Experience cycling in the Alps at its finest: Imst holiday region

260 kilometres of first-class, sign-posted routes make the area around the small town of Imst in the Tyrolean Oberland region a veritable haven for cyclists. Meticulously maintained and signposted in accordance with the regulations set down by the Tyrolean government, the routes are ideal for families and die-hard mountain bike enthusiasts alike.

Detailed info along the route

Bikers are welcome wherever you see the cyclist symbol. The signposts themselves include information about the route number, the level of difficulty, the course of the route and its elevation profile. Information on sections which are closed off or on which you must dismount and walk, facilitate the planning of your tour. The level of difficulty is indicated using colours: blue stands for easy routes, red for moderate ones and black for very challenging tours.

A landscape rich in variety

Diversity is the best word to describe the countless cycling and mountain biking routes in the Imst holiday region. In keeping with the local terrain, the agricultural and forest tracks, which form the main part of the network for bikers, are Alpine in character. One especially appealing route is the trail up to the Latschenhütte mountain hut located above the town of Imst, where you can savour not only a breathtaking panorama, but also hearty, local specialities. Flat forest trails can be enjoyed in the Gurgltal valley, a little-known but particularly beautiful tributary of the Inn Valley. Those who prefer flatter routes will also enjoy the picturesque Inn Promenade which forms the gateway to the Inn Bike Path. Even the classic road circuit around the area’s landmark mountain, the Tschirgant, offers many scenic highlights. Equipped with detailed maps, which are available in all the tourist information offices, really active cyclists can manages the official routes – involving some 8,500 metres of elevation - in just a few days.

Via Claudia Augusta themed trail

Pedalling all those kilometres might well get you working up a sweat - in which case you’ll appreciate the informative breaks provided along the “Via Claudia Augusta” trail. The former Roman imperial road offers a themed trail with cultural, geographical and gastronomic highlights along the way.

www.viaclaudia.org 

Known as the “town of springs,” Imst is also an official stopover town of the “Schwalbe TOUR Transalp” and “Transalp BIKE Challenge” races, as well as starting and finishing point of the 2014 TransTirol BikeRallye race.

Highlights of the longest mountain bike circuit in the Alps

The “Bike Trail Tirol” offers a world of sheer endless diversity for mountain bike enthusiasts. Three particularly enjoyable, scenic sections of the 800 km-long circuit are located here in the bike-friendly region in the Tyrolean “Oberland.”

Whatever you’re looking for, be it back-to-nature fun and action, or a demanding, physically challenging route – the 800 km-long circuit brings together everything that makes the Tyrol such an unparalleled location for mountain bike aficionados. Comprising a total of 32 stages the Bike Trail Tirol takes mountain bikers right across the whole province. You can start wherever you choose – there is no beginning or end. And the Imst holiday region is also home to scenically attractive sections of the longest interconnected mountain bike circuit in the Alps. Route no. 64, for example, takes bikers from Imst over the Venetalm mountain pasture to the village of Wenns – a physically challenging section involving more than 1,200 metres of elevation gain. Uli Stanciu, an authority on mountain biking, describes this classic tour as follows: “This route is highly rewarding since it connects the Inntal valley with the Pitztal valley, and also includes an idyllic place to stop and eat right at the top of the pass. After all the exertion follows a well-deserved reward – a fantastic, long downhill section leading to the Pitztal valley side of the village of Wenns.” Route no. 69 from Imst over the Marienbergjoch mountain to the village of Ehrwald offers a real treat for fit, experienced bikers. The 37-kilometre tour takes you to an altitude of over 1,810 metres above sea level and involves 1,381 metres of elevation. Taking you along several forest trails, but mostly along gravel tracks, it leads to one of the most scenic intersections along the circuit. A route which is ideally suited to families, on the other hand, is route no. 63 from Imst to the village of Oetz at the beginning of the Oetztal valley. Starting at the railway station in Imst, this tour, which involves only a few metres of elevation gain, takes cyclists along the newly created Inn Valley Cycle Path via Roppen to Sautens, before continuing on to Oetz. The easy-going 14 kilometre-long route boasts an abundance of lush, pristine nature.

For further information visit www.biketrail.tirol.at 

Electric biking in the Imst holiday region

Rental e-bikes along with numerous battery-charging stations make exploring the scenic beauty of the region on two wheels a truly pleasurable experience. And only half as exerting!

Equipped with high-performance batteries, the city bikes and mountain bikes offer guests “uphill assistance” when on a cycling tour. “From gentle climbs to demanding ascents, our region offers the full spectrum of tours. And in order to offer those guests with less biking experience and stamina the chance to savour the breathtaking scenery of the Inn Valley and the mountains high above Imst from the “comfort” of the saddle, we are increasing our efforts to provide e-bikes throughout the entire region,” explains Marco Walser, Managing Director of the Imst Tourism Association.

So that you don’t run out of steam!

Thanks to our local bike specialists, the Imst Tourism Association boasts competent partners when it comes to e-bike rental. The e-bikes can cover a distance of around 60 km before the lithium-ion batteries need recharging. When you rent a bike, you naturally receive it fully charged. And in order for you to be able to experience an enjoyable, full-day tour, during which you naturally cover more mileage than when using muscle power alone, battery changing stations are available throughout the entire region.

INFO: www.imst.at