Routes in and around Austria

[PaulTL]

Hi,

Me and a mate are going to Austria at the end of May this year, and we're looking for any recommended rides once there.

We're staying near Innsbruck.

Anything in Austria, Southern Germany, Switzerland and Northern Italy gratefully received. Either shorter routes, or whole day 8am-8pm jobs.

Which passes are worth doing or not doing?

Thanks in advance.

Paul.

P.S. Mate reckons we should be doing the "Garmischer Pass" (or something like that), but can't find ANY references to it. Any idea what he may be on about ?

 

[Rasher]

How long you got?

You can start on the doorstep with the Timmeljoch Pass, Jaufen Pass, Brenner Pass, Kuhtai and Haiming Joch - all do-able in a days loop south of the Innsbruck Autoroute.

There are a load more to the North of the Motorway including the Hahnten Joch and Fern Pass plus Mad King Ludwigs Castles if you like that sort of thing.

Another full day would allow you to get into the Dolomites, you could probably do the 6 or so passes around Arraba and be home in time for tea.

The Stelvio is possible in a long day, with a few other passses on the way to and from it.

The possibilites are endless - how many days are you there?

 

[PaulTL]

How long you got?

We're going to be in Innsbruck for 7 days.

 

[NeilDD]

Paul,
If you haven't got it already, get a copy of "The Alps & Beyond" by John Hermann, ISBN 978-1-884313-70-7

Are you camping or B&Bing?
If camping I can recomend a nice route which will take in 4 passes, then arive at a nice campsite on the side of a river in Slovenia, then caom back towards the Inn valley via another 3 or more passes

Neil

 

[PaulTL]

Paul,
If you haven't got it already, get a copy of "The Alps & Beyond" by John Hermann, ISBN 978-1-884313-70-7

Are you camping or B&Bing?

Neil

We've got a self-catering apartment for the week, so will be using it as a base.

I'll take a look at the book, thanks.

 

[Wapping]

Between you and a mate, you can probably work something out, two heads being better than one, even if one is..... Well, I guess you know the saying

There is a sticky with many of the 'recommended' routes lovingly created in a Mapsource based GPS friendly file

Also, have a look at the many, many trip reports people on UKGSe have made. Not least have a look at the hundreds or more websites, blogs, forums where fellows have gone to extraordinary trouble to tell YOU (and potentially the rest of the world) the very thing you are seeking an answer to. Some are even quite good.

Give it a go. Others have managed, many of them from a fabled time of yore when UKGSer, the Internet or PC's even existed..... How did they do it, we can only wonder



PS Ask your mate what he is on about. It's probably easiest. Paretenkirchen can sound like 'pass' if he has a stutter and you are a bit mutt.

 

[The Grey One]

Paul,
If you haven't got it already, get a copy of "The Alps & Beyond" by John Hermann, ISBN 978-1-884313-70-7

Are you camping or B&Bing?
If camping I can recomend a nice route which will take in 4 passes, then arive at a nice campsite on the side of a river in Slovenia, then caom back towards the Inn valley via another 3 or more passes

Neil

It's a long, long way from Innsbruck to Slovenia. The OP was asking for advice based in staying in one place. If he wants to ride into Slovenia then next time he should stay at our place, we are less than an hour from both Italy and Slovenia

John

 

[John Armstrong]

It's a long, long way from Innsbruck to Slovenia.

Last year my wife and I on our little wee strom managed to get from Udine to Murna am Staffelsee in an easy day via the Tunnel and Gerlos pass. Udine is a short distance from Slovenia, and Murna isn't that far from Innsbruck, certainly an easier hop down the motorway compared to the delights of the Alps in lower Germany.

Google maps make it as 345km in 5 hours from Innsbruck to Bled if you go via the Gerlos pass and the Tunnel, or 385km in 5 hours 45 mins via the Gerlos the Grossglockner, and the only motorway in those routes would be getting to Jenbach in the Inn valley.

Not a long long way IMVHO.

 

[The Grey One]

Last year my wife and I on our little wee strom managed to get from Udine to Murna am Staffelsee in an easy day via the Tunnel and Gerlos pass. Udine is a short distance from Slovenia, and Murna isn't that far from Innsbruck, certainly an easier hop down the motorway compared to the delights of the Alps in lower Germany.

Google maps make it as 345km in 5 hours from Innsbruck to Bled if you go via the Gerlos pass and the Tunnel, or 385km in 5 hours 45 mins via the Gerlos the Grossglockner, and the only motorway in those routes would be getting to Jenbach in the Inn valley.

Not a long long way IMVHO.

If you are staying in Innsbruck that makes it 10 hours there and back and that's even if you believe Google maps averages. 70kph on mountain roads for 5 hours? Better join a racing team! And you certainly won't see much along the way As I said it's a long way and remember the OP asked for day routes.
Much better to spend time on roads nearer to base.

Oh and if you go to just one place in Slovenia there are better options than Bled.

 

[THE PICT]

Have a look here aswell. http://www.alpineroads.com/ Personally i wouldnt plan anything untill your down there. Night before a run out,check weather forecast and use that to help u decide where to go.When I go the only thing I plan is my ferries to and from newcastle.Slovenia is great and deserves a wee bit more than a days ride out and Lake bled is indeed lovely but far too busy and comercialised during july so wouldnt bother with it this trip

 

[Rasher]

Have a look here aswell. http://www.alpineroads.com/ Personally i wouldnt plan anything untill your down there. Night before a run out,check weather forecast and use that to help u decide where to go

I always have a few routes for any one day, between locations I will have a direct route in case of awful weather and if possible two others, one for the "perfect day" where you will be happy to be out all day taking the best possible route, and an easier scenic route that can be done in a shorter day in case I don't feel like a long day or the weather is not great.

I also try to make routes that can be easily altered whilst on the road, then if the weather changes I can delete a couple of optional waypoints to shorten the route.

For days around a base I create a few looping routes of differing lengths and ideally heading in differing directions and can then just choose the best for the weather and how I feel on the day.

I can also throw up a route by using some of the waypoints from the other routes, or just head out if I have a spare couple of hours (like when it don't stop raining until 3:00pm)

This route planning also helps me know my routes quite well and allows me to pretty much make up any routes or detours quite quickly on the spot.

 

[dave hendy]

I always have a few routes for any one day, between locations I will have a direct route in case of awful weather and if possible two others, one for the "perfect day" where you will be happy to be out all day taking the best possible route, and an easier scenic route that can be done in a shorter day in case I don't feel like a long day or the weather is not great.

I also try to make routes that can be easily altered whilst on the road, then if the weather changes I can delete a couple of optional waypoints to shorten the route.

For days around a base I create a few looping routes of differing lengths and ideally heading in differing directions and can then just choose the best for the weather and how I feel on the day.

I can also throw up a route by using some of the waypoints from the other routes, or just head out if I have a spare couple of hours (like when it don't stop raining until 3:00pm)

This route planning also helps me know my routes quite well and allows me to pretty much make up any routes or detours quite quickly on the spot.

same here always do a long and short route for different weather options. Not 100% method but one or the other usually works. Plus I like doing the routes as it's part of the trip and helps get me in the mood

 

[sven]

The Gerlos pass/Krimml waterfall/Zell-am-See/Grossglockner/Brenner pass loop
can be done in a longish day - the Grossglockner is a must

 

[PaulTL]

The Gerlos pass/Krimml waterfall/Zell-am-See/Grossglockner/Brenner pass loop
can be done in a longish day - the Grossglockner is a must

Thanks. It'll go on the list.

Don't mind long days, as long as the riding is good.

 

[hatzyian]

Krimmi waterfalls is a good day out. The large carpark on right (furthest out of village) has an area for bike parking, plus lockers for all your gear (one euro in slot... You get it back). Long walk up the path to the cafes there, but the iced coffee makes it worthwhile.
http://www.gerlosstrasse.at/en/gerlos-alpenstrasse/motorrad1/