Alpencross Oberstdorf - Comer See

Route:

Oberstdorf - Schönenbach - Au - Damüls - Ragall - Bludenz - St. Gallenkirchen - Gargellen - Klosters - Langwies - Arosa - Lenzerheide - Tiefencastell - Bivio - Cassacia - Chiavenna - Lago di Como.

According to our on-board computer, the route leads over 310km and 8150hm uphill. ( Outdooractive shows deviating values )

1st stage Oberstdorf - Damüls 57km / 1900hm

From the train station in Oberstdorf it goes first out of town to the north (!) Direction Fishing . After the large roundabout turn left to Tiefenbach. From there, the path leads on a narrow tar road via Rohrmoos to the Hirschgund holiday home. There turn left onto a forest road that crosses the border into Austria. After a short time turn right at a crossroads and follow the path to a farm with campsite ( with kiosk, sometimes closed ). From there it continues relatively flat, always following the signs to Schönenbach. In Schönenbach in front of the sawmill rustic refreshment stop. Here begins the first crisp ascent of this alpine cross which leads past the Stoggenalpe over the Stoggersattel. After a nice descent you can go to the village of Au, where the forest road to Damüls begins at the church. This requires a lot on 13km, seasoned with several steep passages and occasional stream crossings, before the stage destination Damüls is reached. There are several guesthouses and hotels, very nice and biker-friendly "Haus Brunelle" BB € 30,00.

2nd stage Damüls - Gargellen 62km / 1440hm

At the exit of Damüls ( direction Furkasattel ) we turn left onto the way to the Unterdamülser Alm. There begins an increasingly steep (cow) path to the Türtschalpe, which later leads into a path that has to be mastered on foot in the middle part. Back in the saddle, we reach after a short drive the Türtschalpe ( refreshment stop ). The following brisk descent on forest roads and tarred roads down into the large Walsertal makes you really happy. Once at the bottom, we turn right on the main road to the junction to Ragall. In Ragall we drive up to below the church, leave it on the left and drive on the tarred path following the signs "Ludescherberg" to the inn "Berghof" ( delicious homemade sausages ). From there continue to "Nüziders über Laz", the road leads into a forest path and after about 1km a wonderful trail branches off to the left at a bench, which leads downhill and which you should not miss under any circumstances ( Highlight ). The valley station of the Muttersbergbahn leads to the city of Bludenz. From there you follow the cycle path into the Montafon for about 20km until shortly before St. Gallenkirchen the ascent to Gargellen begins. On a road with little traffic, about 600hm have to be overcome. In Gargellen Gasthof Wulfenia ( biker package "Transalp" with jersey washing service and spaghetti ) highly recommended.

3rd stage Gargellen - Arosa 50km / 1950hm

Today's (royal) stage begins with the approach to the Schlappiner Joch: from Gargellen the well-signposted path leads first under the cable car on tar, later on gravel about 4km uphill, before on the last about 400hm to the yoke the bikes have to be trained. About 2 hours after the start you have reached the transition ( border to Switzerland ). At first everything seems to be drivable, but after a short time a sliding passage begins almost down to the hamlet of Schlappin with a small reservoir. From there brisk drive to Klosters. At the valley station of the Gotschnabahn begins the ascent on gravel to the "Serneuser Schwendi" (no restaurant). After a short descent, a path branches off to the left. ( Direction "Schifer" ). Now it goes briefly uphill, then branches off to the right a trail, again in the direction of "Schifer". This then leads us down to the valley station of the Schifer-Sesselift with restaurant ( The + Wednesday closed ). From there it finally goes up to the Duranna Pass ( from here signposted, Duranna Pass or Green Lake ). The route is continuously passable and is becoming increasingly flatter at the very top. After the top of the pass, the path leads past the said Grünsee down to Langwies. About halfway you pass the historic mountain village of Strassberg with its centuries-old huts made of almost black wood. The view from here into the valley is also fantastic. Arriving in Langwies, the path leads from the station under the viaduct ( railway bridge ) and on the other side steeply up again to the "old railway path" towards Litzirüti. Continuing on gravel, this path always leads from there along the railway line to Arosa. Shortly after a reservoir you reach this well-known ski station, which offers a rather bleak impression in summer.

Stage 4 Arosa -Bivio 59km / 1880hm

We first drive uphill to the district of Innerarosa. There, a wide hiking trail turns left. We follow the signs to the "Schwellisee" and then continue for about 1km to a point where the footpath to the Hörnlihütte branches off to the right. We follow this steeply uphill ( push / carry ) and finally reach the Hörnlihütte or the mountain station of the Hörnlibahn. In good weather, you already have visual contact with the Urdenfürggli, the highest point of this Alpine crossing at 2546m. However, the way there leads first, partly well drivable, again several meters of altitude down to the Urdensee before the final ascent up to the "Fürggli" is on the program. From up there it continues through the ski area down to Lenzerheide. The entire route is drivable. In the lower part, an elaborately developed downhill trail attracts the experienced rider to test his skills. Due to the bad weather with continuous rain and low temperatures, we covered the complete further descent to Tiefencastell and the 30km long ascent to the 1700m high stage destination Bivio on the road that began there. However, there are also alternatives for sections via tails and forest roads that would still have to be explored. In Bivio, the Hotel Solaria with sauna and pizzeria in the house is recommended.

Stage 5 Bivio - Lake Como 83km / 950 hm

The last obstacle on our way to the south is to overcome the Septimer ( 2,310m ) right after breakfast. From Bivio, a gravel road or a well-traveled path leads through several ramps to the top of the pass. This old Alpine crossing was already used in Roman times and in the Middle Ages. This is evidenced by the "road surface" made of coarse stone blocks, which is still visible today, which often shakes you up on the descent from the Septimer Pass down to Cassacia. At first it goes through flatter terrain, but after an ancient arch bridge, the terrain soon drops steeply and it is recommended to carry or push the bike in parts. Further down you reach a high valley and from there a fort road leads down to the valley. Now you have already done the Alpencross. A beautiful cycling and hiking trail, the well-signposted "Via Bregaglia", leads off the main road via Vicosporano and Soglio to the border to Castasegna and from there on to chiavenna in Italy. The varied route leads (mostly slightly downhill, occasionally with small counter-climbs) through forests and meadows, through picturesque small villages or along the river Mera. In Chiavenna, the valley opens up and turns south. On the well-developed, often straight through the plain running cycle path "Italia Nr.6" it is now on the last kilometers. First you reach the Lago di Mezzola after about an hour. This is bypassed on the east side and soon afterwards you have to change to the road to get to Soricio and Gera Lario via the "Ponte del Passo" now cycling to the west. And then suddenly he lies in front of one - Lake Como!