MOUNTAINS, ALPINE PASTURES & RUSTIC HUTS - What more could a biker’s heart desire?

Actually, biking hasn't been on my mind for the last few years, but this summer everything’s different. I have rediscovered my love of biking.

The Biking Village of Filzmoos: Where the mountains entice you to jump on your bike

Whether it's a special challenge, a really demanding tour, a leisurely tour for families and beginners, or simply a tour with a damn good view: Filzmoos wouldn't be Filzmoos if it didn't have all that up its sleeve.Varied MTB & E-MTB tours with well over 150 kilometres in all levels of difficulty, right in the heart of SalzburgerLand, await you in the bike village of Filzmoos.

Our mountains, my bike and me.

Those who know me know that I love to be out and about in nature. Hiking and running have always been on my agenda. But for a few weeks now, I have been bitten by the "biking bug"! Therefore, I'm starting this year's summer season with a few mountain bike tours that I can absolutely recommend to you. For a change, I'm once again unpacking the "bio-bike", i.e. a mountain bike without power. But all the tours are also great with an e-bike. So, let's get going. Get on and start cycling.

The biking season is open....

... and I can hardly wait to start pedalling. As I mentioned before, the "biking bug" has really caught me this year.Here are my 3 favourite tours, which you can also do on a "normal" mountain bike. And the best thing about it: on my bike tours in the Biking Village of Filzmoos there will not only be sporty summit conquests, but also culinary highlights. ;)

My top 3 MTB tours to start with

Are you looking for a leisurely mountain bike tour? Then you can find my first MTB tour tip here:

Schnitzberg Circular Tour (SW02)

The tour starts and finishes in the centre of Filzmoos. With 270 metres elevation gain and about one hour on the bike, it is signposted as an easy tour (blue).

To the tour: I start from the centre of the village on the main road heading towards Ramsau. After about 1.6 kilometres, a forest path branches off to the right. After a few metres, this path forks and I take the left path through the small gate. On a wide forest road and through beautiful mixed forests, the trail leads somewhat steeper uphill until I come across a clearing. Immediately, the view of the breathtaking Dachstein range becomes clear. The path leads comfortably along the edge of the forest to the main road. Once on the main road, I cycle about 100 metres back towards Filzmoos, where I immediately turn left onto the "Alte Hachaustrasse". The forest road leads uphill for a good kilometre to the Schnitzberg snack cabin - a small idyll high above Filzmoos.

My recommendation: If you are looking for a nice, tranquil spot surrounded by green forests and lush meadows, then Schnitzberg is the right place for you. And on top of that, you are rewarded with unique views from the sun terrace: the Schladminger Tauern to the south and the mighty Hochkönig to the west. In addition to the tranquillity and the wonderful view, hostess Elfi serves home-style cooking and many products come from her own farm. From there, the last part of the tour, initially flat along a gravel track and towards the end on a moderately steep road, leads back to the starting point.

My 2nd tour tip is a little more demanding and leads over a natural jewel and the Filzmoos power spot no. 11:

Schwarze Lacke (Black Pool) Circular Tour (SW03)

I also start this tour in the centre of Filzmoos. Take the cycle path along the main road in the direction of Eben, past the Eisstadl (where you should definitely stop for a bite to eat ;)) and continue on the cycle path and footpath in the direction of Neubergerstrasse. After 2.5 kilometres, turn right towards Neuberg, past the Hote Alpenhof, alongside the Fritzbach stream, where I cross the stream over a wooden bridge shortly before the Vierthal Farm. From here on it is always uphill. On the "Wurmegg Strasse", the trail now climbs on gravel, where after a good 6 kilometres I can make a detour to the Schwaigalm.

My recommendation: The cosy Schwaigalm also attaches great importance to local produce - much of it comes from their own farm or forest, such as the "Schwaigalm Schmankerl": roasted mushrooms with egg. The homemade apple strudel with vanilla sauce is a must for dessert. The stop at Rosi's is definitely worth the extra few minutes ;) The trail climbs moderately.The route continues up a moderate incline, where I reach the legendary power spot and true natural spectacle "Schwarze Lacke". Continue along the wide forest road in the direction of Kleinbergalm. Here, too, the sun terrace and the regional specialities invite you to linger.Finally, there is a steep descent down to the starting point in the centre of Filzmoos.

Biker’s heart, what more do you want?

How about another tour to work out; or a bike & hike experience? Why not both?

My tour tip no. 3: Sulzenalm Bike & Hike – Sulzenschneid Krahlehen- & WallehenhütteThe tour starts again in the centre of Filzmoos. This time the route leads along the toll road in heading towards the Hofalmen. After 5 kilometres on the Hofalm trail, I take the forest road up to the Sulzenalmen before the Bögrainalm. Admittedly, this variant is a bit more strenuous with the bio-bike, which is why I decided to take the e-bike for this stretch. The gravel forest track leads uphill at a constant gradient. Initially through dense forests, but these become increasingly sparse. In the last part, the forest road winds through lush alpine meadows to the alpine huts: Krahlehenhütte and Wallehenhütte in the Sulzenalm area. Here, too, a stop for refreshments is an absolute must. Because you will experience mountain enjoyment à la Filzmoos: hearty meat or cheese fritters, sweet farmer's doughnuts, spicy & homemade cheeses, home-baked bread and much more. Well, I don't know about you, but my mouth is watering already ;).And since I am not yet "exhausted" enough, I swap my cycling shoes for hiking boots and walk from the Sulzenalmen up to the Sulzenschneid. I hike for about an hour over high larches, dense mountain pines and lush mountain meadows to the Sulzenschneid. Once I reach the summit, I am rewarded with a fantastic view of the mighty Bischofsmütze, the Dachstein range, the Hohe and Niedere Tauern and, last but not least, the Rettenstein.I could tell you so much more about this fantastic view, but it's best to come and see for yourself.

By the way:

The Trail Collect Challenge offers you the opportunity to conquer a silver or even golden pinion - the hiking pin for bikers, so to speak. How does it work? Along the Alm Bike Filzmoos trails there are various checkpoints for the collect pass.

Gold Alm Bike pinion
Silver Alm Bike pinion

E-Bike Charging stations:

12 e-bike charging stations in the Filzmoos bike village facilitate your mobility in the mountain world of Filzmoos.

E-Bike rental in Filzmoos:

Sport Stefan Filzmoos
Sport Flory Filzmoos

Tip: Free e-bike test every Monday at 5 p.m.: Try out the new dimension of cycling at Intersport Flory and Stefan.Maps are available from the Tourist Office in Filzmoos. Here you‘ll also find all tours online:

www.filzmoos.at

Opening hours of the alpine huts

Opening hours of the alpine huts

photo credits: indebergen.nl, Filzmoos Tourismus