While flow trails are being built in many alpine regions, the Lower Engadine, Val Müstair and Samnaun advertise rough trails like those created by people on foot in alpine terrain. Mountain bike guide Xaver Frieser explains: "There are bike parks all around: Livigno, St. Moritz and Nauders are all within 45 minutes' drive. We don't need to compete with these areas. Instead, we focus on alpine biking."

Then the Bavarian, who has lived in the Engadin for many years, clears up a common term: "Natural trails. What is that supposed to be? Nature doesn't create trails. But there are old hiking trails. That's what we mean by #purealpinetrails." He pronounces the term in German, which emphasizes the character even more clearly.

Nevertheless, shapers are also at work in the region in the very east of Switzerland. "We have a lot of rough diamonds that we polish to create flow," explains Xaver. He is part of "Trailuniun", which has developed the mountain bike master plan for the three regions working together. It is also working with Trailworks and Velosolutions to implement the plan.

The aim is to remove "pedal catchers" and other obstructions, defuse steep sections and reduce the speed of bikers in unclear places, explains Xaver. Coexistence is everything, not a single trail is built for bikers, there are hikers, hunters or even cows everywhere.

Many small construction sites instead of one big one

Another characteristic is: "We don't build entire lines, but work on hotspots. From guiding and teaching, as well as from private biking, I know where the holes and puddles and also the danger spots are. We fix them bit by bit." Hiking trail maintenance and trail maintenance flow together, which also increases mutual understanding.

Even in the relatively bike-friendly Graubünden region, this is not possible without discussions between the different user groups. "The tone in which we speak to each other is cultivated and respectful," says Xaver. Next year, the Trailuniun will be dismantling a trail that runs through an area that is too wet and therefore causes too much damage. "A new line is an extremely complex process, it takes a lot of discussions until everyone agrees."

Xaver emphasizes that he understands the farmers. They have been summering their cows on the Alps for centuries and new groups are constantly arriving to whom they have to give something. "On the other hand, cows definitely cause more damage to trails than mountain bikers, I see that summer after summer," he says.


The master plan is planned to be implemented over seven years. In addition to the many small optimizations, a few larger chunks are also planned. In terms of tourism, the first step was to make the Lower Engadine, Val Müstair and Samnaun region known as a bike region. "In the second step, we gave ourselves a face - that of pure, alpine trails." Now the Trailuniun is working on optimizing the offer.

This includes the Trailcenter Ftan, a kind of concentrated practice area for alpine trails. Unlike the open terrain, its trails are newly built. They challenge bikers not only downhill, but also uphill with an uphill gradient of up to 12 percent. Another important element are the connections between the various valleys. Some of these already exist, and one long-term goal is to create one between the Engadin and the Münstertal. "We are expanding the routes that are already being ridden anyway," summarizes Xaver. The Trailuniun will then put the finishing touches to them.

For mountain bikers who think for themselves

Finally, Xaver is able to advertise the best tours and trails in his home region: "The Fuorcla Champatsch is highly recommended. The cable car gives you 1000 vertical meters for free and with 600 to 700 vertical meters under your own steam, you get an absolutely high-alpine experience and a damn long, technically demanding descent via Val Laver, Val Sinestra and Sent back to Scuol." The guide recommends Piz Clünas as an introduction to bike mountaineering. "The summit is also relatively easy to reach thanks to cable car support, after which you ride down mostly on single trails from 2800 to 1200 meters."

"Our guests have to like pedalling and be able to ride" emphasizes Xaver, whereby these statements are to be understood with the Swiss German meaning of the verb "mögen". And there's something else he tells future guests: "Bikers with a purely consumerist attitude are out of place here. We expect them to show consideration for the trails and other trail users. A mountain biker, as I see it, is also a conservationist."

www.engadin.com/de/trailuniun

Tours in the Scuol region

Tours in Val Müstair and the surrounding area