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Coins Cachés. Salzburgerland

If you are heading to Salzburg with your bike, there are so many amazing routes to explore. Whether you are looking for a steep satisfying climb with awesome scenery or a gentle Sunday ride around some of the most beautiful lakes in Germany and Austria, the Bavarian Alps have so much to offer, both on and off road.

We have put together a collection of rides which include classics, like The Gaisberg Climb, the homemountain of Salzburg, and the Rossfeldroute, one of the most stunning mountain roads of Bavaria but also some routes that are less well known but are favourites of ours or are perfect for an after work ride as the sunsets.

The Rossfeldroute

ROUTE

The Rossfeld summit is 1560m above sea level and is definitely not an easy undertaking for beginners. Our route started in Salzburg at 450m and led us towards Berchtesgaden to the village of Oberau and we chose the southern ascent. By the time we reached the toll station on the Panoramic Road we had already climbed 600m.

We decided to ride up at the end of the day at sunset, as there is much less traffic in the evening. For the first few kilometres the road winds through the forest but the higher you climb, the more beautiful the view becomes. On the last part of the Panoramic Road, you are constantly rewarded with views of the Bavarian Alps foothills and at the highest point of the ride, you have a view of Salzburg.

We descended over 1000 metres in to Hallein, where you can treat yourself to an ice cream or head straight home along the Salzachradweg. This route is challenging but very scenic, especially at sunset when the light and atmosphere are at their best.

The Lakes of Flachgau

OFF-ROAD

The Trumer Lakes; Mattsee, Obertrumer See and Grabensee, lie in the middle of the idyllic Flachgau region. Our route took us along the Salzach river first and in order to escape the city traffic, we stuck exclusively to cycle paths. But as we got further north, our surroundings became more beautiful and peaceful, and we left the stressful city bustle behind.

We mainly rode on small roads or dirt tracks, so this route is perfect for gravel lovers. Flachgau’s landscape consists of rolling hills and pastures of grazing cows with beautiful alpine foothills behind.

We cycled around Obertrumer See and then along the cycle path towards Seekirchen am Wallersee. Here you can take a break either at the lake or in one of the many small cafés. For those who are motivated, Grabensee can also be included as the route is not particularly demanding, more of a leisurely Sunday ride.

The Gaisberg Climb

ROUTE

Gaisberg is the local mountain of Salzburg and the summit is 1287m above sea level. The classic route leads through the city in the direction of Fuschl. The start of the Gaisberg road is in Guggenthal and it is about 9km to the top.

The first stage to the Zistel-Alm is not particularly steep and has a wonderful view of the city. From here, it is only 3km to the summit, but it gets much steeper.At the summit, you are rewarded with a breathtaking view of the whole Salzburg region, especially at sunset.

The way back is simple - either go back down the same road or you can head back towards Elsbethen. For those who still have some energy left, you can continue towards the Wiesthaler reservoir to see its spectacular dam. From here the trail leads back towards Hallein along the Salzach river, although this path is only suitable for gravel bikes.

Hintersee

ROUTE

From Salzburg, this route crosses the border to Germany at Grossgmain and heads to the foothills of the Bavarian Alps. There, we climbed uphill through the forest to Hallthurm.

After only a few flat kilometres, we turned off at Winkl towards Bischofswiesen and Loipl, where another steep climb awaited. The gradient reached 20% at points but eventually flattened off as we reached the summit. The road is normally not very busy and shows Bavaria from its most beautiful side.

After the descent, we reached Hintersee, a quiet and idyllic mountain lake in the Berchtesgadener district. Here, you can stop for a bite to eat or simply taking a short break by the lake. We circled the lake and headed back towards Austria, passing through the villages of Ramsau and Berchtesgaden.

Back over the border, we arrived in Grödig, where we cycled along the Moosstrasse, the longest street in Salzburg, back into the city. This route was a recent discovery for us and is now one of our favourites.

Round the Grossgmainberg

ROUTE

The loop around the Grossgmainberg is one of our favourite "after-work" routes. It is easy, quick and incredibly beautiful. The route leads directly through Salzburg along the Salzach and then along the Almkanal, in the direction of Fürstenbrunn. If you're lucky, you'll meet a few surfers here on the "wave".

If you ride in the evening, you will have the most beautiful light. The 22% climb from the Fürstenbrunn side is a tough but short one. In total, this route covers 250m elevation over about 33km but you can make the route longer or shorter as you wish.

The descent is made up of smooth and flowing bends. Once you reach the bottom, you are on the cycle path across the Walser Feld back towards Salzburg. Here, I often make a short detour to the Mönchsberg - the road is very steep, but you get a wonderful view of Salzburg. You have to carry your bike to reach the bottom which adds something quite special to the ride.

LES COINS CACHÉS