The name says it all and Austria’s largest bike region keeps its promise

Monday, 06.05.2024

The name says it all and Austria’s largest bike region keeps its promise

More than 90 kilometers of lines & trails, 9 lifts on 7 mountains, 3 large practice areas for kids and beginners, Alpine gravel biking routes for every taste and an almost limitless network of mountain bike trails for all abili-ties.

News 2024

There is always plenty to do in between seasons and 2024 is no different as Saalbach Hinterglemm Leogang Fieberbrunn has once again been hard at work to create new trails and further improve the infrastructure. Here’s the latest news from Austria’s largest bike region:

New “AlteSchmiede Trail” in Leogang:
In September 2023, a real singletrail delicacy, the AlteSchmiede Trail, was opened in Saalfelden Leogang. A natural trail that was built entirely without heavy equipment, using only manpower. This year, for the first time, it will be open all summer long, from 1 June to 15 October 2024. Pure riding pleasure on the new AlteSchmiede Trail will delight young and old alike (note: if you have singletrail experience). 
The start of the new AlteSchmiede Trail is located above the mountain cable car station on the Asitz - this can be reached comfortably with the mountain cable car or more sporty via the forest path. On the Asitz Trail in the direction of Saalbach Hinterglemm, it branches off to the right after approx. 50 metres. From there, you follow a hand-built single trail, which offers wonderful views of the imposing massif of the Leoganger Steinberge mountain range from time to time, over natural forest and alpine meadow sections. Flowing turns, Northshores and easy technical passages alternate skilfully. For all advanced bikers, there's a special tip to extend the trail fun even further: at the end of the Al-teSchmiede Trail, you can take the forest road towards the start of the lower part of the Matzalm-Trail (note: difficult!) or choose the Flying Gangster Line in the Bikepark Leogang (full-face helmet compul-sory!) and then the Schwarzleo-/Knappen-/Forsthof-Trail back down into the valley.


Saalfelden Leogang receives prestigious 'UCI Bike Region Label':
Introduced in 2016, 26 cities and regions worldwide are now entitled to bear the label 'UCI Bike Re-gion' or 'UCI Bike City'. Among them are cities such as Copenhagen, Montreal, Paris, Glasgow, and Vancouver, and regions such as Flanders, Val di Sole, or South Scotland. In Austria, Tyrol (2019) was recognized as a UCI Bike Region - since autumn 2023, Saalfelden Leogang has also joined the elite circle of these regions. The label is awarded by the World Cycling Federation to cities and regions that make a special contribution to cycling. Whether uphill, downhill, or leisurely straight ahead: Saalfelden Leogang has been focusing on cycling for years and has long established itself among the top moun-tain bike destinations in Europe. Now, the responsible authorities have achieved another milestone. Since autumn 2023, Saalfelden Leogang has been an official bearer of the 'UCI Bike Region' label. One prerequisite for the award is the hosting of a major UCI cycling event, as well as the promotion of public cycling through the implementation of corresponding programs. As part of the award, the UCI focused on aspects such as sustainability, increasing bicycle usage, expanding infrastructure, safety and accident reduction, bike training for youth, and the dedicated funding of planned projects in Saal-felden Leogang.


Upgrade of the Blue Line in Saalbach Hinterglemm:
Something's happening on the Reiterkogel! The Blue Line has undergone a complete reshape, creating a new and unrivalled trail experience. This summer, the flowing single trail also surprises with a par-tially new routing. The Blue Line can be found right next to the Pro Line on the Reiterkogel and is ideal for freeride newbies and soul riders alike.

Reshape of the Z-Line in Saalbach Hinterglemm:
Just in time for the start of the 2024 bike summer, the Z-Line on the Zwölferkogel is shining in new splendour. A completely new section of the route awaits bikers, and the existing line also has some upgrades to offer. The start of the Z-Line is located directly at the middle sta-tion of the 12er KOGEL cable car and is suitable for ambitious freeriders with a medium level of difficulty.


New “Sheepy Hollow-Line” in Saalbach Hinterglemm:
A new line that will connect the Westgipfel and Schattberg in Saalbach Hinterglemm from summer 2023. Starting from the upper section of the Westgipfel, the flowing line offers fantastic panoramic views over 1.1 kilometres. With a bit of luck, you can also spot the fluffy namesakes of the Sheepy Hollow-Line during the downhill ride.


Bike Area Fieberbrunn - Construction of the Streubödenbahn:
Summer 2024 is all about the construction of the Streubödenbahn at the Fieberbrunn mountain rail-ways. Under the motto 'Out with the old, in with the new,' Fieberbrunn's cable car to Lärchfilzkogel will be replaced by a state-of-the-art 10-seater monocable circulating ropeway from the brand Dop-pelmayr.
Despite this, the biking fun won't be compromised this summer: Both Schweinestberg Trails will re-main open, catering to beginners and experts alike with their flowing lines between the middle and valley stations. However, more legwork will be required as there will be no lift transport. The drag lift Obingleitn, along with the associated Easy Park and the pump track at the valley station, will be closed this summer to make way for the construction work.
In short, downhill fun in the Bike Area Fieberbrunn remains unimpeded this summer, and for 2025, we can look forward not only to a new cable car but also to the highest level of bike transport comfort!"


The ONLINE BIKEBONUS:
In summer 2023 we introduced a dynamic bike ticket pricing. That means: Save money with our new ONLINE BIKEBONUS and get your day or multi-day ticket early at a discount. Fixed rates apply at our cable car ticket counters.

If you have booked a JOKER CARD accommodation in Saalbach Hinterglemm, you will get your best price directly on site at the cable car ticket counters in Saalbach Hinterglemm.

NEW from summer 2024: the smartphone becomes a lift ticket! If guests opt for the mobile ticket when purchasing online, they can walk straight through the turnstile with their mobile phone in their pocket!
 


Environmental awareness and sustainability in the Home of Lässig

"What you take up the mountain, you bring back down to the valley." In Austria's largest bike region, great importance is attributed to treating nature with respect, which is why the motto here is "Keep the mountains clean". In the Epic Bikepark Leogang, for example, all trails are walked and rubbish is collected three times a summer in a joint campaign with the bike community under the title "Clean the trail day". All participants are duly catered for and receive a cool goodie bag. They also have the chance to win a Gravity Card for the 2025 season. Another measure to reduce waste on the mountain is the "Roll-off instead of tear-off" campaign, which bans tear-off film on goggles in the bike park and instead promotes roll-off systems with fixed film rolls.

Great importance is also attached to sustainability in the construction of single trails. For example, many of the trails were built exclusively with natural materials and wooden constructions, so-called "North Shore elements", and built by hand, without the use of heavy equipment. 
Fans of these single trails will also get their money's worth this year when the natural Alte Schmiede Trail and the new Schweinestberg Trail II start into their first full season.

An important milestone in the development of a sustainably orientated region is the award of the Austrian Ecolabel for Destinations to Saalfelden Leogang.  The coveted UCI Bike Region Label was also awarded to Saalfelden Leogang - for only the second time in Austria. 

Even travelling to Austria's largest bike region can be made convenient and, above all, sustainable. There are several train stations in the region, from where you can complete the so-called "last mile" by bus, taxi or hotel shuttle. Most local public transport can be used free of charge with the guest card. Some hotels also offer electric car hire. In the spirit of e-mobility, there is even a culinary e-bike pleasure tour in Saalfelden Leogang. Here you cycle from direct marketer to direct marketer, visit their farm shops and sample home-made products.