What could be better than riding over the Alps on a gravel bike? Gravel Peaks is a brand new format from the creators of legendary stage events such as BIKE-Transalp and TOUR-Transalp. From 11 to 16 May 2026, Gravel Peaks offers the chance to ride through unique landscapes on a gravel bike for the first time. Now not only the stage locations have been finalised, but also the entire route. A total of 320 kilometres and 9370 metres in altitude will be covered during the week. In addition to an extensive accompanying programme, bikers can look forward to numerous route highlights in Salzburger Land together with the gravel community. Here is all the information about the Gravel Peaks 2026 route.
Stage 1: Saalfelden - Saalfelden (56.2 km / 1620 vertical metres)
Sightseeing in the Saalfelden basin between the Leoganger Steinberge and the Steinernes Meer: with huge rocks in all their splendour and close enough to touch. Straight into the full, wow!
Saalfelden lies in a sunny, expansive valley basin surrounded by impressive mountain massifs and wonderful paths that come very close to the steep walls. The south-western flank of the Steinernes Meer rises up, with peaks that look down on the village from 2000 metres above. The flank stores the warmth of the sun and creates a climate that keeps the paths free of snow almost all year round. From Maria Alm we head up to the first peak of this varied week, up to the rock faces, very close, you can touch them and let the first sublime feeling of the week take effect.
After the descent from the Bürgerberg, you roll relaxed along the still sunny cycle route for a few kilometres. Now the Leoganger Steinberge lead the way. They are no less imposing and also show us their southern flank. It is no coincidence that their foot hills form the Leogang Sonnberg and a little behind the warm balcony of Leogang a path circles through the forest, culminating in the Gunzi Trail with a short test of riding technique on the narrow path up to the highest point. From here, after a short descent, you reach the mountain bike stronghold of Leogang. Here, one of the largest bike parks in Europe is a magical attraction for the scene.
The road now leads back flat, but between Leogang and Saalfelden a mountain flank still pushes out its foothills, which somewhat blocks the unobstructed view to Saalfelden. But that hardly bothers us, because we want to get up there and can do so easily, as a forest path climbs the shoulder at a pleasant gradient: The Biberg, one of the best panoramic spots in the region. Here, the Steinernes Meer is no longer close enough to touch, it appears in its full width in cinema format and the view continues to the right to the Hochkönig, giving us a hint of what we can expect over the next few days. A brisk descent leads down to the valley path, which takes us flat to the small hill with the Kollingwald forest and the Ritzensee lake. At the top, just before the finish at the lake, it's time to pull out our mobile phone cameras once again. There is no better place to photograph Saalfelden in front of the Steinernes Meer than here. An extravagant sight-seeing trip comes to an end, and a starting stage that already offers everything that makes Gravel Peaks special.
Stage 2: Saalfelden - Dienten am Hochkönig (38.9 km / 1650 metres altitude)
It hardly seems possible, but we up the panoramic factor once again. From the Steinernes Meer to the Hochkönig, magical, epic, but crisp. All In!
From Saalfelden Leogang we enter the Hochkönig region. It gets more mountainous, the land is no longer flat. Once you are down, you have to go up again. This applies to the main road, which has to overcome two passes from Maria Alm to Bischofshofen, and it applies to the paths to the right and left of it. But the climb is particularly worthwhile here. The Hochkönig is a huge block with a magical attraction. Once you have conquered the tree line, you no longer look back, only towards it. The landscape that passes us by on six days of Gravel Peaks always knows how to surprise, is always attractive and exciting. But this is where it most deserves to be described as tremendous!
We have a little time to get our legs up to operating temperature as we cycle from Saalfelden to Maria Alm on the previous day's route, but then leave the Steinerne Meer to the left and only have the Hochkönig in view straight ahead. Between Maria Alm and Hinterthal, a few kilometres further on in the direction of Dienten, a new link has been created in the countryside. However, if you don't want to take the main road, you have to work your way along the traffic-calmed path. This is a test of around 500 metres in altitude. The reward is a clear view back to Maria Alm and the Saalfelden basin, an extravagant pass crossing on a long wooden footbridge, followed by two easy trail sections with sweeping bends that are great fun, interrupted only by a short section of forest road. It's varied and anything but boring.
After a section of pass road past Hinterthal, you soon reach the Filzensattel and the route plays a little trick with the topography, leaving out the valley descent for the time being. This is followed by the section that is probably the most beautiful to ride. On the flank of the valley, the route runs up and down past Dienten. There are great views of the Hochkönig and your legs can relax a little for the grand finale. Another 500 metres in altitude then take you past the Hirschegg-Alm, across sun-drenched alpine pastures, up to the Bürglalm. This climb also demands a little respect, but no awe. That comes naturally when you reach the Bürglalm and, standing in front of the Hochkönig, can't keep your mouth shut in amazement. The effort was worth it. Also for the easy descent on well-maintained panoramic trails down to König & Kuh, the finish of stage 2 just above Dienten. This event location is another highlight of this stage: après bike in a very cool atmosphere against a stunning backdrop. You can look forward to this on every metre of this stage and take the view with you as motivation.
Stage 3: Dienten am Hochkönig - Mühlbach am Hochkönig (31.2 km / 1340 metres altitude)
This mountain has power, the Hochkönig will not let us go with its magical attraction. There is only one hill between Dienten and Mühlbach, but it promises another full service.
This is the day of the mountain pastures. A concentrated, exceptional scenic trip in the shadow of the mighty Hochkönig. And there is a mountain hut around almost every bend. Many of them are only used by the farmers for alpine farming. But there are also a few to stop off at with marvellous sun terraces. Day three is a seamless succession of box seats. But again, one after the other: The route first turns away from the Hochkönig and heads south, with the massif behind you, to the Sonnberg, the warm side of the Dientenbach valley. On the sunny flank of the valley, a tarmac goods road leads further into the Schwarzenbach valley, where the trail then winds its way up to the Wastlhöhe. The valley soon opens up and becomes a wide, sunny basin with large humpbacked alpine meadows where cows roam. And with these scattered alpine huts, one or other of which, such as the Moosalm, also houses an inn.
The Schwarzenbach Valley seems to have fallen out of time. The peace and quiet here is heavenly, you meet a few hikers, a few alpine farmers at work or a few lost cyclists. Marvellous! At the very top, the wide gravel paths are followed by a somewhat earthier alpine path until the connecting path to the Wastlhöhe, which is designed for bikers, soon follows. This is a well-maintained trail that is a good metre wide and makes up some height. Until it finally spits you out after a few metres on a green-brown alpine meadow path on the Wastlhöhe at an altitude of 1737 metres. It ends here at the best viewing balcony in front of the Hochkönig. This is followed by a loop with a brisk descent via the Bürglalm, a short downhill section on the previous day's route, but soon the short ascent branches off up to the Zachhof-Alm, the next alpine inn with an Instagram-worthy panoramic terrace.
A jagged ascent connects the Alm with the Wastlhöhe, the loop is closed, but the panorama is far from over - on another highlight section, the sublime path along the top of the ridge over to the neighbouring summit, the Kohlmansegg. From up here, it's all downhill to the finish. Soon the Tiergartenalm awaits further down with the next sun terrace, which you really shouldn't miss out on. But there is also the Scheppal-Alm at the finish, in front of which the Hochkönig once again looms large. Once again, a wonderful hut awaits you at the finish, where you can bring this mountain adventure to a worthy close. Day three is a short, condensed load. But with so much beauty all around, there is time to savour the scenery to the full.
Stage 4: Mühlbach am Hochkönig - Flachau (63 km / 1540 metres altitude)
Now we tear ourselves away from the Hochkönig, a last foray along its flank. And after relaxing a little in the valley, we look forward to the Dachstein panorama at the Sattelbauer.
This stage is very different from the last two "Hochkönig stages" because it is significantly longer and includes a long, flat section where the rolling is comparatively relaxed. Gravel bikes combine the characteristics of racing bikes and mountain bikes. And while the last stages were pure terrain for grippy tyre treads, today the road characteristics of the gravel bike are also in demand. But before that, it's off to the mountains once again. Between Bischofshofen and the Hochkönig rises a forested pre-summit, the Hochkeil. Between its gentle crest and the steep walls of the mountain massif is a pass crossing with gravel paths on which the rock faces are close enough to touch. This is the first destination of this stage, which is climbed on a mix of forest path and road.
Great gravel tracks now await you around the Hochkeil which, after a few ups and downs, soon descend to Bischofshofen at a moderate gradient. Until soon the asphalted goods roads lead further into the centre of the town - past the start of the ski jump hill, which has no tower here but is built into the slope. But it is certainly a little quieter than on 6 January every year, when many thousands of fans celebrate the final of the Four Hills Tournament. Bischofshofen is a bustling town with a lot of industry. But there is also this village centre and, not far away, idyllic spots on the banks of the Salzach along the Tauern cycle path. The rolling section has been reached. It is now around 25 kilometres to Flachau, initially on the main road, which carries comparatively little traffic as the nearby motorway handles the long-distance traffic.
The route climbs gently uphill and soon, after a stretch of gravel path along the Fritzbach, you have climbed the wide valley basin between Eben, Altenmarkt and Flachau. Here the Enns cycle path leads flat into Flachau. This is the most relaxed section of the day. Rolling along on sunny cycle paths, simply to enjoy. Loosen up your muscles and off you go: Just over 400 metres in altitude are still on the agenda as the gravel path winds its way up to the Sattelbauer. The ancient mountain farm is enthroned on the saddle between Flachau and Altenmarkt, the forest opens up to a few lush green alpine meadows. And especially for the view of the Dachstein with its crown of rocky peaks up to 3000 metres high. On the border between Salzburger Land, Styria and Upper Austria, this mountain dominates the scenery here. And from few places is the view as beguiling as from here. The fact that the Sattelbauer naturally has a restaurant with a terrace makes a break at one of Flachau's popular excursion spots a must. The stage is done, at least for the legs. The head still needs to stay awake for the short descent on the road and Fortsweg down to the centre of Flachau.
Stage 5: Flachau - St. Michael im Lungau
A wild mix. The Obertauern Pass is sometimes impassable. You just have to get over it. But in between, there are so many great spots to simply savour.
Stage 5 is the longest and perhaps therefore the most varied. This applies both to the impressions you can soak up on the right and left of the route. But it also applies to the paths, because there is everything from smoothly ironed roads to rough sections. The latter, however, tend to be in homeopathic doses: "... sometimes rough" is mentioned in the introduction, but don't worry, these sections are really very short. At Johannesfall, the bike has to be carried up a steep 150 metre stretch. Shortly afterwards, there is a rough section with stones and roots to overcome. Climb up and down! Close your eyes and go! Length: around 400 metres. That's it, the rest is fine cycling terrain, such as the first mountain of the day via Altenmarkt and Radstadt: small roads and forest tracks of the best quality await here. And one last view over to the majestic crown of the Dachstein massif.
Only then do you have to conquer the Obertauern Pass. And then the racing cyclist's heart can beat faster when a few kilometres have to - or may - be cycled on the road. However, a few of the finest gravel tracks of the whole week ensure that it doesn't get boring. The Taurach Cycle Path lolls along the banks of the river from Radstadt to Untertauern and is a romantic idyll. The flat path from the Vordere to the Hintere Gnadenalm and on to the Johannesfall takes you through an almost kitschy postcard cliché of an Alpine landscape. Enchanting!
After the descent from the Obertauern Pass, the valley trail from Tweng to Mauterndorf competes for the gravel crown: initially slightly sloping, great for cruising, later a little hilly: a sensation! It leads directly into Mauterndorf, whose historic town centre promises a cultural wow experience. Beautifully restored, kept in top condition, rated as valuable. And a short detour to the castle just a stone's throw from the centre is also worthwhile. Then it's time to roll out. Mostly on the cycle path, there are still a few kilometres to St. Michael down in the Mur valley. But even that doesn't get boring. You can familiarise yourself with the Lungau, the region of the last stage. Gentle hills, wide valleys ... but more on that in stage 6.
Stage 6: St. Michael im Lungau - St. Michael im Lungau (58.7 km / 1580 m elevation gain)
All the beauty of the Lungau in one day: endless forest paths to sunny vantage points and enchanting meadow paths in wide, bright valleys.
Salzburger Lungau is surrounded by high mountains, all of which easily surpass the 2000 metre mark. In the west, in the Hohe Tauern, the Hohe Sonnblick even clears the 3000 metre mark. Only in the centre has the master builder geology piled up a little less high. Between St. Michael in the wide, sunny Mur Valley and the equally bright and friendly Taurach Valley near Tamsweg and Mariapfarr, the elongated ridge of the Mitterberg rises to an altitude of around 1500 metres - in other words, around 400 to 500 metres above these valleys. This is a small piece of low mountain range in the centre of a high alpine backdrop and therefore a very special mix that proves to be ideal for varied tours on a gravel bike.
The panoramic spots on the hills are soon reached here. You can't get close to the rocky outcrops and year-round snow remains. For that you would have to crank far into the mountain valleys. Here in the centre, which the Mitterberg also defines with its name, the vastness dominates. The mountain scenery is less inviting to take a photo on your mobile phone in portrait format; here you hold it horizontally and try to get as many peaks as possible on it. There are three hills to climb on the last stage, twice up to the Mitterberg. The second ascent is a little steeper and more challenging.
At the end, the Hollerberg, St. Michael's local mountain, awaits, which is climbed from behind, from Begöriach. After a short pushing section, the summit is reached and with the sublime view over the Mur Valley and St. Michael, the route soon descends quickly to the finish of stage 6. The icing on the cake on this final stage, however, are a few magical trails in the Taurach Valley from Tamsweg to Mauterndorf. Cruising through sun-drenched meadows with a view of the mountains, it could hardly be more beautiful. Rating: marvellous!
Jan Timmermann
Editor
