Vedrette di Ries MTB round tour

We start in Campo Tures (864 m a.s.l.) and cycle on a 12 km long road towards Riva di Tures with some steep sections reaching gradients up to 17%. 3 kilometres before the village the road gets less steep and we enjoy the beautiful landscape. In Riva di Tures we follow the road behind the church. At an altitude of 1,670 m a forest road leads into the beautiful Valle dei Dossi. After two quite exhausting ascents we reach the Dossi mountain hut (Malga dei Dossi) at 1,911 m.

After a short rest we continue our tour on the same forest road. Passing Lake Gola we finally reach Passo di Gola at 2,288 m, which connects Italy and Austria as well as the Vedrette di Ries-Aurina Nature Park and the High Tauern National Park. From Passo di Gola we start our first longer descent towards the Defereggental valley. Passing beautiful alpine meadows and wonderful landscapes we finally reach the Jagdhausalm mountain hut at the entrance to the Arvental valley, which consists of 15 stone huts and is also called "Little-Tibet". After lunch we continue our MTB tour. After a short pushing section we reach the forest road, which leads to St. Jakob in Defreggen. We are impressed by the landscape and panorama and continue our tour on the forest road until we reach the main road, which leads to Passo Stalle.

The 7 km long mountain road to Passo Stalle has an altitude difference of 550 m but ascends at a very pleasant gradient. Before we reach the boarder to Italy, we pass the beautiful Lake Obersee. The traffic lights from Passo Stalle (2,059 m) to the Valle di Anterselva apply to cyclists, too. This section can be passed only from every full hour to every quarter past. Passing Lake Anterselva (1,642 m) we continue our tour on the bicycle track, which leads through the Valle di Anterselva, until we finally reach Brunico. From there, we turn into the Valle di Tures and cycle back to our starting point Campo di Tures.

Please note: this bicycle tour leads through a very beautiful mountain landscape. It requests a very good physical condition although it is not very challenging from the technical point of view. All roads and tracks are well maintained. This tour can also be cycled anti-clockwise!

Author: BS