Pinzgau for Foodies – Our selection
The Pinzgau region has many a culinary gem to offer, which is probably another reason why we love living here so much, alongside the unique natural surroundings …
The mountain bike tour up the Hundstein is a great opportunity for well-trained bikers to enjoy the fantastic panoramic view from Europe’s highest grassy mountain, both on an organic bike 😜 and on an e-bike. With just under 45 km and 1,352 meters of elevation gain, you should plan between 3.5 hours and 6 hours. In any case, it’s time to get out early, otherwise the midday sun will make it twice as exhausting.
👉🏼 Start: Dorfchalets Kaprun
It is best to always follow the MTB signs – then nothing should go wrong. From now on, it’s time to divide up your strength and battery power – because the majority of the 1,352 meters of altitude difference are climbed over the next 10 km.
💪🏼 The reward for this effort is breathtaking views of the Salzach Valley, Lake Zell and the surrounding mountain landscape.
From kilometer 21 at the latest, you can see the eagerly awaited and hard-earned destination – the Hundstein summit with the Statzerhaus.
But as is so often the case in the mountains, the finish seems close enough to touch, but the last 1.5 km demand everything from us once again. From here, the well-maintained forest path becomes a narrow hiking trail and on the north side of the Hundstein there is often a thick snowdrift across the cycle path, even late in the year.
And finally the freestyle, because the last few hundred meters are also quite steep – pushing the bike is absolutely no shame here. 😉
… you have finally reached your goal! The Statzerhaus is literally enthroned on the summit. From Whitsun to mid-October, you can recharge your batteries with a Kasbrot, a Brettljause or a Topfenstrudel while enjoying the spectacular view.
Freshly fortified and rested, it’s time to put on our helmets, lower our saddles and enjoy the descent. In the upper part, roughly up to the Zell am See – Kaprun viewing window, the trail leads downhill just as we came up. Then we take the turn-off towards Enzianhütte to get to Thumersbach on Lake Zell. From Thumersbach, take the lakeside road either southwards directly back to Kaprun or around the northern shore to Zell am See.
A fantastic tour is coming to an end.
For all those who prefer to tackle the whole thing in running shoes, a separate entry with a slightly modified route will follow in the next few days.
Have fun on this fantastic bike tour, here are some more impressions as a foretaste.
The Pinzgau region has many a culinary gem to offer, which is probably another reason why we love living here so much, alongside the unique natural surroundings …
March is simply the best time to ski … your toes no longer freeze, the slopes allow you to make long turns again and the sun is already strong enough to keep you in your deckchair a little longer.
If you’re looking for the best postcard view in the region, you’ll find it on the Mitterberg. It is also an ideal starting point for a hike up the Schwalbenwand and, thanks to the Berggasthof Mitterberg, you can even enjoy coffee, cake and other simple, down-to-earth regional dishes.