Gravel tour to the Schwarzsee lake

St. Johann in Tyrol offers us great opportunities for outdoor activities not only in winter, but also on hot summer days. Have you brought your gravel bikes? Perfect, then let's ride a little uphill first and enjoy breathtaking panoramas of the Kitzbüheler Horn and Wilder Kaiser before we have the chance to cool off at the Schwarzsee lake.

Gravel tour from St. Johann in Tyrol

St. Johann in Tyrol is located in the heart of the Kitzbühel Alps and is naturally a hotspot for all kinds of sports in both summer and winter. Gravel bikes are generally a newer sport that is conquering the roads and forest tracks in Austria. St. Johann offers us almost endless possibilities here. Well, as long as our legs will carry us, because of course the Kitzbühel Alps also offer us many very technical sections and steep climbs.
On the way to Lake Schwarzsee, we find a good mix of challenging climbs, fun gravel sections on forest roads and dirt tracks as well as cycle paths without heavy traffic. Beginners should not underestimate this tour with its climbs and over 400 metres of elevation gain, even for ‘pros’ it offers plenty of challenges with its ascents.
We roll out of the centre of St. Johann in a westerly direction and bypass the busy main road. We soon reach Oberndorf in Tirol, where our route borrows from the Rummler and Gruttenrunde. Incidentally, these are also suitable for gravel bikes.

Through the hills to gravel delight

It is often said: ‘First the work, then the pleasure!’
Here, too, we first have to drive almost 200 metres uphill at a maximum gradient of 12%. Don't worry, the road is tarmac and of course most of the time the gradient is well below 10%.
But the best thing about it is the view at the top. When we reach a farm at the top, we have to stop and look back. The panorama of the Wilder Kaiser here is absolutely phenomenal.
We ride downhill on short gravel sections before heading uphill again at the Hasenbergweiher pond. As a mini-lake, the Hasenbergweiher also gives us a foretaste of our destination and invites us to linger in its idyllic setting.
The climb to the Steuerberg is also our longest gravel climb. We ride uphill on the best gravel with a good gradient that is not too hard.
A brilliant descent awaits us there.

Cooling off at the Schwarzsee lake

Now we come from ‘behind’, meaning away from the traffic on the main road to the Schwarzsee. Particularly motivated cyclists can get in a little extra training here at the Schwarzsee Natural Fitness Park.
A stop at the Schwarzsee is of course a good idea!
For one, there is a small kiosk on the promenade for snacks, drinks and, of course, ice cream! If you've brought a lock and a little time with you, you should definitely take a dip in the lido, too.

Skiing stronghold Kitzbühel

Kitzbühel is best known for the Hahnenkamm ski race. Only around 2 kilometres from Schwarzsee, Kitzbühel offers us a beautiful old town with plenty of places to stop for refreshments.
In addition, you will of course find many signs of the town's charm in winter, when it is a ski metropolis. Kitzbühel is also a mecca for sports enthusiasts of all kinds in summer.

On gravel back to St. Johann in Tirol

By the way, we've covered almost all the metres in altitude from Kitzbühel! Just one more small hill out of Kitzbühel and we've made it, then most of the time we're rolling gently downhill back to St. Johann.
But don't worry, we're not sending you along busy main roads. Our route of choice is the ‘Römerweg’. Most of it is now tarmac or has perfect gravel for us, but it is too narrow and winding for the car traffic that pushes its way through the valley below us.
Perfect for us and our gravel bikes!

The views along the way are wonderful! First we cross the legendary Kitzbüheler Horn panoramic road, which will make the hearts of racing cyclists beat faster, then we ride towards a mountain panorama in a class of its own!
While the Kitzbüheler Horn rises up to our right, we can see the Wilder Kaiser massif in the distance.
Through farms and smaller settlements, a little up and down, with longer and shorter stretches of gravel in between, we return to St. Johann in Tirol in a relaxed manner!

Here you will find everything your cyclist's heart desires after the strenuous tour. Cafés, restaurants, hotels, a railway station and much more!
Enjoy a little relaxation in the town centre, we hope you'll be motivated for the next tour right away!