Austria is a forbidden paradise for mountain bikers. Despite perfect conditions, the sport is only permitted on designated routes in summer and is generally prohibited from November 1 to March 31. In the whole of Austria? No! Because in the east of the country, the signs of the times have been recognized and more and more year-round legal trails are being created. In Burgenland, for example, on the edge of the Pannonian Plain, which is better known for wine than mountain biking. Here, the Geschriebenstein is the highest elevation at just 884 meters. Enough to build a network of over 40 kilometers of single trails, ranging from easy to moderately difficult. The trails on the north and south sides of the mountain cover around 500 Elevation loss. Comfortable uphill routes and a bike shuttle bus on weekends ride to the top.

The concept is a success, as the current figures prove. 2024 brought Burgenland tourism "a historic record result", as those responsible recently announced. An important pillar of this success is the new cycling offers, above all the aforementioned Burgenland Trails on the Geschriebenstein. In the otherwise structurally weak region on the Hungarian border with the main towns of Rechnitz in the south and Lockenhaus in the north, bike tourism represents an urgently needed economic boost.

International trail building project

More and more mountain bikers are discovering Burgenland as an alternative for a short trail vacation. "There was a lot going on over Christmas and New Year," says Daniel Tulla, who is responsible for trail construction on the Geschriebenstein with his company Mountain Bike Movement. The conditions are ideal at the moment, says Tulla: "The trails are free of snow and have good grip. It's sunny, but cold enough to prevent the ground from softening."

25 shapers from Austria, Germany and Italy have left their mark on the Geschriebenstein. This is noticeable on the trails. If you ride your mountain bike a lot, you will recognize some of the trails here - from the Italian roller coaster to the Tyrolean single trail to the German flow highway. In order to respect the protected natural environment, the focus was on "minimally invasive trail construction". This gives the trails their natural character.

Trail network in the border region

Three very long trails - Rechnitz Trail, Esterházy Trail and Batthyány Trail - form the main arteries of the Geschriebenstein area. Numerous short variants and bypasses have emerged from these. The descents vary depending on which fork you choose. At the end, they all lead either to the bathing lake in Rechnitz, at the southern foothills of the mountain, or to the castle ponds in Lockenhaus in the north. The starting point for all descents is the Head Trail, the uppermost part of which leads to the three-storey lookout point directly on the Austro-Hungarian border. The single trails now start where the Iron Curtain once stood. Rideable trails also lead down the mountain to the east, towards Hungary. However, this side has not yet been officially developed. According to reports, this is set to change soon.

There is a daily fee of 13.50 euros to use the Burgenland Trails, with discounts for children and pensioners. However, if you are staying in local accommodation for one night or more, you can enjoy the Burgenland Card from your accommodation provider, which also allows you to use the trails free of charge. It's best to ask for it at check-in.

Other winter spots in eastern Austria

In addition to the trails on the Geschriebenstein, there are other worthwhile winter destinations for mountain bikers in eastern Austria that are perfect for a short road trip. Very close to Burgenland, in the Styrian capital of Graz, the Schöckl Trail Area offers the longest cable car-supported bike season in the entire Alpine region. In the winter months, downhill pros such as Andreas Kolb (YT Mob) and David Trummer (MS Racing) can be found here time and again. 

And in Lower Austria, in the famous wine-growing region of Wachau, more than a dozen well-maintained trails are open to winter mountain bikers in the Trailarea Göttweig. The Trailwerk Wachau association has created a unique trail area here in close cooperation with the landowners, which can be used free of charge. However, donations are always welcome in order to finance the costly maintenance of the trails.

All information about the Burgenland Trails at a glance.

The details about the Schöckl Trail Area in Graz.

Trailwerk Wachau with the trail network of the Trailarea Göttweig at a glance.