Gravel bike tour around the Kalkstein mountains

The Kalkstein is a major landmark in the region north of St. Johann in Tirol and also a direct destination for tours such as the Kitzbühel Alps Trail. While we highly recommend both variants that lead up to the massif, we want to show you a wonderful gravel tour around it here, which is also suitable for gravel bikers with less of an affinity for the climbs.
However, there are still climbs to conquer and some must-see highlights of the region are on the way!

Start in St. Johann in Tirol

With so many tours that we can now offer here, it goes without saying that the town is a real highlight for us in Tyrol.
St. Johann offers us a large railway station that we can easily reach. The historic town centre is also really beautiful and we can find plenty of cafés, restaurants and accommodation.
The region is also very committed to cycling and we find great infrastructure for us here!
We leave the town directly over a bridge that takes us over the Fieberbrunner Ache river and turn right onto a gravel path. That's how stress-free a cycle tour can start.

Via Fieberbrunn to Pillersee

At the start, we cycle gently uphill towards Fieberbrunn. Our route does not lead directly through the village. However, if you want to take a small diversion, you can make a detour here for cafés, restaurants and more!
Shortly before the village, we turn left towards Obwall and have to conquer a small ramp. The climb is not long, but it challenges us with the steepest gradient we encounter on the whole tour.
By the time you reach the end, however, you will have conquered almost all the metres in altitude and can look forward to alpine landscapes and a gentle descent with a few waves in between.

The cycle path that we follow winds skilfully around the road and leads us along beautiful gravel paths to the big highlight of the route: the Pillersee lake.
Its turquoise blue colour, the mountain panorama in the background and, above all, the perfect cycle path that leads us along the lake make the Pillersee one of our absolute favourite places for gravel biking in Tyrol.
Fancy a break? The Seestüberl is a small snack bar right by the lake where you can enjoy drinks and food while marvelling at the lake.

Via Waidring to Erpfendorf

Now we've praised the Pillersee to no end, but don't worry, it's definitely worth traveling on!
From the Pillersee, we cycle along the Grießelbach stream through an impressive gorge!
The rock faces tower up to the left and right, and we can hear the rushing water from below.
Here, too, we can enjoy the whole scenery on a gravel path before we later turn off onto the road to Waidring.
The most striking thing about Waidring at first glance is of course the gondola lift to the Steinplatte!
In summer, you can also get your mountain bikes out here. With trails and mountain bike routes, mountain bikers get their money's worth on the Steinplatte. Perhaps the wildest gravel bikers too?
Of course, it's also worth coming back in winter, when you can glide down the mountains on skis.

We continue along the cycle path towards Erpfendorf. At first it winds around the road again and soon leads us onto a gravel path on the other side of the road. Initially through the forest, then the forest opens up and gives us a view of the mountains!
The bends and the fine gravel here are great fun on the descent, and we now come out in Erpfendorf.
In the small town we find a supermarket and some accommodation and restaurants. There is also a Kneipp facility here for wellness and performance freaks and the Griesbachklamm gorge is a great place to take a break.

Along the Kitzbüheler Ache to St. Johann

Incidentally, our descent also ends in Erpfendorf. Now we can relax and follow the cycle path back to St. Johann in Tirol.
We still have a real café recommendation for you:
Although the café is not located directly on the cycle path and you have to cycle to (but not on) the main road, it serves excellent café specialities as well as pastries and cakes. There is also a hearty lunch menu.
On the cycle path, we cross the Kitzbüheler Ache on an impressive, covered wooden bridge. We follow the cycle path into the town centre of St. Johann, where we really do find everything our hungry cyclist's heart desires.
Maybe an ice cream? You've earned it!