MTB: Exploring the Dolomites by bike
Mountain biking in the Dolomites is about testing your limits and surpassing them, about aiming high and about spectacular views. If you wish to take a guided bike tour, we recommend you the bike guides from the Bike Academy Sesto Dolomites. These local guides know the Sesto Dolomites inside and out and can show you many highlights during your bike tours in the Dolomites. What’s more, you can store your bike and gear safely in our lockable and alarm-activated bike room.
MTB highlight in the Dolomites – The Stoneman Trail
The Stoneman Trail is an extraordinary MTB experience in the Dolomites; it starts as a dream and ends with a great memory. The Stoneman was founded by MTB pro and Dolomite fan Roland Stauder. This legendary MTB trail in the Dolomites extends over a length of 115 perfectly marked kilometres with 4,000 m of altitude difference. You need to reach five checkpoints (at each checkpoint you get your bracelet stamped) and surpass a challenging uphill- and single trail as well as the so-called “humility passage” at 2,400 m. You can enter the Stoneman Trail in four different places, where you can also purchase the starting package including bracelet and map with altitude profile of the track. Those who master the challenge in one, two or three days are mentioned as Stoneman Finisher on the website of the Stoneman Trail and win the unique Stoneman Trophy, which was designed and handmade especially by Roland Stauder.
Our hotel in Sesto/Sexten is a partner of Stoneman, which means that you receive the Stoneman package for the reduced price. The package includes:
- Multifunctional scarf
- Bike tube
- Bracelet for stamps
- Map with altitude profile
- Keychain
- Finisher registration on the website
The trophy for the MTB Finisher in the Dolomites is available for 20.00 euro, the stone for the trophy for 10.00 euro. If you need more information about the Stoneman or about mountain biking in the Dolomites, we are here for you and happy to help.
MTB tour to Fiscalina/Fischleintal valley
Duration: 2.5 hours
Altitude difference: 165 m
Length: 8 km
Start: Valley station of Croda Rossa-Moso/Rotwand-Moos
There are not many valleys in South Tyrol, which have so much to offer in terms of scenery and are at the same time so easy to explore by bike as the picturesque Fiscalina/Fischleintal valley in the Sesto Dolomites. Trail no. 102 ascends slightly, leading you across larch woods and past green meadows with old wooden shacks until you reach Rifugio Piano Fiscalina/Fischleinboden hut. At the parking area, the forest trail changes into a shimmering white gravel road flanked by mountain pines. This bike tour is easy to master and ends at the hut at 1,548 metres altitude, right at the end of the valley. Once you have reached the hut, we recommend you to take in the fantastic panorama with the legendary Dolomites with Sesto sundial, Undici/Elfer (Eleven), Dodici/Zwölfer (Twelve) and more.
Col Quaternà/Knieberg and Prati di Croda Rossa/Rotwandwiesen
Duration: 5 hours
Altitude difference: 1,700 m
Length: 35 km
Start: Sesto/Sexten
This bike tour in the Dolomites is a treat for ambitious bikers only and leads you over Col Quaternà/Knieberg to Prati di Croda Rossa/Rotwandwiesen. Spectacular highlight: The trail follows partly the Stoneman Trail, the legendary bike trail in the Dolomites created by Roland Stauder. The trail leads from Sesto/Sexten in Alta Val Pusteria to the Nemes hut without major altitude differences. Once you have passed the hut, the trail becomes steep. When you reach the mountain saddle of Col Quaternà/Knieberg at 2,300 metres, you need to pedal hard, because singular passages on this generally moderate trail can be quite a challenge. The last part of the trail takes you further uphill on a single trail. From Prati di Croda Rossa/Rotwandwiesen at over 1,920 metres altitude, we bike downhill on the curvy trail no. 153 until we reach Rifugio Piano Fiscalina/Fischleinboden hut. The last metres of this adventurous bike tour take you over the Dolomiti high trail no. 1.
From San Candido/Innichen to Lienz: a nature experience by bike
The most popular cycle path in South Tyrol, the cross-border Drau cycle path from San Candido/Innichen to Lienz, runs along a well-marked cycle path and is suitable for all types of bicycles. With a length of 44 km and a difference in altitude of 500 m downhill, the route is easy for all nature lovers. When you reach your destination of the East Tyrolean capital Lienz, go for a stroll – it’s the perfect place to do so. The return journey takes place comfortably in the train!
Since it is easy to reach by train, it is recommended to start the tour in Versciaco/Vierschach. A large and free car park is also available here. The PUNKA service centre– a bike rental and shop with the latest bike models as well as a service area with bar – is located directly at the station and along the bike route.
Pusterbike Cycle Path
The entire Val Pusteria/Pustertal valley is covered with a clearly laid out network of bike paths that are relatively flat. The whole length from Rio di Pusteria/Mühlbach to Lienz in East Tyrol is 105 km can be mastered in several stages in a few days.
Spotlight challenge on mountain and enduro bikes
Mountain and enduro bikers will be more than pleased when they reach the Dolomite region of the Three Peaks Dolomites. With the new 3 Zinnen Mountain Card, unlimited bike transport with the lifts is free (excluding Mt. Baranci/Haunold). Five mountains can be explored by bike. In addition to the famous Stoneman Trail, the Giro Bike Tour, the Giro Enduro Single Trail Tour, and the Dolomiti Superbike route, a brand new single trail awaits passionate enduro bikers: the "Erla" at the Stiergarten.