Tschaufer Nock

The Tschaufer Nock, towering high above Vilpian in the Adige Valley, exudes Mediterranean charm and offers a descent that is challenging in parts yet extremely varied, with single trails that are rideable almost year-round thanks to the mild climate.

Description

The tour starts in Vilpian. From here, you have a choice: either take the cable car for a leisurely ride to the top and follow the route via Verschneid, or make the ascent under your own steam. If you opt for the more athletic option, the route follows the main road toward Rauhenbühel. You’ll then pedal on asphalt through numerous switchbacks with moderate to steep gradients toward Oberlegar and steadily uphill along Möltener Strasse. The sweeping views are already incredibly impressive here. Especially in spring and fall, when the vegetation clears the view, a wonderful sense of “Mediterranean lightness” emerges.

The ride continues to Verschneid and finally to Gasthof Tschaufen. The inn itself is idyllically nestled in the landscape and offers an impressive panorama to the south toward Penegal and Roen. After a short stretch on gravel, the trail branches off toward the Etschtal after just a few meters. The difficulty ranges between S1 and S2 on the single-track scale. However, caution is advised in wet conditions: the surface of cobblestones and stone slabs, combined with fallen leaves, should not be underestimated and requires the occasional skillful maneuver on the mountain bike.

Further along, you cross the Möltener Strasse again and use the next section—with similar difficulty, though slightly higher in places—to return to Vilpian. The abrupt change in landscape is remarkable: the lower you go, the more Mediterranean the surroundings become. It’s not uncommon to pass right by cacti and other southern flora in the lower section—a fitting finale to a varied tour.

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