Endurists are very welcome in the three-country corner of Reschen/Nauders. The natural trails attract many bikers with plenty of flow, but the routes also require a slightly higher level of riding ability. Our trail search was successful and you can find descriptions of these trails in the spot guide:
One-Way-Ticket: Plamort-Tour
The rollercoaster: the Schöneben Trail
Root massacre: Haideralm Trail
Flow attempt: the Bergkastel trail
Mutzkopf highlight: Elven Trail
One-Way-Ticket: Plamort-Tour
Rocky, flowing, sometimes rough, sometimes gentle - the descent to Reschen has everything an enduro biker could wish for. Only a second run is not so easy.
The Plamort tour is our favourite descent. Why? Because this descent is so damn versatile. According to the map, the tour to Reschen consists of four trails that are linked together: the Alm Trail, Plamort Trail, Bunker Trail and Etsch Trail. The tour starts at the valley station of the Bergkastel cable car in Nauders.
The cable car takes us up to 2172 metres. The Alm Trail starts just below the mountain station: a 1-kilometre feeder trail with a gentle gradient. Here we ride on a smooth, fast surface with bumps that you can double with enough speed and pop. Passing the Stieralm, we reach the actual Plamort Trail (2.5 km). This single trail starts fast and stony. Beware: there are also hikers on the trail. We cross a plateau. This is easy, leisurely pedalling. Only after the distinctive tank barrier (tanks up here, really?!) does the trail accelerate and undulate elegantly along the slope on grassy ground. It's called the Bunker Trail here because there's a big concrete block in the meadow - today an ideal vantage point. Now the Etsch Trail begins. The terrain becomes steeper, more washed out, rockier and more challenging. Perfect for putting your biking skills to the test in search of the ideal line down into the valley. Lake Reschen peeks out from between the trees. Shortly afterwards you are already at the bottom and can now pedal to the other side of the lake to the Schöneben cable car or 20 minutes back to Nauders.
Conclusion: Full enduro! This top tour is our number one on the Reschen Pass. Because here you'll find flow, panoramic views and a crisp downhill. Second run - double the fun? Unfortunately, the starting point and finish of the tour are 20 minutes apart by bike.
Plus
> Versatile
> Panorama
> Transfer to Reschen
Minus
> No fast second run possible
The rollercoaster: the Schöneben Trail
Fast up, even faster down: The Schöneben trail resembles a bike park route, but everything here is organic and natural.
The Schöneben trail is an old favourite of ours. It has often served as a test track because 1. it is fully enduro, and 2. the lift quickly takes you to the top so that many runs are possible. The trail winds its way through the mountain forest like a natural rollercoaster. If you rattle through here in one go, you have your bike and your heart muscle under control.
The start already sets the tone for the entire descent: Roots, bends, stone fields, dips, steep steps. The trail is constantly twisting and challenging from top to bottom. That's what makes it so exciting. The Schöneben is undoubtedly challenging - otherwise we wouldn't be testing it here, but it is smoother than the rough Haideralm trail. That's why the Schöneben trail is also fun for less experienced enduro riders. Nevertheless, you have to manoeuvre your bike over thick root strands with momentum to avoid getting stuck. Apart from a few wooden bridges and the wooden poles laid out to prevent bikers from sliding down the slope, everything is left in its natural state. Unfortunately, this also means: no airtime. Apart from a few bumps, there are no jumps here. A few pedalling sections may hamper the downhill flow a little - but that's part of enduro biking. We like the lower part of the trail best. This is where the trail speeds up and is easier to ride thanks to the tamer surface (yummy forest floor!). In short: in our eyes, the Schöneben is the best baller trail in the region.
Conclusion: The Schöneben is 100 % enduro. Sometimes rough, sometimes flowy, sometimes fast, sometimes twisty. The descent is more fun than the Haideralm or Elven trails, making it one of our top favourites. Disadvantage: no stunts and very susceptible to wet conditions.
Plus
> Rollercoaster feeling
> Challenging, but with a flow factor
Minus
> Sensitive to moisture
> No airtime
Root massacre: Haideralm Trail
Two trails lead down into the valley from the Haideralm. A somewhat tamer descent and the angry original. If you want to experience flow here, you have to be determined.
The Haideralm Trail is a challenge for every enduro rider. At least that's how we experienced it. The trail deals out hard blows. So hard that we checked the suspension travel of our bikes: is it really 170 millimetres?
You can either start directly from St. Valentin on the southern shore of Lake Reschen, or you can cross over from the Schöneben mountain station to St. Valentin. This takes around 25 minutes, but the transfer is almost exclusively on trails - great! Two trails start at the Haideralm. The "easy" Haideralm trail doesn't rumble quite as much, fewer roots, fewer stones, more flow. The original, on the other hand, shows no mercy. The natural descent is littered with roots. The bikes bounce and buck incessantly, making your arms fat and your eyes wide. Gentle passages to rest are rare. Every now and then the route opens up and requires a good eye for the right line through the root massacre.
The motto of the trail: hold on to your handlebars! There are no built jumps, and you don't want to pull off the edges either, because the landings are rough and full of roots. To put it positively: it never gets boring here - because the terrain demands full concentration. The descent repeatedly crosses a gravel path. It offers the opportunity to switch to the gentler trail variant. If we're honest, we thought about it from time to time. After around 15 minutes, the descent spits you out at the gondola in St. Valentin. Respect to all those who ride down the tough Haideralm trail in one go.
Conclusion: Rooty, bumpy, tough. If you really want to get your teeth into it, you'll find it at the Haideralm. A powerful enduro bike is a must, as are reasonably dry conditions.
Plus
> Sophisticated
> Selective
> Natural
Minus
> Susceptible to wetness
> No built stunts
> Nothing for beginners
Flow attempt: the Bergkastel trail
The Bergkastel Trail is comparably new and should also appeal to less experienced enduro riders. It is labelled as an easy trail, but should not be seen as a classic flow trail, in our opinion.
The Bergkastel cable car takes you up. Just like the Plamort circuit, you first ride along the constructed, flowing Alm trail (1 km) towards the Stieralm. The start of the Bergkastel trail is just below the Stieralm. It starts tame and rather flat. The surface is much gentler compared to the other descents on Lake Reschen, but by no means smooth, as you would expect from many other flow trails. Here, too, you should reach for a powerful enduro bike to have fun. Again and again you roll over wooden bridges until the trail becomes faster and more technical. The berms provide variety. Later, the trail leads into the forest and the ground becomes rooty and rougher. A few double jumps follow, which are not easy to jump. We certainly had some difficulties, although the trail is designed for beginners. After 5.5 kilometres, you come out onto a tarred road that leads back to the valley station of the Bergkastel cable car.
Conclusion: The Bergkastel trail is a mixture of enduro trail and easy flow descent. The idea didn't quite work in our eyes. The route was too monotonous for us. Nevertheless, 4th place, because the trail is tame enough to take beginners on tour.
Plus
> Long
> Flowy
> Appeals to many
Minus
> Lack of attention to detail
> Rhythm
Mutzkopf highlight: Elven Trail
Two trails start from the Mutzkopf: the Green Trail and the Elven Trail. We had much more fun on the Elven Trail.
The Mutzkopf chairlift in Nauders whisks its visitors up to the top in a cosy but slow single chairlift. There are two trails to choose from: a red and a black descent.
According to the labelling (black), the Elven Trail should be more difficult than the Green Trail (red) - but it's not. At least that's what we found. The Elven Trail is not only smoother to ride, but also more fun. Because here the
mix of fast straights, bends and technically challenging terrain is better than on the Green Trail. It also has more vertical metres and is longer. You start off on a fast, narrow path. The flow factor skyrockets as the trail curves across meadows on hard-packed ground.
As soon as the trail bends into the forest, you have to grab the brakes and choose the right line. Root strands and potholed forest floor challenge the suspension and the rider's skills. Rumpel-Pumpel - if you want to ride down here with traction, you need strong arms to hold the handlebars firmly and the right bike. Suspension travel welcome! Every now and then you come across built earth berms, but the descent is mostly left in its natural state. Unfortunately, there are no jumps here either. Up to the lower section, the descent remains the same in character - narrow, winding, choppy. But then it gets fast, steep and rough again. Roots, stone passages, loose scree. Once you have survived the high-speed section, you end up on a tarmac road - from here you roll back to the chairlift.
Conclusion: Fast, technical, versatile, partly flowing - the Elven Trail is the kind of natural descent that enduro riders want. Bikes with suspension travel and a full face are desirable here if you don't want to snail down into the valley, but rather roar down.
Plus
> Fast
> Rhythm
Minus
> Susceptible to wetness
> No stunts
> One-sided
> Nothing for beginners
Further information on the Reschen/Nauders spot guide:
Reschen/Nauders
The Reschen/Nauders border triangle has four relevant gondolas/lifts for bikers. The season starts on 30 May and ends on 13 October. The three-country bike pass is valid for all four gondolas. The region is also part of the Gravity Card. Tip: Be sure to check the weather before your visit and make sure that it has been as dry as possible during the day.
INFO
Routes 10
Lift Gondola (Nauders Bergkastel, Schöneben and Haideralm cable cars) 1-seater chairlift (Mutzkopf)
Hire / Courses Yes / Yes
Season 29 May to 13 October daily
Opening hours 8:30/9:15 am - 4:30 pm.
Day ticket 35 € (adults), 23 € (teenagers), 17 € (children), free for Gravity Card holders
EventsSeason opening on 12 June 2020 | e.g. Greendays postponed/cancelled due to COVID-19, 3 countries
Enduro Race 28-30 August - current information on the date on the website
More information under:
www.3-laenderendurotrails.com
CLARTEXT
Wolfgang Watzke: "More enduro is not possible! If you like natural, challenging trails, this is the place for you. In the wet, however, almost all the trails are unrideable or at least dangerous. My
favourite: the rough Haideralm trail. "
Laurin Lehner: "All the trails are very similar in character. For me, Reschen/Nauders is the epitome of enduro terrain. You have more fun here with a powerful enduro bike and fat tyres. For beginners and
families there is hardly anything on offer. Good news: two new flow trails are due to be completed by the end of 2020.
Dimitri Lehner: "My tip: plan at least one long weekend. Great: The long transfers here are all singletrack trails and I really enjoyed them. However, stunt freeriders won't get their money's worth here. There are virtually no built jumps. Good: The Serfaus-Fiss-
Ladis is only 30 minutes away by car."
Downloads:
Laurin Lehner
Editor
