Olten - Biel
Description
Olten railroad station is the starting point of the village, from where you climb up to Rumpelhöchi. Ascending and descending, you cross the Rickenbach and later climb along the Cholersbach to Bärenwil. A steep section must now be conquered to reach the Schlosshöchi. Here, for the first time, you have a wonderful view over the Mittelland to the high Alps beyond. This panorama will accompany us on the way to Biel. After Tiefmatt, there is another steep section to overcome, where you push your bike a few meters to reach the ridge of the Roggen. A first-class trail to Roggenflue and then a serpentine descent to Oensingen. Here you have completed the first part of the route, covering around a third of the distance. From Oensingen, the long ascent follows via Schmidematt and Niederwiler Stierenberg to Balmberg. The ascent is not over yet, as there are another 200 meters of altitude to climb to Weissenstein. The actual destination is Hasenmatt, with a few meters of descent along the way to recover before pushing up to the top of the mountain. The effort is worth it: the view from the Hasenmatt of the Mittelland and the Alpine chain is nowhere better than here on the route from Olten to Biel. Hasenmatt is the culmination point of the tour, followed by an up-and-down ride on single trails, forest tracks and mountain roads to Obergrenchenberg and Stierenberg, before descending across typical Jura meadows to Vauffelin. This is where you start the final stretch of the tour: It's just over 200 meters up to Bözingenberg, from where a singletrail descent takes you directly to the center of Biel. Ideally, you should end the tour on the lakeshore and then take the train back to Olten.
Map & GPX-Track
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Details of the tour
73 km
2790 m
2750 m
388 above sea level
1418 above sea level
1 day
Olten
Biel
1140
not suitable
More tours nearby
User comments (5)
About the author: Thomas Giger
Note: This content has been automatically translated from German. Please report any incorrect translations.
It's a very nice tour with lots of crisp single trails uphill. So crisp that the train back to Olten is a recurring thought. The taste of blood in your lungs is also a constant companion. But the fight is worth it: a beer and a dip in Lake Biel are very refreshing (ideally before sunset...rather unrealistic).
Water: There are various inns along the entire route and at the Balmberg rope park.
Special treat on the way: try Engadine nut cake and Linzer at the "Hofbergli".
Caution: Trail closed between Hofbergli and Balmberg Passhöhe.
What are the options for replenishing water supplies on the route?
Very tough and beautiful tour. The climbs are mostly on gravel roads and sometimes single trails, very energy and time consuming. We often had to carry the bike. Before the Balmberg, part of the hiking trail is closed due to falling rocks, which adds extra meters in altitude with the bike on our shoulders. All the effort is worth it for the beautiful descents, the cool dip in Lake Biel and the refreshing beer on the lakeshore.
What are the options for replenishing water supplies on the route?