Here you will find our personal recommendations for MTB and E-MTB fans: great bike trails from downhill routes to wide forest paths, as well as suggestions for bike tours with the whole family.
Cableway to Aschbach/Rio Lagundo, infopoint turn right along the road until the village finish, forest path direction Vigiljoch/San Vigilio, turn right at the junction forest path direction Naturnser Alm, 9A to Vigiljoch church, forest path 9 to Seespitz, descent on Single-Trail to junction forest path, turn left to forest path 27A direction Aschbach, descent passing Unterobereben following road to Töll/Tel.
Alternative descent: Stuanbruch-Trail (S3) or Mohlboch-Trail (S1)
Parking-Saringstraße, Rablà (parking lot No. 1 at the cycling track, close to the railway station)all-day parking, in the designated parking lot-Cutraunstraße, Rablà (parking lot No. 2 on the cycling track, close to the railway station )All-day parking, in the designated parking lot
Pubblic Transport:From Merano: the Venosta Valley Train or Bus 251 to RablàFrom Venosta Valley: the Venosta Valley Train or Bus 251 to Rablà
A relaxing cycling path for nature lovers
Length: about 20 km; difference in altitude: about 370 m.
This slightly ascending and largely natural bike path leads from the center of Meran/Merano (the Sissi Statue in Elisabeth Park – Summer Promenade) along the Passer River, and ends in St. Leonhard/San Leonardo. This path does not lead directly through the villages that lie along its route, but cyclists can take a detour into anyone of them.
Please note that the bus line 240 from Meran to St. Leonhard is not equipped for bicycle transport.
Starting point of the cycle path in Merano (the Sissi Statue in Sissi’s Park – Passeggiata d’Estate/Summer Promenade)
The route starts in the center of the village of Dorf Tirol/Tirolo and first follows Aichweg road as far as Jaufenstraße road. Level with the Eichenhof, the route crosses the state road and then follows the track through the meadows to the river Passer. It then runs along the marked cycle path to Saltaus/Saltusio and St. Martin/S. Martino until it reaches St. Leonhard/S. Leonardo in the Passeier valley.
You can already look forward to the delicious menu before your start. The cozy Lyfi mountain hut awaits you with homemade yoghurt with strawberries and traditional dishes from Val Venosta after an ascent of 1300 meters in altitude on beautiful gravel paths and asphalt road. Start at Val Martello’s Trattla sports and leisure center with the culturamartell visitor center and take the road through the wonderful berry valley. Turn right after 300m to reach Martello’s valley path which takes you along the Plima river. The first 400 meters in altitude take you along the babbling river and some strawberry fields in the partially already narrower valley. Having passed Café Hölderle and Restaurant Hotel Waldheim you reach the Romanesque chapel of Santa Maria alla Fonderia.Continue on the road that has become famous due to Giro d’Italia 2014 with some turns and straight road sections through a wonderful landscape characterized by hay barns, lush meadows and berry fields. Pass by the summer and winter biathlon center until you reach the mighty dam wall. Push your bike across the 83m-high dam wall of Lake Gioveretto and continue along the lake shore. Then you take the asphalt road again to proceed with the last 450 meters in altitude. After a few turns turn right in the left-hand turn with wonderful mountain panorama before the parking in Alta Val Martello and take the forest road towards the Lyfi mountain hut. You reach your worthwhile destination after a few short ups and downs.
Little exploration tour along Martello’s Strawberry Trail and the valley floor:
Start at Val Martello’s pivot, the Trattla sports and leisure center with the culturamartell visitor center and the South Tyrolean Strawberry World for an e-bike tour on the traces of Europe’s highest strawberry cultivation area with its tasty berries. You can explore part of the South Tyrol Strawberry Trail with its information points by (e-)bike.
Follow the Strawberry Trail symbols and take the road into the valley. Turn right after 300m to take thr path of Val Martello (no. 36) with its strawberry fields. Follow the rush of the Plima river, cross the bridge and take path no. 22 that takes you up to a small plateau east of the valley floor. Continue out of the valley on the Strawberry Trail above the houses. The beautiful view of Martello’s sunny slopes and Selva with Europe’s highest granaries invites you to take some pictures. Go to the transmission mast and turn left after 300m. Return to the valley floor to Transacqua and continue on the provincial road for 1 km to reach your starting point where your children can enjoy at the playground and you have time for a coffee and for exploring the shop of the South Tyrolean Strawberry World.
The route starts at Eppan and leads on the cycle path and the lake loop road to the Kalterer lake and onwards to Tramin. Towards the village you’ll find a rise. Take it and follow the Weinstraße until you reach Margreid and Kurtinig. In all of those villages you’ll find plenty of possibilities to stop for a bite to eat.
Arriving at Salurn, change the downhill side and follow the hillslope until you come to Laag. From there you can take the cycle path along the Etsch in a northward direction up until the spot where the rivers Etsch and Eisack are meeting. There you turn left and follow the old railway track of the Überetscher railway until the initial point in Eppan.
The A 22 Brenner toll motorway is the most direct route into the south of South Tyrol holiday region. Exit at Bolzano South (Sud) and take the MEBO dual carriageway in the direction of Merano/Meran as far as the exit for Appiano/Eppan. Follow the signs to the various villages and hamlets in the Appiano area: Frangart, Girlan, St. Michael, Montiggl, St. Pauls, Missian and Predoning.
All trains travelling the Brenner route stop at Bolzano. Exit the station, turn left and the bus station is on the opposite side of the road. There are regular bus services to Appano/Eppan.
The Vinschger railway is ideal for enhancing your cycling experience in South Tyrol. Due to the new Vinschger railway, the Vinschgau region can also now be discovered by a combination of train and bike. The railway connects the garden village of Lagundo aslike the spa town of Meran with the village of Mals. There are six railway stations along the line that offer a bike hire service (mid April to beginning of November): Meran, Naturns, Latsch, Spondinig, Schlanders and Mals.
Bikes can be hired and returned at different stations. The hire service includes a cycling helmet. For our little guests, who are still too small to cycle by themselves, there are children’s seats available. In addition, there are special tandems and multi-purpose trailers (also for dogs).
Due to the incredible success of bike admittance on trains, there was not sufficient space on the trains for passengers and bikes. For this reason, restrictions had to be applied at that time. This restriction is still valid at the railways stations of Meran and Algund if you enter with your bike for the journey going towards the Vinschgau region. If this applies to you at some stage, you can use an alternative service: the bike shuttle. This bus runs six times daily from Meran to Mals, i.e. at 9.16 am / 9.46 a.m. / 9.46 a.m. / 10.16 a.m. / 11.16 a.m. / 4.16 p.m. and 5.16 p.m. Afterwards, your bike can be picked up at one of the bike hire services of your choice, which are at the following stations: Naturns, Latsch, Schlanders, Spondinig or Mals.
The price of transporting a bike & a person is the same as the price per person, which is EURO 7. A day ticket can be bought at the ticket office.
Bikemobil Card:
This combi ticket can be used for all public transport (bus, train, lift facilities) in all of South Tyrol. In addition, on one day of your choice, you can also hire a bike at one of the numerous bike hire stations with the ‘Südtirol Rad’ symbol (Bike South Tyrol). Hire bikes can be returned at any of the ‘Südtirol Rad’ hire stations. A fabulous way to discover South Tyrol!
The first stage of this racing bike tour is relatively flat, with little elevation gain. However, a rapid gain in elevation must be achieved after leaving San Leonardo/St. Leonhard. A few tunnels and switchbacks bring you to the Schönau restaurant at km 18. After a brief stop to catch your breath, head uphill via the steepest section of the tour on seemingly endless switchbacks beginning at the Timmelsbach bridge.
If you can make it up the last 10 challenging kilometres, 1km through the last and unlit tunnel must be completed before reaching the pass. From the Timmelsjoch, the route either continues to Austria or back into the Passeiertal valley on the route you came up by.
The Timmelsjoch is amongst the toughest passes in the Alpine region – the 30 kilometres feel long and an uncomfortably large portion is uphill.
The road surface, however, is fantastic and the reward for your pain is a magnificent view.
Source: bikemeran.it
Also from Lana to Vigiljoch there are two well-marked courses that challenge the ambitious hikers, one of them offers an additional variant.
Start is at the valley station of the cable car. The various trails lead initially for a short time in the direction of Marling Waalweg / Tscherms and then, east or west accordingly on the ways No. 33, 33 B and 34 steeply up to the Vigiljoch. About the self-explanatory Ochsentodweg No. 38 it goes in tight, steep turns uphill. Between 6.7 and 8.5 km measure the routes, which lead over 1200 Hm largely through the forest and therefore also offer in the hot summer months.
If the descent is too steep, you have the opportunity to float down to the valley once a day until 11 pm by cable car. Interested parties can buy a discounted 20-point card.
