlights: Dirstentrittkreuz, Madritschjoch, Eisjöchl, Auener Jöchl, Monte Gazza
The difficult version of the tour starts in Mittenwald and measures 588 kilometres and 20,293 metres in altitude. In between are the "bad boys" of the Eastern Alps: the Dirstentrittkreuz, the Idjoch, the Venetalm, the Madritschjoch and the Eisjöchl. Hour-long and consistently steep climbs - if you tackle this tour, you really need to have a bite.
Together on the Transalp: the two variants of the Via Claudia Augusta
But you don't have to: the two routes often meet again at the same overnight accommodation. So if your legs are too heavy in the morning or the weather is too bad for the high mountains, you can switch to the easy option every day. The easy route starts in Ehrwald, climbs the Fernpass on forest paths and the easiest main ridge crossing, the Reschenpass (tarmac). From there, you cycle on mainly tarmac cycle paths through the Vinschgau Valley, past Merano, Bolzano, Trento and Rovereto towards Lake Garda. The highest point is just under 1,500 metres above sea level. The advantage of this route is that you can set off in spring. If there is still thick snow on the high passes, you will have a clear road in the valley. However, you can only experience the panorama from the valley floor. But perhaps your ambition will get the better of you and you will dare to tackle one of the more difficult stages?
Tour information on the Via Claudia Augusta
Transalp route of the Via Claudia easy:
Stage 1: Ehrwald - Fernpass (1,266 m) - Nassereith - Strad - overnight stay: Imst (FVA, tel. 0043/5412/69100).
Stage 2: Imst - Mils - Schönwies - Zams - Landeck - Prutz - Tösens - Kajetansbrücke - Martina - Norbertshöhe - overnight stay: Nauders (FVA, tel. 0043/5473/87220).
Stage 3: Nauders - Reschenpass
(1,507 m) - St. Valentin auf der Heide - Burgeis - Schleis - Glurns - Prad - Göflan - Morter - Tarsch - overnight stay: Naturns (FVA, tel. 0039/0473/666077).
Stage 4: Naturns - Rabland - Algund - Meran - Lana - Frangart - overnight stay: Bolzano (FVA, tel. 0039/0471/307020).
Stage 5: Bolzano - Ora - Salorno - San Michele - Trento - Rovereto - Nago - Riva del Garda (FVA, tel. 0039/0464/554444).
Maps: Compass maps (scale 1:50 000) No. 25, 35, 42, 52, 53, 54, 74, 75, 101. Tabacco maps No. 043, 04, 011, 034.
Transalp route of the Via Claudia schwer:
Stage 1: Mittenwald - Leutasch - Gaistal - Ehrwalderalm - Ehrwald - Fernpass (1,266 m) - Tegestal - Dirstentrittkreuz (1,844 m) - Tarrenz - overnight stay: Imst (FVA, tel. 0043/5412/69100).
Stage 2: Imst - Imsterberg - Venetalm (1,976 m) - Larcher - Pillerhöhe - Fliess - Landeck - Tobadill - Kappl - overnight stay: Ischgl (FVA, tel. 0043/5444/52660).
Stage 3: Ischgl - Idjoch (2,737 m) - Alp Trida - Compatsch - Kobleralm (1,983 m) - Kajetansbrücke - Martina - overnight stay: Nauders (FVA, tel. 0043/5473/87220).
Stage 4: Nauders - Reschenpass (1,507 m) - St. Valentin auf der Heide - Schleis - Prad - overnight stay: Sulden (FVA, tel. 0039/0473/613015).
Stage 5: Sulden (cable car!) - Madritschjoch (3,123 m) - Zufritt See - Morter - Latscher Alm - overnight stay: Naturns (FVA, tel. 0039/0473/666077).
Stage 6: Naturns - Schnalstal Valley - Eisjöchl (2,906 m) - Lazinsalm - Pfelders - St. Leonhard - overnight stay: Merano (FVA, tel. 0039/0473/272000).
Stage 7: Merano - Hafling - Auener Jöchl (1,924 m) - Möltener Kaser - San Genesio - overnight stay: Bolzano (FVA, tel. 0039/0471/307020).
Stage 8: Bolzano - Frangart - Montiggler Seen - Kaltern - Altenburg - Grauner Joch (1,803 m) - Vervo - Toss - Campodenno - Spormaggiore - overnight stay: Andalo (FVA, tel. 0039/0461/585836).
Stage 9: Andalo - Passo San Giovanni (1,675 m) - Margone - Castell Toblino - Pietramurata - San Martino - Riva del Garda (FVA, tel. 0039/0464/554444).
Maps: Compass maps (scale 1:50 000) No. 25, 35, 42, 52, 53, 54, 73, 74, 101, Tabacco maps No. 043, 04, 039, 011, 034.
Literature and info: The tour (both variants) was described in BIKE 4/02. The road book and elevation profiles are available for download on the Internet: Via Claudia
With the CD Rom "Traumtouren-Transalp" you can customise the tour and request the GPS data, Info: www.bike-gps.de
The history of the Via Claudia Augusta: www.wikipedia.org
Guided tours: www.alpsbiketours.de
www.alpstours.net (two levels) www.seracoje.de (two levels, start in Oberstdorf) www.transalptours.de (Start in Garmisch) www.ulpbike.de
You can find the GPS data on the bike-gps.com website <click here->
