Rastkogel

Rastkogel (Zillertal)

The enduro round tour from Mayrhofen to the Rastkogel and back is physically and technically demanding, but also unique thanks to its trail descent and panoramic views.

Description

The tour starts directly at the Penkenbahn valley station in Mayrhofen. The cable car saves you valuable energy and altitude, which you will need later on. From the mountain station, follow the official cycle route over the Penken towards the Wanglalm and on to the Rastkogel reservoir. The Rastkogel reservoir offers a refreshing cool-down, especially in summer, surrounded by an impressive mountain panorama. The uphill section is mostly on gravel and leads to the mountain station of the 8-seater Horbergjochbahn cable car.

From there, the route continues up to the Rastkogel by pushing or carrying for around 200 vertical meters. The last few meters to the summit have to be covered on foot. It is possible to carry the bike to the summit, but a descent in the upper section only makes sense in sections. On the Rastkogel, which has an impressive altitude of around 2762 meters above sea level, you can enjoy a breathtaking view from the Tux Alps over the striking peaks of the Zillertal and the Karwendel to the north.

The descent is another highlight of the tour. Between difficulty levels S2 and S3, the route descends steadily to the mountain lakes with a touch of Western Alps flair. A small counter-climb and a traverse lead to the Rastkogelhütte, where you can stop for refreshments before continuing briefly on gravel and then on a trail with varied up and down sections to Melchboden. The next downhill begins from Melchboden. Between difficulty levels S2 and occasionally S3, you follow a trail that is somewhat washed out in places. It is important to ride with foresight here. At the Brindlingsalm, you can take a shortcut across the meadow and then rejoin the hiking trail, which takes you down to 1200 meters above sea level. This is where the long and sometimes very challenging downhill ends.

It is advisable to include an intermediate ascent of around 200 vertical meters and take the trail section towards Wilde-Mann-Schrofen and the nearby waterfalls. Above the last section, however, it is advisable to plan a transfer, as the section over the Wilde-Mann-Schrofen is very challenging and is only partially passable due to the high frequency of hikers. This is followed by a few more meters of trail before you complete the extensive tour on the valley floor.

The return to the Penkenbahn is a relaxed ride along forest and meadow paths. The tour is also easily doable with a light e-mountainbike, especially for those who are not afraid to shoulder the bike on the final summit sections.

Note: The route is located on Austrian territory and leads over routes that are not approved for mountain bikers. Riding this route on a mountain bike is the responsibility of each individual, in full awareness of the legal situation.

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