Into the Kloo-Ascher Valley, where it truly goes quiet
The Kloo-Ascher Valley south of Bayrischzell is one of those places that makes you feel like you've left Bavaria behind and landed somewhere in Montana. The deeper you ride into the valley, the quieter it gets. No cell signal, no messages, no distractions. Just forest, creek, and mountains.
I ride out to the Grundalm regularly. If you're after a calm valley where surprisingly little is going on, this is your spot, because most cyclists turn off earlier toward the Elendgraben and the Elendsattel and leave the back of the valley behind.
Beim Laden der Karte werden Daten an OpenStreetMap übertragen.
From Bayrischzell into the valley
The starting point is the hikers' parking lot at the Seeberg in Bayrischzell. From there you follow the bike path toward Austria, running along the foot of the Seeberg until you reach the Zipflwirt. There you turn right into the Kloo-Ascher Valley.
The first kilometer takes you through forest, then the valley opens up, and stays open. The forest road runs dead straight through the broad, flat valley. Alpine meadows on either side, forest behind them, mountains above. Toward the back of the valley you hit a fork: to the right, the trail heads into the Elendgraben toward the Elendsattel, and that's where most people peel off. Straight ahead takes you on to the Grundalm. And this is exactly where it goes quiet.
The final stretch to the Grundalm is the highlight. The landscape shifts, turns wilder and more untouched. There are spots along the way that look like they were lifted straight out of a movie set in Canada. Maybe that's why some of the "Woodwalkers" films were shot around here. The Grundalm itself is an unstaffed alpine hut that occasionally serves as a filming location for the TV series "Frühling," and it marks your turnaround point.
Parking, getting there, alternatives
By bike from Bayrischzell: the hikers' parking lot at the Seeberg, from there about 10 km (6 mi) to the Grundalm. Flat to gently uphill, easily doable on an e-bike or a regular touring bike.
On foot: possible, but long, plan on roughly 4 hours round trip from Bayrischzell. If you want to walk it, your best bet is to park right at the Zipflwirt in the back of the valley. That saves you the stretch on foot from Bayrischzell to the Zipflwirt. Heads up: the lot at the Zipflwirt is private and there's a fee.
Strollers: yes, generally fine, wide gravel road, no steps or narrow squeezes. Best suited for all-terrain strollers.
No cell signal: right now there's no mobile coverage in the back of the valley. A cell tower is already in place, but it isn't set to go live until summer 2026. Until then, bring an offline map and enjoy the real quiet.
Food and drink: the Grundalm is not staffed. Pack your own drinks and snacks. And you can NOT stop in at the Zipflwirt on the way back. The Zipflwirt is currently only available to private parties with a prior reservation.
Closures and nature protection
Winter: cross-country ski trails are groomed in the Kloo-Ascher Valley, so biking isn't possible then.
Capercaillie mating season: the turnoff toward the Elendgraben/Elendsattel is closed for a few weeks during the mating season. The closure is signposted on site. The route to the Grundalm itself is usually not affected, but please pay attention to the current notices posted locally.
Ride this tour in late summer or early fall. When the first leaves start to turn and the light softens, the Kloo-Ascher Valley is at its most beautiful. And take your time, if you rush through here, you'll miss the whole point.
Mehr Eindrücke aus Bayrischzell gibt es auf meinem Instagram-Kanal.
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