(E-)bike holiday in Austria

The route after the main through road in Mayrhofen starts with a challenging section right away. Up until the tollbooth the route climbs uphill, with a decent amount of percentage incline – the best thing to do is walk for a bit and take it easy. Pass the tollbooth, and continue uphill. The trees on both sides of the road at the start of the tour provide pleasantly cool shade. As you continue your ride into the valley, you are accompanied by the sounds of cow bells ringing. You then head through a short tunnel and come to the dam crest of the reservoir. It’s then not long until you reach Gasthaus Wasserfall. From here there is only a shuttle bus service and residents only access, since the road is completely closed to public transport. Continuing on, you get to Grüne Wand Hütte or to the goods cable lift for Kasseler Hütte.

A relaxing cycle tour on E-bikes along the river which lends its name to the valley, the Ziller. Lush meadows, perfectly designed, wide cycle paths, little snack stations and idyllic chapels provide plenty of variety on this half-day tour. The tour combines perfectly with a trip to the Erlebnissennerei (Adventure Alpine Dairy) or to Schnapsbrennerei Stiegenhaushof Distillery in Schwendau. The path to Mayrhofen proceeds via the town of Hochsteg and past the riding stables.

Cycle along with the impressive view to the high mountain realm and the emerald green Schlegeis reservoir. In the town of Dornau proceed across ‘Teufelsbrücke’ (a rare example of old Tyrolean wood construction technology), then on a few twists and turns on the asphalt road uphill across the Jochberg, along the romantic Zemm Gorge and ascending slightly after Ginzling. Ride through the town, passing little farmsteads and Rosshag power station until reaching Breitlahner. From the tollbooth in Breitlahner the forest trail proceeds to the Schlegeis reservoir at 1800 metres.

Ride from Mayrhofen to Zillergrund. You will pass numerous inns and stop-off options. The limited number of vehicles that may travel in the area ensures you won’t encounter much traffic. After around ten kilometres you come to a chapel in Häusling. It is here that there is one of several power stations. Keep riding into the valley and after another five kilometres Sundergrund opens up on the right-hand side. Continue straight on from the Au. After two sweeping bends and a few minutes of riding, you come to Bärenbad Hütte. Once you get there you will see the dam wall for Zillergrund Reservoir for the first time. Those of you who have not yet had enough, can continue riding up to the dam wall.

After a ten minute ride on the Finkenberger Almbahn you reach the intermediate station. Afterwards you take your E-bike on the forest path heading to the Penkenbahn, which comes from Mayrhofen. Follow the signs until you reach the Penkenalm. The route continues to the Penkenjoch at 2095 metres. On the way back, pass Granatkapelle chapel to get to the Penkenalm again and after that, back to the intermediate station for the Finkenberger Almbahn. You now have a choice: Either take the cable car back into the valley, or follow the forest path into the valley.

Wiesenalm single trail provides all adventure-hungry leisure cyclists and experienced pros alike bike fun at its best. Thanks to its construction method, the 5.2 kilometre route is suitable for enthusiastic beginners, while also providing action-packed variety for experts. Numerous serpentines, Northshore elements and pumps require a bit of skill and fitness. After a comfortable ascent on the Rosenalmbahn to get to the intermediate station, the easy to moderately difficult singletrail begins, proceeding predominantly through forest terrain at 700 metres altitude, down to the valley station for the Rosenalmbahn. As well as gondolas that are specifically set up for bikes and a bike wash station, the team at Intersport Strasser – right in the valley station for the Rosenalmbahn – provide a special bike hire service and general service to meet all needs, sending cyclists’ hearts racing.

Pass the riding stables in Finkenberg, heading to Ginzling. In Ginzling, take a left before the Nature Park House to get to Tristenbachalm and Steinbockhütte. The route is steeper initially, via an asphalt road. From Tristenbachalm the route becomes a forest path. The path is well laid out and provides a few sections to relax and take a break for a while. In Floitental ride to the goods cable car at Greizer Hütte. You can lock up your bikes and leave them at the edge of the road. After that, the 90-minute ascent to Greizer Hütte begins. Once you get to the inn, a superb view to the glacier above Greizer Hütte awaits, so too does an impressive view into Floitental.

This moderately difficult tour starts in STOCK resort and heads into Zillergrund. Passing the toll station, head for around 1.8 kilometres via the toll road to the junction for Alpenrose-Stadelbach. It is here that the actual route starts, signposted No. 472 throughout. Via the upgraded gravel road, through the forest of tall spruce trees and past the rushing Ahornbach, after a moderately steep ride, you come to Berggasthof Alpenrose (1372 metres), which is open for business. Up here, along with delicious treats typical of the area, you also get to enjoy the views to Mayrhofen and to Tyrol's mountains. The return section proceeds via the same route.