Panoramic route over the Salmaser Höhe to Großer Alpsee

This mountain bike circuit offers steep climbs, flowing trail sections, and tricky descents. The route is recommended for light bikes—no recommendation for e-bikes or e-MTBs!

The starting point of the route is the Nagelfluhkette Nature Park Center in Bühl. You start towards Fischerweg until you reach Hotel Rothenfels. Here you turn left. Now the path leads uphill over the ST 2006. After about 150 meters of elevation, you reach the village of Zaumberg, where you can turn left. In the village center, turn left and then follow the path to the right. Now continue steadily uphill following the signs through a beautiful old sunken path, with partly stony sections, up to the well-known Siedelalpe.

You pass the alpine pasture on the right and then ride over meadow paths and wood chip-covered forest paths. Through the moss, you head towards Pfarralpe. Once you can see the hut, at the fork turn right downhill on the paved road. Attention: don’t miss the left turn towards Holdalpe! Over meadows and forests, you pedal uphill until you leave the forest and see the drag lift "Thaler Höhe." You zigzag down the lift track to the valley station and then turn onto the valley road at Jugetbach.

You continue rolling downhill over forest and meadow paths to then partly pedal uphill again around Bachschwandeneck at Untereibele Alpe. Along the ridge and after a steep descent, you ride to Hirnbein-Alpe. Now a pretty tough climb over a mulchy meadow to Salmaser Höhe lies ahead, where you will also have to push the bike in some places. The beautiful panoramic view to the Swiss mountains and the deep view into the valley are the reward for it. Upon reaching the ridge of Salmaser Höhe, a difficult descent over rooty trails and tricky passages to the viewpoint "Seeblick" awaits you.

300 meters below you lies the Großer Alpsee—the largest natural lake in the Allgäu. To the east you can see the Hindelang mountains and to the west the Swiss Alps and the Alpstein. The Großer Alpsee is also the valley floor of your mountain bike tour. You take the short spur from the viewpoint back to the route and turn left downhill towards Ratholz. From there, you descend over the initially gravel alpine path to Hohenschwandalpe and then on asphalt down to the Konstanzer valley. At the bottom, you reach Ratholz and are on the well-known Bodensee-Königssee cycle route along the Großer Alpsee. On this path, you roll leisurely back to the Nagelfluhkette Nature Park Center.

Note: This route leads over many alpine-managed sections. To avoid pasture gates and cow fences, we especially recommend this route in spring and autumn. The 100 days of alpine summer require more arm strength, as you will have to lift your MTB more often!

Adequate fitness

Suitable clothing (depending on the weather)

Enough to drink and eat

Sun protection

Bicycle pump

Bicycle lock

Places to stop: Siedelalpe, Pfarralpe

Charging station at the Nagelfluhkette Nature Park Center