Description

For those who want to enjoy some epic scenery and get a tough workout, look no further than this ride.

If you're seeking technical terrain then perhaps this isn't the trip for you - it is all on tarmac roads/jeep tracks and is all about the journey rather than the excitement of the riding.

The clear advantage the ride does have is that it takes you deep into one of the Tirol's most beautiful and historically interesting valleys.

It is also possible in any weather other than snow so it's a good choice when more adventurous options might be too risky. The ride starts at the Halltal parking area, which can be reached by bike, car or public bus.

Ride north into the Halltal on a tarmac road and follow this as it gradually climbs towards the imposing Großer Bettelwurf peak.

The road begins to steepen as it reaches a concrete water treatment building, and then gets extremely steep immediately after the building.

Grind up the steep section (which is mercifully brief) and then swing left into a forest which marks the start of the upper Halltal. Keep heading up the road through some beautiful and intimidating mountain scenery towards the St Magdalena guesthouse.

As you draw level with the guesthouse (which is up on the left but hidden from the road by trees) the road turns into a rocky jeep track.

Follow this up, via some pretty steep sections, to the Herrenhäuser - a now-derelict series of buildings which used to house workers and machinery in the Halltal salt mine.

There is evidence of salt mining in the valley as early as the 1200's and by the middle of the last millennium there were over 20 kilometres of tunnels at the head of the Halltal.

The mines were shut in the 1960s and following an avalanche in 1999 the Herrenhäuser were abandoned.

Nowadays they are slightly spooky but enjoy an excellent view! It's possible to explore some of the old salt mine tunnels on foot from the Herrenhäuser. When you're done enjoying the view and perhaps peeking into the abandoned worker accommodation blocks, ride back down the track then cut right off it and traverse to the St Magdalena guesthouse.

Like the Herrenhäuser this has a long and storied history, having been built in 1444 and changing purposes several times since.

Down the years since it has been a convent, a church and part of the salt mines but now serves cold beer and good food to hikers.

We'll leave it up to you to decide which of those purposes is the best use of the building! From St Magdalena, return to the tarmac track and rip down it back to the valley entrance.