Kaltern Bike MTB-Tour: "Jochgrimm"

This tour combines an easy but long ascent along the former railroad line with a stunning view of the Dolomites – including the Latemar and the Rose Garden – and with a wonderful, relatively gentle and fluid downhill trip that speed demons will love. There are practically no difficulties requiring a high level of technical skill, and there are certainly no segments where you'll have to dismount and push your bike. So if you have a high level of physical fitness and if you start out early, you will certainly complete this 90-km marathon – especially since you can breeze along almost 40 km in both directions on dedicated bicycle trails. From the starting-point at the parking lot in the Kellereistrasse, you first proceed along the bicycle trail to Auer / Ora and on to Neumarkt / Egna. After a short and relatively steep ascent through vineyards, you come to the village of Montan / Montagna. The trail then follows the incline along the former Fleims / Fiemme Valley railroad line. You'll climb approx. 800 meters of altitude differential with a grade of no more than 6%. Shortly after you reach Kaltenbrunn / Fontanefredde, you'll turn off to the left via a couple of wooden staircases and then continue along the narrow, low-traffic road to Radein / Redagno and from there along a wide, gently inclined gravel road up to the Jochgrimm. Once you've reached the Jochgrimm Inn (at an elevation of 2,000 meters above sea-level), you'll be rewarded with a fantastic view of the Dolomites: The mighty chain of peaks extending from the Latemar and Rose Garden with the Vajolett Towers is a visual feast – an unforgettable view. There is a beautiful, somewhat wider trail about 10 km in length, always slightly downhill, over alpine meadows and all the way to the Weissenstein Monastery along these imposing mountain cliffs. This ascent is highly enjoyable. You can enjoy this fluid downhill trip, and there are practically no difficulties requiring a high level of technical skill. From the Weissenstein Monastery – a well-known place of pilgrimage – a gravel road first leads you down a steep downhill grade. Just before Deutschnofen / Nova Ponente, you'll have to then accomplish a short opposing climb before descending into the marvelous Branten Valley. You will then proceed at first down a steep gravel trail and in part over streamlets paved with jagged stone (Attention: plenty of flat stones) into a narrow gorge with in part vertical cliff walls. The trail will take you down to Leifers / Laives in the Etsch / Adige Valley. This is a unique experience – not only because of the giant cliff walls, but also because it is pleasantly cool in this valley even on hot summer days. Once you've arrived in Leifers, you have two alternatives to get back to Kaltern: You can either take the bike trail to the south around the Mitterberg / Monte di Mezzo and then past Lake Caldaro, or proceed to the north towards Bozen / Bolzano and then along the bike path towards Meran / Merano and Kaltern. You should base your decision on the wind direction: In the afternoon (especially when the weather is fine), it will be blowing relatively strong from the south. The route towards Bozen is a little bit longer, but quicker when you have a southerly wind to your back. Especially ambitious bikers are free to take the "Coyote Pass," allowing you to accumulate another 150 meters of steep uphill meters of altitude differential.

Variants: Via Truden / Trodena, you can reach the "Cisloner Alm", "Kanzel," and "Trudner Horn" routes.

Mustn't be missed: The former Fleims / Fiemme Valley railroad line, the Maria Weissenstein place of pilgrimage, the village of Deutschnofen / Nova Ponente, a beautiful panoramic view of the Weisshorn and Schwarzhorn, the Latemar, the Rose Garden, and the Schlern / Sciliar.