This moderate tour runs mostly parallel to the Caldaro High Route (Kalterer Höhenweg). Due to the cycling time of 4.5 hours we recommend to plan a whole-day tour so you can enjoy some stops and the beautiful panoramic views. From the Paterbühel in Caldaro we turn into the Via Klavenz road and cycle on the path no. 15 to Pianizza di Sopra (Oberplanitzing) and further on to the junction with the Mendola Road. Following this asphalt road downhill for 300 m we branch off to the Via Andreas Hofer road on the left. It leads us through the Ganda di Sopra settlement.

We choose the Via Badl road on the left and then the Via Piganò road to Castel Palù, and cycle through the vineyards to the Steinegger tavern. The MTB tour itself starts right here: the forest path no. 7 snakes its way through the forest uphill to Masaccio where a parking space is located right beside the Mendola Road. 150 m down the asphalt road we enter the forest again and follow the Boos forest path. After another 3 km it meets the trail no. 521 known as “Telefonsteig”.

Slightly below we turn into the path no. 9 resp. Caldaro High Route and cycle towards S. Antonio and the Ziegenstadel, a forester’s deposit. Sometimes the parallel forest path is better suited for the MTB ride. After 5 km we reach the Ziegelstadel and continue for another 3 km (signpost “Gummererhof”). The downhill ride takes us on the Zoggler forest trail and later on on a partly asphalted road to Castelvecchio (Altenburg). From this hamlet the forest path no. 11 leads us to the Caldaro sports ground. Via the hamlet of Sant’Antonio we turn back to our starting point.

The ascent to the old railway road of the former Fleimstal railway; you tackle around 800 m elevation gain with no more than a 6% incline.

The railroad from Auer to Predazzo was built during WWI by Russian prisoners of war, to bring troupes and material from the Etschtal into the Fleimstal towards the front. After the war, the small railway transported predominantly wood and people, until it was shut down in the 1960s due to inadequate profitability. What remained was the perfectly built and developed railway line, which todays serves as a gravel path called ‘former Fleimstal railway’ or ‘ex ferrovia’. As railways could never overcome more than five to six percent incline, this line is today ideal for bikers: you overcome the elevation gain softly, and so the ascent is pure bliss.

At Kaltenbrunn, you have to leave the railway line and continue uphill for a short stretch on the road to Trodena/Truden. Cross onto the brief, steep, and partially surfaced ramp and continue uphill to the Cisloner Alm.

The downhill stretch on path number 1 requires good technical skills. The route proceeds partially on forest paths covered in leaves, coasting by a scenic post where you can enjoy a nice view across Lake Kaltern to the Mendel and Penegal. Get off the bike and push it for a bit, as the path is partially very steep with tight bends, before you reach smoother forest paths.

Above Egna/Neumarkt you will cross the train line and continue on wide paths into the medieval village of Egna with its historical city centre. Return to Kaltern via bike path – in the afternoon a stronger southern wind blows at times, which makes the ride easier.

Alternatives
At path marking 55 you can follow the railway line and tackle Tour 21 Passo Oclini/Jochgrimm. In Trodena at Path marking 66 you can turn left and head on Tours 14 Kanzel or 20 Corno di Curon.

After the ascent from Kaltern – a brief stretch over the Mendelstraße, then on a long gravel path – the pleasant trail finally starts: A gruff, rocky, uphill trail which requires the utmost concentration even for skilled cyclists. Yet after nearly 300 metres this steep channel is over and done with, making bikers take a sharp right onto another path. It’s a narrow, smooth trail, which winds its way through the forest in very tight bends.

This trail flows, as bikers say, and the ride is a smooth ride across the path covered in foliage and featuring tight bends and turns. It’s like going on a roller-coaster, just more beautiful.

After this amazing trail, you’ll reach a gravel path which leads to the Mendel Cable Car tunnel and then merges once again into a trail. It winds its way across the slope, at times flat, at others slightly uphill, until reaching a further gravel path, which leads to the Ziegelstadel and is signposted as the Kaltern alta via. This is where the breathtaking uphill and downhill forest paths start. First you bike on asphalt, later once again on a path below Lake Kaltern, which of course is an open invitation to take a dip during the summer.

After taking a well-deserved swim, the compulsory 180 m elevation gain on the bike path await to take you to Kaltern, where you can end the tour with a glass of wine in the village square.

Alternatives
– Path marking 14: Here you can follow the Mendelstraße and tackle Tours 16 Penegal or 17 Malga Romeno

On the wine route up to the Passo della Mendola, down to the Val di Non and back to Lana via Passo delle Palade: This sporty tour takes us over no fewer than two mountain passes.