Granite Beer Tour: Total circuit




- culturally interesting
- Flatly
Interactive elevation profile
Create PDF
Tour-Details
Paths covering:
The three-day mountain biking tour through Mühlviertel Granite Country (162 kilometres, elevation gain: 4,200 metres)
Quality of experience: ******
Recommended season:
- March
- April
- May
- June
- July
- August
- September
- October
Properties:
- Loop
- Scenic
- Refreshment stops available
- Cultural/historical value
- Geological highlights
- Botanical highlights
- Faunistic highlights
The Mühlviertel Granite Country’s highlands tower above the Alpine foothills, offering magnificent views, pristine mixed forests, amber-coloured streams, a scattering of farmers’ hamlets and much more besides. The old primeval mountains in the area eroded over millions of years, revealing a stunning granite core. In the west of the region stand uplands filled with forests; to the north, there is an idyllic ridge between rivers; and the south is home to a plateau dotted with farmsteads and offering a panoramic perspective. Over three days, this biking tour allows you to experience the timeless allure of the oldest landscape in Austria, with three mountain peaks, crunchy climbs, flowing downhill stretches, crossings, panoramic views … and a few techy sections along the way. In short, an amazing biking adventure through granite landscapes!
Overview:
- Section 1: Smooth sailing along slopes in the Danube Valley and a dash up to the peak with panoramic views from Pfarrkirchen village
- Section 2: Across the uplands’ highest peak to the “North Cape” and back
- Section 3: Biking along ridges, between rivers and across a plateau with stunning views
Directions:
Stage 1: Smooth sailing along slopes in the Danube Valley and a dash up to the peak with panoramic views from Pfarrkirchen village
A unique stretch of smooth sailing along the slopes of the Danube Gorge forges through magnificent forests, taking you up to the plateau three times and back. Impressive stopover: the 360-degree Donau am Berg panoramic lookout tower (613 metres) at Kirchberg ob der Donau. Next comes a trip through Granite Country’s farm-dotted highlands with a crunchy climb and 7.5 kilometres of blissful downhill riding past the Schlögen Danube Loop – a listed natural wonder. Starting from the deep Danube Gorge, bike to the village of Pfarrkirchen im Mühlkreis (840 metres) at the southern summit of the bevelled uplands and savour the panoramic views. Last but certainly not least, a delightful, free-flowing descent down to Oberkappel. All in all, a spectacular start!
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)
- Schlögen Danube Loop (listed natural wonder) & Upper Danube Valley Nature Reserve
- Pfarrkirchen im Mühlkreis (highest village in the region, panoramic viewpoint)
Stage 2: Past the “North Cape” and ridge between rivers to the top of the Bohemian Forest
Once you have passed Kohlstatt, you can bike ahead blissfully, Bohemian Forest ridge in view, through a patchwork of gentle hills, forest and meadow on to the northernmost point of the tour. Congratulations! The return journey starts with some wonderful forest biking on the ridge between the Mühl rivers. After seeing Julbach, the Mühlviertel’s mild weather retreat, you then progress to the meadow-filled valley of the Kleine Mühl river. On the route goes along the slope of the valley and over hidden hinterland hills to Sarleinsbach stream. And last but not least: three breath-taking ridges between rivers, followed by a dash up to the hilltop village of Sankt Stefan am Walde (805 metres) at the summit of the Bohemian Forest.
Highlights:
- Northernmost point on the route
- Julbach – the Mühlviertel’s mild weather retreat
- Kleine Mühl, Grosse Mühl and Steinerne Mühl (rivers giving the Mühlviertel region its name)
- Sankt Stefan am Walde (hilltop village, summit of the Bohemian Forest)
- Overnight location: At the summit of the Bohemian Forest in the hilltop village of Sankt Stefan am Walde
Stage 3: Biking along ridges, between rivers and on a plateau with stunning views
Highland biking with a rich variety of scenery, features and surprises along the slopes of the Kleine Mühl valley with crunchy climbs and fast descents. The route then crosses a series of secluded hinterland hills towards Sarleinsbach. Two ridges between rivers, which are typical of the region’s topography, are sure to provide an enjoyable ride – the first offering a robust physical challenge and the second promising pure fun. After a testing forest ascent from the Grosse Mühl valley come the delights of the panoramic plateau dotted with farms, where sublime biking through cultivated countryside meets fun on the trail between granite quarries. In Sankt Martin im Mühlkreis, a fabulous downhill stretch with views over the Danube Valley to the riverport of Untermühl delivers a spectacular end to the journey!
Highlights:
- Neufelden (historical market square, hop gardens)
- Secluded granite quarries (area in which famous Neuhauser granite is mined)
- Brauerei Hofstetten (oldest brewery in Austria, granite-filtered beer)
- Schloss Neuhaus palace (granite transport – end of field railway, start of cable car to Danube)
- Untermühl (port on the Danube, location from which famous Neuhauser granite is shipped)
Tip:
Journeys of discovery with an enjoyable stopover! This tour leads directly past the following culinary partners:















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
Vis-à-vis users
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.
The data may only be used for private use; any commercial use is prohibited. In particular, it is not permissible to offer the data on commercially run websites, file-sharing platforms etc. or to use it to develop commercial products. Downloading data does not imply that users are granted rights to the data concerned.
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.
5.We assume no liability for the contents of external websites; in particular, we assume no liability for their statements and contents. Moreover, we have no influence on the design or contents of the websites to which hyperlinks on guide.oberoesterreich.at lead or from which hyperlinks lead to guide.oberoesterreich.at. There is no on-going review of websites to which hyperlinks on guide.oberoesterreich.at lead or from which hyperlinks lead to guide.oberoesterreich.at. We do not appropriate the contents of websites to which hyperlinks on guide.oberoesterreich.at lead or from which hyperlinks lead to guide.oberoesterreich.at.
Vis-à-vis bloggers
PLEASE OBSERVE:
1. Each of your tour recommendations for hiking, walking, biking and road biking, mountain biking, motorbiking, horseback riding, climbing, cross-country skiing, and going on skiing and snowshoe tours etc., along with other details and information, is free of charge. In particular regarding the correctness of the information, we assume no liability, nor do we assume any liability whatsoever for the consequences of the use of your tour recommendation by a third party (in particular by a user of this website). We do not review the tour recommendations you post, including other details and information, at any time.
We have no intention of concluding a contract with persons who post tour recommendations and/or other details and information on this website. Posting data (information) does not imply that a contract has been concluded.
By recommending a tour, we assume special responsibility vis-à-vis other athletes. Please take this responsibility seriously and describe your tour recommendation with utmost care and to the best of your knowledge and belief.
2.Your tour recommendations must therefore clearly and unambiguously include at least the following criteria and provide a sufficiently detailed description:
• Starting point
• Detailed route description
• Distance/Overall distance
• Level of difficulty
• Dangerous spots
• Average duration of trip
• Change in altitude
• Finishing point.
If possible, please provide the change in altitude.
3.When you post a tour recommendation, you give us the order to save your tour recommendation and/or the details you provide on our website and to make it/them accessible to third parties, in particular to users of this website, in the long term. We reserve the right to block or delete tour recommendations and/or other details and/or information that you post, either partially or entirely, at any time without providing a justification. Should this occur, it grants you no rights whatsoever.
Thank you for your efforts!
4. We are not responsible for the contents of external websites; in particular, we do not assume any liability for their statements or contents. Furthermore, we do not influence the design or contents of websites that can be accessed from guide.oberoesterreich.at via hyperlinks or that use hyperlinks to refer to guide.oberoesterreich.at. The websites that can be accessed from guide.oberoesterreich.at via hyperlinks or that use hyperlinks to refer to guide.oberoesterreich.at are not regularly monitored. Furthermore, we do not assume any claims to the websites that can be accessed from guide.oberoesterreich.at via hyperlinks or that use hyperlinks to refer to guide.oberoesterreich.at.
Interactive elevation profile
Create PDF
Tour-Details
Paths covering: