Dear Stefan Michel – you speak so much from my heart! After riding down from Rinerhorn to Sertig a few times on my organic bike and finding it very exciting, I was now really looking forward to the "new" Alps "Epic" Trail, which was being hyped everywhere. I was rather skeptical, because uphill from Sertig to the Rinerhorn??? I couldn't imagine that it could suddenly be flowing and epic... But maybe the Davos people had changed something about the route...?
No sooner said than done – I took the cable car up to the Jakobshorn in beautiful weather and off I went. The descent from Jakobshorn down to Sertig is playful, with various technical gimmicks, epic. This descent was new to me and, for me personally, the best section of the Alps "Epic" Trail.
Perhaps the ascent from Sertig to Rinerhorn would have been more enjoyable for me if I had tackled it with a powerful e-MTB. As a bio-biker, I had to constantly get on and off my bike, hoisting and pushing it over sections of the trail that were partly rooted and blocked. Although things improved somewhat after the Rinerhorn to Filisur, the basic trend continued. Flow? Zero!
The 1,900 meters of descent and 850 meters of ascent felt exactly the opposite to me, and I was physically exhausted afterwards.
Anyone who, like me, often travels in the Alps and is particularly familiar with the Eastern Alps and their great trails, wonders what possessed Davos and the IMBA to describe this trail as epic. Especially since Davos has many trails and tours that are actually epic – but obviously lack the length. For me, the Alps Epic Trail is pure marketing hype!

Comment on Stefan Michel's article "All fairy tales? The Alps Epic Trail is truly epic": In my opinion, an epic trail should also include a significant portion that poses certain technical challenges when riding uphill. The Alps Epic Trail offers a good mix in this regard; it is clearly not purely a downhill rigigigiding trail. Furthermore, for me, the Alps Epic Trail from Sertig is an essential part of truly epic day tours in the area.

Examples:
A) From Alvaneu/Filisur – Bergün – Ducanfrurgga – Sertig – Äbirügg Alps Epic Trail – Alvaneu/Filisur
B) From Alvaneu/Filisur – Falein – Ducanfrurgga – Sertig – Äbirügg Alps Epic Trail – Alvaneu/Filisur
C) From Alvaneu/Filisur – Bergün – Raivaisseen – Sertig Pass – Sertig – Äbirügg – Alps Epic Trail – Alvaneu/Filisur
D) From Alvaneu/Filisur – Bergün – Ducanfugga – Fanezfurgga – Oberalp – Alps Epic Trail – Alvaneu/Filisur
E) From Alvaneu/Filisur – "Albula Haute Route" to Glaris – Monstein – Alps Epic Trail – Alvaneu/Filisur
F) From Alvaneu/Filisur - Furcletta - Welschtobel - Sunnarüti - Medergen - Latschüelfurgga - Cörbschhorä - Frauenkirch - Monstein - Alps Epic Trail - Alvaneu/Filisur (I think at least this variant deserves the title "epic")

I cycled part of the route (from Rinerhorn to Sertig) and it is slightly downhill in this direction. This makes it a lot easier (although I had to get off my bike in some places). Almost all of the cyclists I encountered were pushing their bikes. Conclusion: Anyone who wants to "ride" from Sertig to Rinerhorn should be prepared to "push" instead.

We did the tour yesterday (September 3, 2025). A truly impressive tour, unfortunately with many sections where we had to push our bikes from Sertig. For some unknown reason, the GPX file published here only took us as far as the Zügenschlucht gorge.

Great tour that lives up to its name—perfect trails, it has everything!

Zügenschlucht gorge open again today, August 31.

Well, we didn't find the singletrail fireworks, the direction of travel is clearly no fun. It's only flowy as far as Sertig.

From Jenisberg, you should really take the road to Wiesen. There are various boulders and trees on the path in the Zügenschlucht gorge and the entrance/exit to the path is blocked by a fence (it is rightly closed). From Monstein to Jenisberg, two weeks ago there were still avalanche remains at three streams to cross. The crossing is not without danger and is currently not recommended. The crossings will probably be free again from the middle/end of June.

A great tour that makes the biker's heart leap for joy. The second part of the section from Jakobshorn to Sertig is one of the best we've ever ridden. The hiking and biking trails are now separate, which is great. The ascent to the Rinerhorn (Äbirügg Pt. 2106) is only 250 meters in altitude and rideable (also mostly separated), even as a biobiker, but it's a tough one and can't be compared to 250 m on a dirt road. After a section on a dirt track, the route continues with the finest singletrack fireworks, the path is quite exposed in places and you don't want to have to descend to the valley side ;-). The second ascent (after leaving Monstein) is easy as it's a dirt track, then the more rideable singletrail part of the tour follows. The Zügerschlucht was still closed (15.8.2023), but was well signaled and easy to get around via Jenisberg down the steep but well-built and very dusty dirt road to Wiesen. The ride to Landwassertal is then no longer quite so technically demanding and easily doable, the challenge is more mental/conditional after the Elevation loss that you already have in your legs by then. Conclusion: An absolutely epic tour, and rightly so!

The path through the Zügenschlucht gorge is currently (as of the beginning of August 2023) closed due to a rockfall and associated work. From Jenisberg, the signalized detour leads over a steep road directly to Wiesen station. On this section, oncoming vehicles must be expected and care must be taken when riding.

Fantastic tour! The uphill to the Rinerhorn is completely rideable on an e-bike. Although it required a certain amount of concentration and skill to master the rocky and rough root passages, it was well worth it. Ride as early as possible! The uphill to the Rinerhorn is actually a downhill section! And I can imagine that it's no fun for either side (uphill and downhill) to always have to watch out for oncoming traffic.

The new route down from the Jakobshorn and up to the Rinerhorn is very varied and relaxed, as there is a path for bikes and hikers on some sections.

Even with calf power up to the Jakobshorn - always a dream down to Sertig - now the trail is also separated for hikers and bikers - it couldn't be better! - Thank you Davos Tourism! : https://youtu.be/PKVZSULktHY

Really great! We haven't done that many alpine tours yet, but this was the best one so far. The cable car currently only rides the lower section. At SFr 54 for two people with bikes for just over 300 m, you could perhaps ride up yourself instead. But even so, we (having started late) had to take a shortcut via Mobstein.

It is still an epic tour. At the moment, the Jakobshorn cable car only rides to the middle station. The steep ascent has to be tackled by bike. But there are no people down to Sertig. Technically not to be underestimated, as the trail section is very high and you will get tired at some point (also in your head). Good refreshment stops. All in all, a really cool tour.

The trail will be rebuilt in 2022. Its use is therefore restricted. More information here:
https://www.ride.ch/de/news/der-alps-epic-trail-wird-doppelspurig
and here
https://www.gr.ch/DE/Medien/Mitteilungen/MMStaka/2022/Seiten/2022040701…

Super

That was a super nice tour! Here is the link to the video:
https://youtu.be/gFetpmscSSQ

The descent from Oberalp to Monstein is currently closed due to construction work. Alternatively, already from Hauderalp to Monstein (1), cross to Laubenenalp and to Monstein (2) or via Inneralpen directly to Jenisberg (3). I skipped Monstein today (3). Beautiful, lonely and not much more difficult than the Jatzmeder-Oberalp segment. Overall, however, the proportion of bumpy track is of course much longer (and more strenuous).

Did the tour on 26.05.2020. Wonderfully quiet, as there was almost nothing going on without the train. However, the trail from had some snow fields up to approx. 2350m, so that you had to push or carry. The rest is completely snow-free and in top condition. It was totally worth it. If you don't want to walk all the way up, you can be shuttled up to the cheese dairy. A permit costs 10 Fr. However, the upper section to the Jatzhütte has to be pushed and carried as it is too steep and there is too much snow on the way.

Me and Shaggy from Alvaneu rode the tour on October 16, 2019. The Landwasser bridge was completely gone. Luckily the water wasn't too deep! According to the Filisur/Bergün forester, the bridge will be rebuilt this fall. In any case, the bridge will be back in place by next season!

I rode the trail yesterday, September 30. There are certainly better trails in Switzerland. At the beginning it was very good but as already written here the views are so la la. The forest passages were very demanding and not always rideable. Sometimes quite rough. Hikers were very tolerant. Always made room for us.

We did the tour yesterday - 28.9.2019. The path is officially closed (Leidboden to Landwasser parking lot) and the bridge under the Landwasser Viaduct only consists of 3 steel girders, which are loosely 'anchored' in the scree. We rode anyway. Shortly after the last road closure with a barrier tape, the slope slid down a massive 10m. We got through on a very narrow path (30cm) - but it's not for the faint-hearted. The same applies to the bridge. We balanced across - Danny MacAskill would have ridden it safely. If you don't feel confident enough to do this, you can also walk through the water below (with or without shoes).

Does anyone know if the road is open again and the bridge is back up? I wanted to ride the tour at the weekend.

22.09.2019, the path from Wiesen station is officially closed due to construction work. At the bottom of the gorge, the path has slipped for about 10 meters. To get around this point, you had to climb a little riskily on your bike. The bridge under the Landwasser Viaduct is completely missing. Either you balance on a remaining steel girder over the river, or, like me, you simply walk through the river and have wet feet for the rest of the day.

BIs Wiesen station. Great, technical, playful and strenuous tour. The short technical uphill sections are really tough. There was quite a lot going on on Saturday - hikers and bikers - but with a nice "Grüezi" or "Hoi zäme" it works out fine.

Rode from Jakobshorn at the end of June on a Sunday. Great tour, although there were still some snowfields and the Landwasser Viaduct was closed. Several grumpy hikers, one verbal conflict from a distance, otherwise good coexistence.

Currently (July 2019) the trail from Oberalp to Monstein is closed due to construction work and you will be rerouted via Laubenenalp. From there you have two different options. Either to continue via Unteralp, skipping Monstein, or directly to Monstein on a forest road.

how does it look from wiesen, is the path back to filisur? would you like to do the tour next weekend?

I rode this tour on July 9, 2019 - Simply brilliant to Wiesen - Attention => part from Wiesen to Filisur not rideable - path slipped (closed), several fir trees fell on the way and the bridge under the Landwasserbrücke is slipped and closed.

Moin I rode the tour today on 02.07.19 and from Leidboden the hiking trail is closed. Part of the path above Landwasser is practically gone. The closure goes as far as Filisur. Up to Wiesen station simply awesome.

Found the day epic! Did the tour with my dad! 5 stars from me! Watch the video here:
https://youtu.be/SJk8NTcssJs

I rode the Alps Epic Trail yesterday with a colleague and we really loved it. Especially the first descent from Jakobshorn to Sertig made our hearts beat faster. All in all, the tour deserves the title "epic" for us, even though there are certainly many other tours in the Alps that are just as great. However, we can also understand that the tour does not quite meet the expectations of experienced freeriders or downhillers. The descents are too flowy, not bumpy enough, simply too easy, and the ascents too arduous and strenuous. For us with a cross-country background, the route was perfect. We will hardly have ridden it for the last time.

...so for me "Epic" fits pretty well! Hammer tour

I had also hoped for more. Apart from the descent from Jakobshorn to Sertigtäli, there isn't much for enduro and freeride fanatics. The constant ups and downs are more appealing to XC riders.

By "epic" I meant "epic" in the sense of the best tour far and wide. Well, it's not bad, but we've had more epic tours in Switzerland. In the first half we found it very nice, in the second half, where it goes over long stretches through forest without epic views and riding highlights, it became kind of longish. If the tour wasn't advertised as an "epic" and you started with the corresponding expectations, it would have been remembered as a really nice tour, but it was a bit of a disappointment. It's all a question of attitude and expectation...

I have now started this tour twice (with different people). We always broke off because we were (very) disappointed with the route. But also the fact that, even during the week, there are so many hikers on the trail (who are difficult to cross) contributes to this. I then asked a Grisons man at our company what he thought. To my astonishment (because this tour is always so highly praised), he also said that he would not recommend it to others. But it's certainly good marketing on the part of those responsible, and OK for me as far as I'm concerned, as everyone who rides here can't be found on the other trails.