MTB region in check: Zell-Gerlos Zillertal Arena

Arrival

The Zillertal is one of the many side valleys of the Inn Valley and is therefore perfectly accessible via the Inntal motorway. The valley takes its name from the river Ziller, which flows through it from south to north and joins the Inn at Strass im Zillertal. Travelling south, i.e. into the valley, the mighty Zillertal peaks draw ever closer. Shortly before Mayrhofen, where the first three-thousand metre peaks of the Zillertal Alps Nature Park stretch into the sky, lies Zell am Ziller.

Due to the hot summer day, we turn off in the direction of the Gerlos Pass towards higher altitudes. The pass, also known as the Pinzgauer Höhe, lies at 1,531 metres above sea level and connects the two federal states of Tyrol and Salzburg. Where once coachmen rode their horses along the old road, we wind our way up bend by bend with our mountain bikes in the car. The temperature slowly drops, and the signs of civilisation fade in step with the falling plus temperatures. Only in Gerlos, at 1,247 metres above sea level, do we catch up with tourism again.

At the eastern end of the village is the Isskogel cable car. A large car park and a clearly laid out valley station immediately show us the way to the ticket office. And what luck: you can use the lifts free of charge throughout the Zillertal on this weekend. It's great fun - let's get up the mountain.

Trails

One of the most exciting moments for us in bike parks or trail centres is the first impression at the top of the mountain. Where do I have to go, is it easy to get out or do I first have to overcome a few hurdles with the bulky bike? Our verdict on the Isskogel single trails right from the start: flow right from the start. The exit offers plenty of space and it's immediately clear where you're heading. When you leave the mountain station at around 1,900 metres above sea level, you immediately see the large overview board with all the single trails in the region. A large arrow points to the start - and you're ready to go.

Eat-Flow

This trail lives up to its name. Wide bends, numerous undulations and a smooth surface without large stones and braking grooves give bikers that much sought-after flow feeling. Right at the start, the bends hug the slope below the cable car. Under the eager gaze of hikers and other bikers, we spiral downhill.

Right after the first section, the Iss-Tough single trail branches off. We stay true to our flow experience and our original plan. The next part of the Iss Flow leads downhill in serpentines over the ski slope - here you have the feeling of being suddenly woken from a deep sleep. You wake up from a beautiful dream - this short section is very different to the upper part and you don't recognise much love for the trail. To us, it looks as if a connection has just been made here in a hurry. Fortunately, the route leads straight back into the Barmbach area and through a magical forest. The flow trail shows its inviting side just as magically here. We quickly forget the escapades on the ski piste and enjoy the feeling of happiness. The route is relatively flat along the slope and we cruise from bend to bend. If you want to increase the difficulty, skip the brakes and use the numerous waves for jumps or other tricks.

Iss-Shore: Biking like in Canada

After passing the cow gate, we are surprised by the numerous cow pats. Are they actually guiding us through the grazing area? Yes, they are. And just a few metres later, we come across the first cows. We are a little confused and think at first that they have probably all escaped from their stables. We cheat our way through the herd in a cow slalom and marvel at the calmness and composure of the cattle. Here, the emphasis is on co-operation between humans and animals. A little consideration when riding - and nothing stands in the way of trail fun. And fortunately, there's a bike wash for your tyres at the valley station.

After the first berms, the eagerly awaited wooden bridges and North Shore elements follow. Long and inviting steep bends make our bikers' hearts beat faster. Here in the dense forest, you even get a little Canadian feeling. The bends are suitable for beginners and advanced riders - with a little more speed, you can make full use of the wooden constructions. Before we get to the end of the trail area, our knobbly tyres have to dig into the ground again, as the last few metres of trail are characterised by their natural terrain. Tetris skills are required to reach the meadow path - the descent to the valley station. The construction to get over the pasture fence is quite a challenge, but it's the best way to avoid crashing into traffic.

Eat-Tough, Eat-Natural and Eat-Vertical: Here we get down to business

Today is not a wash day. The trails are dry as dust and so we hand our carbon steeds straight back to Hermann. For the next ride, we opt for the medium-difficulty version of the Iss-Tough trail. After the first section on the flow trail, we branch off via the connecting path. Above Seppi's restaurant, signs point the way to the start. The first bends immediately show us that a little more riding technique is required here.

It gets narrower, faster and steeper. There are also a few steps, roots and rocks in the way, providing plenty of variety on the way down. We feel comfortable and ride the one or other passage several times. Below the lift line, we cross the Iss Flow Trail and the two routes rejoin shortly afterwards. However, before we can experience the flow feeling again, we take a small jump, which can also be bypassed via the chicken line. A steep wooden bend and a small warning sign point the way. Drop it like it's hot - and the 160 millimetres of suspension travel have already paid off.

We have tasted blood and are already looking forward to the other trail variants on the Isskogel during the ascent. Iss-Vertical and Iss-Natural branch off in the middle section of the Iss-Flow. These short variants are characterised by natural trails, bridges over the marshy terrain and sometimes very steep and technical passages. These natural and technical trails are particularly interesting for alpine trail bikers and we think they are great, just a little too short - but they certainly provide variety. We decide to do another lap on the flow trail before heading back down into the valley to Zell am Ziller. Hermann is also happy to see us again. We thank him for his friendly service and are sure that we'll see him again soon on the six-kilometre routes.

Accommodation & Service

As soon as you pass through Gerlos we catch sight of numerous Tyrolean-style guesthouses. There are hardly any high-bred retort hotels here, the village has a rather cosy feel. Despite some of the après-ski bars being closed, there is still plenty going on here in summer. If you want to spend the night up here, we recommend the quality-tested bike and mountain bike accommodation in Gmünd and Gerlos. The children's hotel Almhof in Gmünd is perfect for a holiday with the whole family and the Hotel Alpenherz directly in Gerlos is close to the Isskogelbahn valley station.

In addition to the Isskogel single trails, the Gerlos Pass is also home to numerous mountain bike tours of various lengths and levels of difficulty. The award-winning accommodation providers know about all the offers and are on hand with tips. The quality and service of the establishments, which are specially designed for bikers, is regularly checked. Bike wash, service, maps and a particularly rich culinary offer are just some of the points that matter. We particularly like the welcome schnapps.

There is a bike wash directly at the Isskogelbahn valley station. As the bikes have to be stowed in the gondola for transport, we recommend a quick wash before each ride if the conditions are dirty and wet. We are greeted by Hermann, the lift attendant, and just have to make sure we have room in the gondola in good time. Our bikes are lovingly smuggled in - as we all know, people are a bit sensitive when it comes to their own expensive mountain bikes. Hermann enjoys our trust right from the start. We sit back and relax during the ascent and enjoy the panorama. In Zell am Ziller offers a wide range of accommodation, restaurants and shops. Directly at the valley station of the Rosenalmbahn, there is a workshop and bike hire shop at Intersport Strasser. The spacious and barrier-free access to the cable car is also popular with bikers. You don't have to carry your bike anywhere and can push it comfortably to the start of the cable car. Service is also a top priority here - a bike wash under the roof on the ground floor and a restaurant on the first floor round off a successful day in the Zillertal Arena.