MTB Elferrunde

The MTB Elferrunde belongs to the tours in the Stubaital that you will never forget. 28 kilometers, 950 meters of ascent, and a circuit that goes around the Elfer – the characteristic mountain peak above Neustift – in a long loop, connecting some of the most beautiful parts of the region. That’s not an afternoon stroll, but a real tour day.

Why this tour?

The Elfer (2,505 m) is the home mountain of Neustift in every sense. The Elferbahn cable car takes hikers and paragliders up the mountain, but on the bike, you’ll stick to the forest roads around the mountain peak. The circuit takes you through the lower Stubaital on one side and the Pinnistal on the other – two totally different valley characters in one tour.

The 950 meters of ascent are broken down into two climbs, making the ride more manageable: no endless climb, but ups and downs with breaks on the Almboden. This makes the tour easier to handle than a pure climb-up tour.

Route description

Start in Neustift town center (ca. 1,000 m): The tour starts in the town center of Neustift. From there, you head north on the valley road before turning left and entering the climb towards the Elfer lifts.

First ascent – Elfer flank (ca. km 1-9): The road rises continuously on the west side of the Elfer. Forest roads alternate with narrower sections. At around 1,700 m, you reach a pasture area with a wide view of the Stubaital and across to the Schlick 2000.

Transition to the Pinnistal (ca. km 9-14): The road leads over a ridge and then drops down into the Pinnistal. This section is technically more demanding – partly narrow roads with loose ground. Concentrated riding is required here.

Pinnistal (ca. km 14-20): The Pinnistal is wilder and more original than the main Stubaital. Less tourism, more nature. The Innsbrucker Hütte is out of the way of the bike tour, but anyone who wants to can plan a short detour.

Second ascent and descent (ca. km 20-28): The second climb leads over a forest road back up to the height before a long, technically beautiful descent back to Neustift follows. This is the fun part – rewarded for all who made it this far.

Stopping points

Requirements

• Physical condition: High – 950 meters of ascent on 28 km with two climbs are only suitable for well-trained bikers
• Technical skills: Medium – some narrower, technically more demanding sections in the Pinnistal
• Bike: Full-suspension mountain bike recommended; E-bike sensible for the climbs
• Time: At least 5 hours planned, with breaks more like 6-7 hours

Practical tips

• Early start: No later than 7:30 am – the tour is long, thunderstorms in high summer are possible
• Nutrition: In addition to water (2+ liters), bring enough energy bars and snacks
• Navigation: GPS device or Komoot route recommended – some junctions are not self-explanatory
• Dogs: Not suitable – too long, too demanding, some sections without access to drinking water

The MTB Elferrunde is one of the big bike tours in the Stubaital – whoever makes it through has really got to know the valley.