Piz Umbrail extended
Description
The best way to get to the Umbrail Pass is by post bus, but the 1125-metre ascent can also be tackled on the pass road under your own steam. However, the crisp ascent phase only begins after the pass summit. On a single trail, you push and carry your bike for 500 meters up to Piz Umbrail at 3033 meters above sea level. The ascent is exposed at times (good surefootedness required!) and quite strenuous overall, but is well worth it - if only for the view of the Ortler.
The descent to Lai da Rims is super fun in the high Alps; the trail winds its way through the rugged mountain landscape. The upper part of the trail is a little slippery, but then becomes increasingly flowy until you reach the lake. This is undisputedly one of the most beautiful mountain lakes in Switzerland. The conventional route would now descend in serpentine mode. There are always numerous hikers on this section. It is more interesting to climb up at Lai da Rims to the crossing below Piz Praveder. There are just under 300 meters of altitude to master, a large part by pushing, but fit mountain bikers can also manage large parts of the ascent by riding.
The descent down into Val Mora is not rideable for the first few metres, but then quickly becomes smoother. In the upper section, it leads along the slope as a narrow, alpine path with great views of the legendary Val Mora. As the distance increases, the trail becomes smoother, but remains in alpine mode. The difficulty is in the S3 range. In this way, you reach Döss Rodond in Val Mora and thus the starting point of the long singletrail descent into Val Müstair. After the first trails as a shortcut to the gravel road, follow it to a mountain ridge, where the trail then leads down to the right through the dense forest to the edge of the village of Sta. Maria.
Conclusion: This version of the Umbrail tour is much more interesting for good riding technique, as the trail section is even higher and you will encounter significantly fewer hikers on this version.
Map & GPX-Track
The map is only available to Ride subscribers.
The Ride-Subscription is available at ride-mtb.com/abo
.
Details of the tour
19 km
755 m
1870 m
1 day
Santa Maria
Santa Maria
3273
not suitable
More information
Video
More tours nearby
User comments (2)
About the author: Thomas Giger
Note: This content has been automatically translated from German. Please report any incorrect translations.
Tour ridden on 12.07.25. From our point of view, absolutely recommended for technically experienced bikers. If you can ride on rolling surfaces, the whole route is rideable. We extended the tour via Val Mora to the Ofenpass (via Jufplaun) and rode the trails back to Sta. Maria - Piz Umbrail extended plus ;-)
Possible alternative, but in my opinion it doesn't come close to the original. Gravely at the top, but rideable, watch out for 1-2 short no-fall sections.
Then gravel traverses, a bit too steep passages and then meadow trails down to the road.
It's a beautiful, lonely area, but definitely not a "trail pearl" made for bikers