Grande Granite Tour: Stage 5
- culturally interesting
- Multi-day tour
Interactive elevation profile
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Tour-Details
Paths covering:
“Bikers’ paradise – smooth sailing along slopes between the mighty Danube and the plateau”
Recommended season:
- March
- April
- May
- June
- July
- August
- September
- October
- Multi-stage route
- Scenic
- Refreshment stops available
- Cultural/historical value
- Geological highlights
- Botanical highlights
- Faunistic highlights
The grand finale! A unique stretch of smooth sailing along the slopes begins at the Danubeside port of Untermühl, forging through breath-taking ridgeside forests and taking you up to the elevated plain three times and back. Impressive stopover: the 360-degree Donau am Berg panoramic lookout tower (613 metres) at Kirchberg ob der Donau. In the Kleine Mühl valley, the last slope ascent follows, preceding an enjoyable last leg across the Granite Country highlands – with which by now you have perhaps grown very fond. And what a way to wrap it up: a dream 7.5-kilometre descent past the Schlögen Danube Loop – a listed natural wonder – and some relaxed riverside biking along the Danube.
Highlights:
- Untermühl Danube river port (toll tower with viewing platform, terminus of Schwarzenberg Canal)
- Donau am Berg lookout tower (360-degree panoramic view, former castle site)
- Obermühl an der Donau (submerged Danube resort, historical salt road)
- Historical market at Putzleinsdorf
- Schlögen Danube Loop (a listed natural wonder)
The grand finale! A unique stretch of smooth sailing along the slopes begins at the Danubeside port of Untermühl, forging through breath-taking ridgeside forests and taking you up to the elevated plain three times and back. Impressive stopover: the 360-degree Donau am Berg panoramic lookout tower (613 metres) at Kirchberg ob der Donau. In the Kleine Mühl valley, the last slope ascent follows, preceding an enjoyable last leg across the Granite Country highlands – with which by now you have perhaps grown very fond. And what a way to wrap it up: a dream 7.5-kilometre descent past the Schlögen Danube Loop – a listed natural wonder – and some relaxed riverside biking along the Danube.
In the depths of the Upper Danube Gorge is today’s starting point – the port of Untermühl – on a lonely section of the river. Inconspicuous today, this was once a highly significant settlement acting as the supply point for shipping on the Danube, housing a toll tower, being terminus of the Schwarzenberg Canal and more. The warm-up is a ride into the romantic Grosse Mühl valley through to the secluded Partenstein pumped-storage power plant. Here begins a unique stretch of smooth sailing through magnificent forests along the slopes. The first ascent (elevation gain: 180 metres) runs via a challenging maintenance track parallel to the power plant’s pressure pipes up to the plateau and the hamlet of Ramersberg. Congratulations! Zoom back down a steep forest path into the depths of the Grosse Mühl valley and Ebenmühle mill. The second ascent (280 meters) leads over a sometimes rough-and-ready historical track to the plateau opposite. At the top, you will ride elegantly through undulating farmland to Kirchberg ob der Donau to the impressive Donau am Berg lookout tower (613 metres). Good job – halfway through the slope sailing! Next comes a magnificent 360-degree panoramic view over the Mühlviertel region, the Danube Valley, the Sauwald forest and more, all the way up to the Alps. A feeling of unbridled freedom is practically guaranteed! At this point, you will be standing at the highest elevation, which rises directly from the mighty Danube. There follows a free-flowing stretch on to the edge of the Danube Gorge, before the steep descent down the slope of the Danube Valley demands full concentration on a series of woodland trails. And for those who need to unwind a little after that, the next stretch is virtually a relaxed river cruise along the banks of the Danube until reaching Obermühl an der Donau. Attentive bikers will notice the contrast between the historic granary at the beginning of the village and the contemporary architecture in the rest of the settlement. The reason for this is that its historic centre was submerged in the floods following a Danube backwater being released for Aschach power plant. At the ultra-modern, golden-coloured church, the third climb commences (260 meters). An abandoned cobbled road runs quaintly along the steep slope of the Kleine Mühl valley – the old salt road. The salt of the legendary Salzkammergut region was formerly transported to Obermühl by boat, before being taken on to Bohemia by packhorse. It might occur to any philosophers riding the route that many a cycling top also ends up soaked in salt! Next up, on the plateau, the turning point is reached at the hamlet of Unteredt. Congratulations! A brief recharging of batteries then ensues through a stretch of cultivated landscape, after which demanding trails along the steep slope lead back into the depths of the Kleine Mühl valley – to the Bruckwirt hotel. The last slope climb (elevation gain: 170 metres) initially leads through crunchy terrain under wheel in shady mixed forest along the route of the old cobbled road, before becoming more leisurely higher up while passing through a settled area to Lembach im Mühlkreis (552 metres). Congratulations! A wonderful final leg now follows, in which you will have the chance to encounter the varied landscapes that form the highland, with which you have perhaps now grown very fond. An elegant sea of hills, breath-taking long-distance views, a patchwork of fields and woods, a scattering of farming hamlets and more – all side by side in perfect harmony. Next comes an enjoyable ride over two hills boasting panoramic vistas, making a wide arc towards the historical market at Putzleinsdorf – the northern end of this stage of the tour. On the way back to the Danube, the terrain becomes even hillier, with the route approaching the edge of the bevelled upland. At 690 metres, the hamlet of Starnberg marks the highest point of this section. Congratulations! The 7.5-kilometre descent into the Danube Valley plays out like a dream: brief wooded thickets, small plateaus supporting local farms, weaving stretches of asphalt … until reaching the point above a famous natural wonder: the Schlögen Danube Loop. It is here that the storied Danube twice changes direction by 180 degrees within just a few kilometres. The last leg – a downhill section – consists of enjoyable trails through the forested gorge, which is part of a nature reserve along the steep Danube valley slope.
While riding alongside the Danube back to the tour’s starting point, “bikers’ paradise” is a label that readily comes to mind – that’s what Granite Country mountain biking is, after all.
further information:
- Multi-day tour
- Board possible
Public Transit
Location and getting there
How to arrive in the Danube Upper Austrian region?
The fast way to your destination – by train, bus, car, boat or plane.
- 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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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: