Description

Starting from downtown Mayrhofen, this is one of the best road biking excursions in the Zillertal, if not the whole of Austria.

The scenery you'll encounter on the way is both breathtaking and incredibly varied, making this a ride where you'll never want to just get your head down and ride, no matter how keen you are to beat your P.B! Leave Mayrhofen town centre and head out past the foot of the Ahornbahn cable car and follow Ahornstrasse as it climbs up and out of the village to a toll booth.

As a cyclist you don't need to pay the €8 toll but cars and motorbikes are required to cough up some cash. Once through the toll booth begin the long, gradual climb up into the Stilluptal valley itself.

The ascent is never too steep but it's fairly dramatic, with towering rock walls and slabs lining the lower part of the valley.

The valley (and the view) opens up shortly before you arrive at the Alpenhaus Lacknerbrunn, after which there's a lovely section of road up through farms to reach the Stausee Stillup lake.

Just after reaching this you'll arrive at the beautifully positioned Gasthaus Wasserfall which has an epic view across the lake to a huge waterfall, hence then name.

Grab a coffee and take it all in. Suitably adjusted to the mountain environment, start riding up alongside the blue and beautiful Stausee Stillup lake.

The road takes you through a couple of short tunnels both otherwise it's just great, easy riding in a fabulous location.

You'll pass a few huts and farms en route before eventually climbing up to the welcoming Grüne Wald Hut, where the tarmac ends.

Grab another drink of your choice and then turn around and enjoy ripping all the way back down to Mayrhofen!