Trail guide Karwendel: In Elmar Moser’s footsteps

'If this piece of earth didn’t exist, we would have to reinvent it for bikers. [...] As well as easy, enjoyable routes like long, flat Karwendel valleys, you’ll find dreamy day trips through majestic mountains – the icing on the cake of this perfect biker-friendly region’.

Almost 30 years ago, Munich native Elmar Moser created his famous guide – 'Karwendel, Wetterstein, Werdenfels' – and put Garmisch and Mittenwald in the centre of Germany's bike world. But is it still worth visiting the Karwendel mountains today? In this Collection, you'll find four epic bike Tours to which Elmar Moser's description applies as it did 30 years ago.

Information about the region:
The Karwendel is a mountain group in the northern Limestone Alps. Around 80% of the area lies in the Austrian state of Tyrol, but the northern part belongs to Bavaria. Four rugged mountain ranges stretch from west to east, with many mountains and groups branching off and extensive foothills to the north. Both the Tyrolean and the Bavarian peaks are protected. The picturesque towns of Mittenwald, Krün and Wallgau form the Alpenwelt Karwendel tourism association. The MTB Tours here are characterised by long, steep gravel climbs and descents through fascinating landscapes. Legally passable trails are rare.

Overnight stay:
There are countless accommodation options around the Karwendel. The best place to learn more is to visit the official tourism websites. The core zone of the nature park, however, only has two options: the Gasthof Post in Hinterriß with a beautiful spa area, and the Hotel Die Eng at Großer Ahornboden. Wild camping is strictly prohibited in the nature conservation zones on the Bavarian and Austrian sides and is enforced with high fines.

Best time to travel:
Just like the landscape, the climate is diverse too. It ranges from the temperate zones of the Inn Valley to the extreme climate of the Alpine peak regions. May often still sees a lot of snow at high altitudes, while it's already short-sleeved weather in the valleys. The ideal time for biking is from June to September, with the advantage that it rarely gets really hot. Be sure to check the weather forecast and be prepared for sudden changes at any time.

Check out Mountain Bike Magazine issue 09/2023 for a detailed story about our stay in the Karwendel. You can find even more mountain biking tips at bike-x.de/mountainbike.