R1.01 Inn-Danube-Round
4040 Linz
"Feel the primal power of the currents"
Recommended season:
- March
- April
- May
- June
- July
- August
- September
- October
- Loop
- Scenic
- Refreshment stops available
- Cultural/historical value
- Geological highlights
- Botanical highlights
- Faunistic highlights
River cycling along the Alpine river Inn and the mythic river Danube. You travel relaxedly through the last breakthrough valley of the Inn and the European protected area Upper Danube and Aschach valley. The route leads to cultural treasures, such as the baroque town Schärding and the three-rivers city Passau. On the return leg, you cross the rural Sauwald plateau with a magnificent panoramic descent to Wernstein.
Highlights:
- Baroque town Schärding (Austria’s most beautiful baroque town)
- Cultural gem Passau (three-rivers city, residence city of the "Danube East" ...)
- UNESCO World Heritage Site: Roman Museum Kastell Boiotro
- Vornbach Gorge with nature reserve
- Panoramic descent to Wernstein
Schärding – Austria’s most beautiful baroque town is a picturesque starting point. Located at the legendary Alpine river Inn, the riverside with its own city gate, city wall, colorful burgher houses... tells of prosperity as a river trading place. A genuine river gem! From the riverside, you follow the broad Inn stream – one of the longest and mightiest Alpine rivers – downstream. Once this was an important trade route between Tyrol and the Danube, today it serves as the border river to Bavaria. After the Pram bridge, you cycle on sandy paths through rustic riverside woods next to the stream. Relaxed pedaling, hidden views of the Inn... river cycling at its finest! After the wide Inn valley, the last breakthrough valley of the Alpine river begins with the Bavarian monastery Vornbach. The entrance is the nature reserve "Vornbach Gorge": In the idyllic forest gorge, the Inn forces its way through a 60 m narrow gorge! No wonder they say that you once could hear the Inn's debris "singing" here.
The bike route briefly climbs a narrow terrain step above the river. On paved bike paths, lonely secondary roads, a sandy path, and finally the Inn street, you reach the end of the gorge, the artful Marian footbridge in Wernstein! The 145 m long suspension bridge over the Inn is supported by a single(!) 30 m high pillar and from its middle offers a magnificent view into the gorge. The Bavarian castle Neuburg reigns over the scenery. Pure river romance! After Wernstein, the breakthrough valley becomes wider and lonelier. Wonderful mixed forests shape the valley flanks. The Neuburg forest on the Bavarian side is known for tree giants up to 50 m high and its species diversity – a natural jewel! You relaxedly accompany the slow river on sand roads. The ease of cycling gives space for daydreams.
Civilization begins again in the rural area of Ingling and via secondary roads you head to the cultural highlight – the three-rivers city Passau! Inn and Ilz flow into the Danube here. The medieval Inn city tells of flourishing trade, the magnificent old town on the peninsula opposite of Gloria, power, and wealth as the residence city of the "Danube East"! The UNESCO World Heritage Site "Roman Museum Kastell Boiotro" is dedicated to reviving life on the Danube limes. Passau is a cultural gem with many facets! So, be sure to plan time for exploration. After the mouth of the Inn into the Danube, you follow the mythic river a bit through the Upper Danube valley – one of the longest breakthrough valleys of the Danube at over 90 km (!) – and with rare gorge and hillside mixed forests, a natural jewel of central European dimension. In Haibach, you leave the urban area and cycle further on the Danube bike path.
After the Austrian border, the 180-meter ascent begins onto the Sauwald plateau. The first section leads in shady mixed forest in switchbacks through the steep valley flank, then it goes uphill over a ridge through rural cultural landscape. At Gasthof Blass, a resting place of the Danube trail impresses with an unusual view of Passau. Shortly after, you stand in Freinberg on the Sauwald plateau. Congratulations! Now begins enjoyable highland cycling on rural roads in the rhythm of hills. Lush meadows, fertile fields, scattered farms, small forests, small settlements... pure rural idyll! Beautiful views provide elevation experience. In the rural settlement Schafberg, the plateau is crossed and a dreamy panoramic descent leads back into the Inn valley – to Wernstein. You already know the rest of the return route. Feel the primal power of the currents!
Tip:Explorations with a delightful stopover! This route passes directly by the following culinary partner:
Safety guidelines:
The majority of this pleasure bike route uses quiet, paved bike paths, (secondary) streets, and farm roads. Between Schärding and Passau, longer sections run on well-ridable sand roads. Basic gear shifting technique is an advantage for the long uphill ride. Basic braking technique is necessary for the long panoramic descent.
Signage:
To make orientation easier for you, the Danube bike rounds have been marked with their own cycling guidance system. This route follows the signage "R1.01 Inn-Danube-Round".
Special note:
Attention! Border crossing Upper Austria – Bavaria near Passau. Don’t forget your passport!
Paths covering:
further information:
- Flatly
- Board possible
![](http://media.tourdata.at/exp/saison/responsiveTeaserBoxImg/vermieter/490000092.png "Pension \\"Zur Freiheit\\" (© Franz Dambeck)")
Public Transit
How to travel to the Danube Region of Upper Austria?
The quickest way to your destination – by train, bus, car, ship, or airplane.
Parking
Long-term parking in Schärding
Public parking lots: Cemetery parking lot, Schärding parking garage - more info
- Spring
- Summer
- Autumn
Please get in touch for more information.
Lindengasse 9
4040 Linz
Phone +43 732 7277 - 800
Fax machine +43 732 7277 - 804
E-Mail info@donauregion.at
Web www.donauregion.at
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1. The tours presented for hiking, walking, biking and road biking, mountain biking, motorbiking, horseback riding, climbing, cross-country skiing, and going on skiing and snowshoe tours etc. are to be considered non-paid tour recommendations and only serve as non-binding information. We have no intention of concluding a contract with the users of this website. The utilisation of the data does not lead to the establishment of a contract with us.
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The tour recommendations posted were created with utmost care; nevertheless, we assume no liability for the correctness and completeness of the information.
We point out that neither the tour recommendations included on this website nor the associated data and information were posted by us, but rather by third parties (Art. 16 Austrian E-Commerce Act). We have no influence on whether the details provided (e.g. distance, level of difficulty, change in altitude, description etc.) are authentic, correct and complete. We do not review these third-party contents. For this reason, we assume no liability for the authenticity, correctness and completeness of the information.
Construction-related measures or other influences (e.g. landslides and similar occurrences) can lead to temporary or permanent changes in a route (e.g. loss of a bridge and similar occurrences). Such occurrences can lead to part of the route or the entire route becoming impassable.
The use of the data as well as undertaking (riding, walking, taking etc.) the recommended tours or using the network of paths occurs at users’ own risk and on their authority. In particular, users themselves are responsible for the choice of route, outdoor orientation, adherence to traffic rules, supplies and equipment for tours listed in Point 1 (e.g. bicycle etc.), wearing a helmet, estimating their own fitness, recognising dangers and maintaining an appropriate velocity. We exclude ourselves from any liability whatsoever for damages, in particular accidents, that occur whilst taking part in the recommended tours.
2.Some of the tours lead over roads with normal traffic conditions. Please observe that there is an increased risk which can be avoided by means of appropriate attention and proper estimation and implementation of one’s own abilities. For this reason, please travel a route that is unfamiliar to you slowly and with special care. Pay constant attention to potential dangers and always observe traffic. Do not leave the routes featured in descriptions.
The potential use of private roads, in particular forestry roads and agricultural transport roads, can be subject to legal restrictions, which must be observed and adhered to.
The normal traffic rules apply. Each user (e.g. biker, motorbiker) is responsible for adhering to these rules and maintaining his/her bike/vehicle and its equipment (lights, brakes etc.) in good working order. Each user is also responsible for ensuring that he/she rides at a velocity that is appropriate for the conditions and his/her skill level and for maintaining sufficient distance to the rider in front. We explicitly recommend adjusting velocity to correspond to the respective field of vision, wearing a helmet, using reflective clothing (or similar) and employing bicycle lights in line with regulations.
3.Each tour requires good physical fitness as well as detailed planning. We explicitly recommend only taking the tours in the case of optimal healthiness.
We recommend that you conclude an accident and liability insurance policy. Use an onboard computer that displays the respective kilometres travelled per day and is calibrated for the front wheel.
4.Special for mountain bikers – Fair-play rules:
Mountain biking is one of the most wonderful outdoor leisure-time activities. Whilst biking or on a mountain biking tour, mountains and lakes, meadows and cabins are re-discovered in new ways. A couple of rules for fair play in the forest help to avoid conflicts whilst mountain biking.
a.Pedestrians have the right of way: We are accommodating and friendly to pedestrians and hikers. Upon encountering these fellow travellers, we alert them by using the bicycle bell and slowly overtake them. We avoid paths with heavy pedestrian traffic altogether. Take nature into account: We do not leave refuse behind.
b.The braking distance should be half of the total distance visible: We ride at a controlled pace, are ready to brake and maintain a braking distance half as long as the total distance visible, especially in curves, because we always have to count on obstacles on the path. Damage to the path, stones, branches, wood piles, grazing livestock, cattle grids, barriers, tractor-type forestry machines and authorised vehicles pose dangers that we need to be ready for.
c.Don’t drink and drive!: Do not drink alcohol when mountain biking. Take care at stop-off points (dealing with bike racks, dirty shoes or clothing).
It is obligatory to provide first aid!
d.Marked routes, closed paths and blockades: Keep to the marked routes, observe the blockades and accept that these roads are primarily for agricultural and forestry use!
Blockades can often not be avoided and are in your own interest. Biking beyond the intended path and outside of opening times is punishable and turns us into illegal bikers.
e.We are guests in the forest and behave accordingly, including vis-à-vis forestry and hunting staff. Whilst mountain biking, mobile telephones and music players are forbidden! Biking requires your full attention.
f.Avoid unnecessary noise. Out of consideration to the animals living in the wild, we only bike during full daylight. As a principle, we always wear our helmet (even when riding uphill)! Don’t forget emergency supplies: We always have a repair set and bandages along.
g.Don’t overestimate your skills: We should not overdo it when it comes to biking technique and physical fitness. Take the level of difficulty posed by the route into consideration and make a precise estimate of your experience and skills as a biker (braking, bell, lights)!
h.Close gates: We approach grazing livestock at a walking pace and close every gate behind us. We should avoid causing escape and panic reactions in the animals. Nothing stands in the way of the fun and athletic challenge in the mountains and forests!
i.Traffic rules: The general traffic rules (StVO) apply for all the mountain biking routes and we adhere to them. Our bike therefore needs to be in perfect technical condition and equipped in line with the traffic rules, including brakes, a bell and lights. We inspect and service our mountain bikes regularly anyway.
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