Granite Beer Tour: Stage 2
- culturally interesting
- Multi-day tour
Interactive elevation profile
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Tour-Details
Paths covering:
“Across the uplands’ highest peak to the “North Cape” and back”
Technique: ***
Quality of experience: ******
Recommended season:
- March
- April
- May
- June
- July
- August
- September
- October
Properties:
- Multi-stage route
- Scenic
- Refreshment stops available
- Cultural/historical value
- Geological highlights
- Botanical highlights
- Faunistic highlights
From Oberkappel follows a dash up to the forested summit of Ameisberg, the highest point of the uplands at 941 metres. Congratulations! After 3.7 kilometres of enjoyable downhills with a varied backdrop, there is a hilly stretch up to the north end of the uplands, which then continues through rolling hills. Once you have passed Kohlstatt, you can bike ahead blissfully, Bohemian Forest ridge in view, through a patchwork of gentle hills, forest and meadow, onwards to the northernmost point of the tour. The way back begins with some enjoyable riding through mixed forest on the ridge between Mühl rivers. After seeing Julbach, the Mühlviertel’s mild weather retreat, you then progress to the meadowy valley of the Kleine Mühl river. Lastly, the rough-and-ready valley slope brings you ahead to Peilstein im Mühlviertel.
Highlights:
- Ameisberg (highest mountain in the region, lookout point)
- View of Bohemian Forest ridge (Bohemian Forest, Central Europe’s largest forested area)
- Northernmost point of The Great Big Round tour
- Austria, Germany and Czech Republic tri-national border
- Julbach – the Mühlviertel’s mild weather retreat
Directions:
From Oberkappel follows a dash up to the forested summit of Ameisberg, the highest point of the uplands at 941 metres. Congratulations! After 3.7 kilometres of enjoyable downhills with a varied backdrop, there is a hilly stretch up to the north end of the uplands, which then continues through rolling hills. Once you have passed Kohlstatt, you can bike ahead blissfully, Bohemian Forest ridge in view, through a patchwork of gentle hills, forest and meadow, onwards to the northernmost point of the tour. The way back begins with some enjoyable riding through mixed forest on the ridge between Mühl rivers. After seeing Julbach, the Mühlviertel’s mild weather retreat, you then progress to the meadowy valley of the Kleine Mühl river. Lastly, the rough-and-ready valley slope brings you ahead to Peilstein im Mühlviertel.
The tranquil market at Oberkappel is the starting point for the uphill dash to the top of the bevelled upland (elevation gain: 430 meters). After a mill, the Aumühle, you will ride up a high ridge, taking you close to nature along tracks through fields and meadows as well as on lonely farm roads past a scattering of hamlets. As the elevation increases, the views over the surrounding scenery will open up – as will your sweat pores. Around the hamlet of Amesedt, the plateau allows a welcome opportunity to proceed at a more leisurely pace before immersing yourself in the ancient forest at the summit of the bevelled uplands. Short, steep steps require some adroitness on the trail. After a relaxed section of country lane, you will make the final climb through dreamlike mixed forest with a number of tricky spots to navigate. At the foot of the observation tower surrounded by the forest, you are at the highest point of either the bevelled uplands or Granite Country’s highlands – 941 metres. Give yourself a pat on the back! The castle-like viewing tower was built back in 1903 for tourist use, although today, it generally cannot be accessed. Next, 3.7 kilometres of enjoyable downhills with a varied backdrop is sure to put a smile on any biker’s face, followed by enjoyable trail riding through the high forest, which then opens up into visually beautiful landscape. The lowest point is reached at the hamlet of Mollmannsreith. A section across hilly terrain with a 140-metre ascent and a brisk 2-kilometre descent takes you through lonely coniferous forests and quiet farmland, then onwards to Kollerschlag. The end of this settlement’s name means “clearing”, recalling the time in which sections of the Mühlviertel’s ancient forests were felled for development. Here at the north end of the mountain range, which is visible from miles and miles away, begins a final climb into the uplands – a bending uphill course with 150 metres of elevation gain through shady forests and agricultural oases. The farming hamlet of Geretschlag is followed by an expanse of elevated, gently undulating terrain featuring a harmonious patchwork of woodland and fields. In the lonely forest above Kohlstatt, the highest point of this journey across is reached. Now, you can bike ahead into the vicinity of the tri-border area between Austria, Germany and the Czech Republic, Bohemian Forest ridge in view, downhill through a blissful patchwork of gentle hills, mixed forest and meadow. Once you make it to the farmhouse at Bräuerau 16, you have reached the northernmost point of this mountain biking tour – the Mühlviertel’s very own “North Cape”. Congratulations! The return journey begins on the forested ridge between the Grosse Mühl and Kleine Mühl rivers. This is a relaxed ride uphill through exhilarating coniferous forests with secluded clearings. After crossing past Golfpark Böhmerwald (and watching out for stray golf balls flying through the air!), the route will take you through a handsome area of mixed forest and a short trail ascent ahead of the highest point (728 metres). Then follows a brief forest descent, after which you will be standing at an anticline with gorgeous views over the Bohemian Forest ridge and the Kleine Mühl valley. Now the route shifts over to the meadowy Kleine Mühl valley. A steep asphalt road leads down to Julbach, the Mühlviertel’s mild weather retreat! Due to its south-facing position in a basin, it enjoys particularly temperate weather, so fruit trees thrive in spite of the village’s high, northern location. Top tip: The Heimathaus Julbach offers impressive insights into the local life in the 19th century, giving you the chance to learn some of the ins and outs of Granite Country. Then, for a short time, you will bike ahead on the slope of the valley before enjoying some invigorating downhill fun on fast-paced dirt roads down to the meadows where the Kleine Mühl flows – different landscapes in perfect harmony. The route demands some tough legwork on the opposite side of the valley via Niederkraml, with a crunchy forest ridge (610 metres) and a short descent as you pass through to the historical market at Peilstein im Mühlviertel, on a hill overlooking the Kleine Mühl valley.
further information:
- Multi-day tour
- Board possible
Public Transit
Location and getting there
How to arrive in the Danube Upper Austrian region?
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- 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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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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Interactive elevation profile
Create PDF
Tour-Details
Paths covering: