The alpine clubs that have joined forces in the Club Arc Alpin agreed on 10 recommendations that should make your mountain bike tours safer. Whether you’re riding on paved bike paths or in alpine terrain, safety always comes first.

Cycling and mountain biking is good for fitness and you experience a lot, plus it strengthens your community. However, there are some points to keep in mind so that your tours remain safer, more environmentally friendly and conflict-free.

1. Health
   Mountain biking belongs to the endurance sport, which means that the heart, circulation and muscles are heavily stressed. Therefore, you should be healthy and be able to assess yourself well. Time pressure should be avoided and the length and intensity of the tours should be increased slowly. In addition, one should pay attention to a healthy sitting position.
2. Carful planning
   The selected tour requires good planning, in which maps, Internet and experts are a good help. In addition, a tour should always be tailored to the fitness of the group, the weather as well as the current conditions. Those traveling alone should always let a trusted person know about the tour.
3. Search for suitable routes
   Local closures and rules must be observed so that conflicts are avoided and no risks arise. Therefore, only use signposted paths and suitable roads. Driving cross-country means erosion damage, which should also be avoided.
4. Regular check
   Brakes, air pressure, the tight fit of the wheels, suspension and gears should be checked regularly, preferably every time before a ride. In addition, annual maintenance by a specialist company prevents technical defects.
5. Complete equipment
   Warming clothes, a change of clothes, rain and wind protection, a repair kit and a first aid kit belong in every backpack. You should also take with you: a cell phone (emergency call in South Tyrol: 118), light and sufficient food and drink. Depending on the weather conditions, goggles and gloves are also recommended. Maps and GPS help with orientation.
6. Never without helmet
   Whether uphill or downhill, the helmet should never be missing! In the event of a fall or collision, a helmet can not only prevent the risk of head injury, it can also save lives.
7. Give priority to pedestrians
   On hiking trails and other paths, consideration should be given to pedestrians. Therefore, give early notice of coming by ringing a bell or shouting. Heavily trafficked trails should be avoided.
8. Attetion speed
   The speed should be adapted to the situation. While riding, you should always be alert and ready to brake to avoid falls or collisions. Special mountain bike courses prepare you for unexpected obstacles and situations.
9. Leave no traces
   Attention should be paid to nature. Therefore, do not brake in such a way that the wheels lock, as this will prevent soil erosion or trail damage. Do not leave the garbage.

Be considerate of animals
Do not frighten wild animals and approach only slowly – at walking pace. Twilight means a time for animals to feed. Always close pasture fences after driving through them.

It is one of the most popular and most frequented bike paths in South Tyrol: the cross-border Drau cycle path from San Candido to Lienz. Also for families the 44 km long route with an altitude difference of 500 m downhill to Lienz is easy to overcome. The way back is easy with the train!

The bike path San Candido Lienz leads along a well-marked bike path and is suitable for all types of bicycles. If you are planning your cycling vacation in Alta Pusteria, you should definitely also plan this wonderful excursion!

The start in San Candido is 500 m higher than the finish in Lienz; the 44 km are therefore easily manageable without much effort and also for families.

The tour along the Drava is recommended for families with children as well as for cycling novices. The return trip from Lienz is made in a comfortable bike train with its own wagon for the bikes.

The tour is also interesting because you can “experience” two countries by bike (don’t forget your identity card!), because the cross-border Pustertal leads us from South Tyrol between meadows and forests into the heart of East Tyrol. In addition, the East Tyrolean capital Lienz impresses with its authentic character, the many stores and the cafes. Here one likes to stay for 1-2 hours.

The starting point of the cycling tour is the train station in San Candido. Heading east, you pass the hospital and after an underpass you reach the well-signposted bike path to Versciaco. Continue along the Drava River to Lienz, where the bike path ends. Along the way are numerous rest areas and refreshment stops.

If you don’t want to cycle all the way to Lienz, you can also stop at an earlier station. The trains stop not only in Lienz, but also in Sillian, Tassenbach, Abfaltersbach, Mittewald and Thal, among others. Tickets for the return journey can be purchased directly at the train station in Lienz.

Start: San Candido train station
Meters in altitude: 500 downhill
lenght: 44 km
Journey time: 2-3 hours outward

Whether on a mountain bike, an e-bike or with children or a dog in a trailer, the Pustertal bike path from Dobbiaco to Brunico is absolutely suitable for families. The entire course of the path leads slightly downhill and always offers cozy rest stops.

If you spend your cycling vacations in Alta Pusteria, you should definitely plan a day trip on the scenic Pustertal cycle path. We start in Neutoblach on this family excursion, which takes us as far as Bruneck. Along the Rienz river, the cycle path leads through sparse forests to Villabassa. The route continues over the Von Kurz Square and then through green meadows in the direction of the Braies Valley.

There you cross a generously designed bridge that leads over the main road and the Pragser Bach stream. Now Paul Troger’s hometown Welsberg is not far away. After the railroad underpass, the shady park awaits the sporty families and invites them to linger and fortify themselves with a playground. On the other side of the valley is Welsperg Castle, which offers exhibitions all year round.

Passing the Olang reservoir you reach Ober-, Mitter- and Niederolang. From here on, the slopes of Plan de Corones are your constant companions. Now it becomes especially exciting for the kids. Passing the sports and playground in Percha, the bike path enters the narrow Rienzschlucht gorge with dimly lit tunnels. The valley basin opens up again and Bruneck is at your feet. In the beautiful old town of the Pustertal capital you can refresh yourself with delicious ice cream.

Now about 25 kilometers have been covered from Dobbiaco to Brunico. If you are tired earlier and don’t want to cycle all the way to Brunico, you can stop in any village of the Puster Valley and comfortably use the train for the return trip.

We wish you a great family trip on two wheels!

Start: Dobbiaco – New Dobbiaco
Meters in altitude: 450 meters in altitude downhill
lenght: 25 km
Travel time: 2-3 hours outward

On the pedals, ready, go… Dobbiaco in Alta Pusteria is the biker’s paradise par excellence. Mountain bike and cycle paths lead in all four directions. On this easy tour of about 5 kilometers in total to San Candido, which is mainly used by families, you head east.

The starting point of this family vacation day is the Dobbiaco train station, where there are plenty of parking spaces and also a bike rental. Slightly downhill the route leads along the railroad track, to the district heating plant. It supplies the communities of Dobbiaco and San Candido with environmentally friendly thermal energy, and also generates about 11 megawatts of electricity per year with the residual heat. The functioning of the plant as well as all kinds of interesting facts about biomass as a fuel are shown here on the biomass educational trail.

Continue on your bike until you reach an information board halfway along the trail. There you cross the meadow in a southerly direction to the edge of the forest and reach the famous Drava spring, which is one of Dobbiaco’s water treasures. This is the source of the Drava River, which then flows into the Danube and flows into the Black Sea. A display board informs about the course of the river.

Back on the cycle path, you can already see the two church towers of the market town of San Candido. A stroll through the village is always worthwhile. For families with children, a detour to the play park at the castle on the southeastern edge of the community is recommended. There the little cyclists can really let off steam. In the pedestrian zone of San Candido, with its numerous restaurants and bars, there are plenty of opportunities to stop for refreshments. Also a leisurely shopping tour is always an experience here!

The return journey to the starting point in Dobbiaco can be made via a parallel gravel path through the forest or, for the more experienced, via the sunny side, along the Haselsberg. It is also comfortable to return by train! Have a great family vacation in Alta Pusteria!

Start: Toblach Dobbiaco in Alta Pusteria
Meters in altitude: none
lenght: 5 km
Travel time: 30 minutes outward

There, where in Alta Pusteria the gate to the Dolomites opens and the pale mountains are particularly fascinating, is the entrance to the wildly romantic Cave Valley. For those who want to explore it in more detail, the bike tour from Dobbiaco to Cortina is particularly suitable!

Here, at the Nordic Arena, is the starting point of this 30-kilometer-long, somewhat challenging family bike tour, also known as the “Long Way of the Dolomites”. Following the route of the former narrow-gauge railroad built during World War 1, the bike path runs from Dobbiaco in Alta Pusteria, Italian for Alta Pusteria, to Cortina, connecting the provinces of South Tyrol and Belluno.

On a gravel path along the Rienz River, the route leads to Dobbiaco Lake. Passing the historic smelting furnaces on the Klauskofel, which were used for smelting ore centuries ago, the route continues past the war cemetery to Landro, a former theater of the 1st World War. There you will also find the famous Dobbiaco Three Peaks View, the only vantage point from the valley to the Three Peaks North Walls. A little later you reach Lake Dürren, in which the war mountain Monte Piano is reflected. Further on you cycle past the old Schluderbach railroad station and after a total of 330 meters of difference in altitude you reach the Gemärk, the highest point of the cycle path.

During this family bike tour you can admire the rugged rock faces of Monte Cristallo and Hohe Gaisl. From now on, the trail only goes downhill, passing a small lake and the chapel of Ospitale. Particularly impressive for the children are the narrow, deep gorges that the bike path crosses, as well as the old tunnels carved into the rock, which date back to the times of the railroad.

Now the valley basin of the former Olympic town of Cortina, the destination of the family bike tour, opens up. You should definitely plan a short stroll in the streets of Cortina with its noble stores and restaurants before you start the way back by bike or bus.

Start: Nordic Arena Dobbiaco
Altitude difference: approx 300
lenght: 30 km
Travel time: 1-2 hours outward

It doesn’t always have to be the big and exhausting day tour! Alta Pusteria offers numerous smaller and comfortable excursions by bike, which are a great experience for families with children. One of these bike tours is the excursion from Dobbiaco to Dobbiaco Lake.

Thanks to the many varied routes at all levels of difficulty, Alta Pusteria in particular is a popular destination for cycling vacations. A bike path with a magnificent panorama of the Dolomites leads from Alttoblach to Dobbiaco Lake. From the center of Dobbiaco you can reach the hamlet of Rienz via a small side road through the lower village and from there on to the Nordic Arena, where the Tour de Ski is held in winter.

At the nearby high ropes course you can admire the brave kids climbing. Or you can hang yourself in the ropes and explore the courses in various degrees of difficulty in the adventure park. Further on, along the Rienzbach stream on the disused railroad line, slightly uphill, you reach Dobbiaco Lake after a total of a good 3 kilometers. Here a true family paradise opens up. There is the possibility to stop and admire the panorama or, to the delight of the children, to explore the lake by boat. Swans and ducks accompany them.

On the left shore of the lake, the cycle route continues to the water-powered historical smelting furnaces on the Klauskofel. From here the route continues along the other shore of the lake, past the viewing platform, which offers a magnificent view over the lake and invites you to take pictures, back to Dobbiaco.

Those who love nature and would like to learn a lot about flora, fauna and geomorphology can walk along the nature discovery trail around the lake and find out more. Especially families with children love this theme path, because it leads over many small streams and explains complex relationships in a simple way.

Lake Dobbiaco is without a doubt one of the most ideal day destinations during a family vacation in Alta Pusteria.

Start: Dobbiaco village center
Meters in altitude: none
lenght: 3 km
Travel time: 30 minutes outward

It is probably one of the most demanding, but also most beautiful Dolomite tours: the Stoneman Trail by Roland Stauder. Far away from stress and hectic, it serves to admire the fascinating natural landscape. This is what makes mountain biking fun!

The idea of the Stoneman Trail through the eastern Dolomites came from cyclist Roland Stauder. On this mountain bike trail, success is not the first priority, but the conscious perception of the unique nature.

120 km long, over 4,000 meters in altitude and marked by “stone men” – the Stoneman Trail is something special. The goal is to reach five checkpoints and stamp off a bracelet there each time. You can enter the trail at four different places, where the starting package is also handed out: At the “Stoneman-Spirit-Info-Point”, which is located in Sesto at the cable car station, at the Hotel Bergland in Sillian, at the tourist office in Padola and at the Acquafun swimming pool in San Candido.

The 5 stamping points:

• Markinkele, 2545 m
• Sillianerhütte, 2447 m
• Passo Silvella 2329 m
• Valgrande, 1362 m
• Croda Rossa mountain station, 1900 m

Procedure oft he trail

1. pick up the start package
   The start package can be picked up at the four locations listed above. Check the opening hours beforehand. The stamp arm will be registered on that day. You can also buy the start package the night before from 7 p.m., the following day will then be considered the start date.
2. Duration and course of the trail
   From the start date you have three days to reach all five checkpoints and stamp the symbols on your wristband. You must return to the issuing point for the final check and award.
3. Final check
   If you finish the trail in the evening and outside the opening hours of the issuing office, you have the possibility to return the bracelet the following day until within 9 am.

The trophy

Those who complete the Stoneman Trail within a maximum of 3 days will receive a trophy specially designed and handmade by Roland Stauder. There are 3 categories: Gold (1 day), Silver (2 days) as well as Bronze (3 days). In addition, the participants will be immortalized on the Stoneman Trail website.

When the Stoneman Trail is ridden for the first time, the biker receives a trophy with a stone in the color gold, silver or bronze. The top represents a rusty, yet unique Stoneman logo. The bikers who ride the trail more often will get another stone to screw on the trophy.

By the way, please follow the rules of conduct and prepare well for the tour. Do not forget to pack warming clothes and provisions.

Every passionate mountain biker knows it: the Stoneman Trail in Alta Pusteria in the Dolomites. But the Stoneman Kids also starts in Sesto, a mountain bike challenge for the younger ones. But even for them the well-marked and difficult route demands a lot of skill and stamina.

This little sporting adventure starts in Sesto at the Stoneman Info Point. Here the children can purchase a start package together with their parents and then ski down the 14 km long route with about 200 meters of altitude gain. Just like the adults on the Stoneman Trail, the children also have to pass certain checkpoints.

In addition to the two stamp marks you have to collect on your wristband, water crossings and a bumpy riverbed await the little ones, as well as short single trails. There is one special feature: a special place invites the children to build their own cairn. When they successfully arrive back at the starting point, the “Stony”, a trophy especially for the little ones, is waiting.

By the way: If you don’t like cycling or don’t dare to take this route, you can also hike for about 6 km and climb about 400 meters in altitude. Otherwise, this variant of the Stoneman Kids works the same as the mountain biking, also here there is a special place where the little ones can build their cairn.

Visit www.stoneman.it for more information on the Stoneman Kids.