From Elmau to the Mountains: 3 Beautiful Mountain-Bike Tours
When you set out on a mountain bike from Schloss Elmau, the mountains begin right outside the door.
Forest roads lead into quiet valleys, past crystal-clear lakes, alpine meadows, mountain huts, and viewpoints that make it easy to see why the region between the Wetterstein and Karwendel ranges is considered one of the Alps’ great biking destinations.
These three tours showcase the region from three very different perspectives: high into the Wetterstein Mountains, deep into the heart of the Karwendel Range, and to the very source of the Isar River. Each begins directly at Schloss Elmau and leads into some of the most spectacular scenery in the Bavarian Alps.
Source: Kriner/Weiermann
Ludwig II’s Kingshouse on Schachen
Schachen: Up to the King’s House
The ride to the Schachenhaus, King Ludwig II’s famous King’s House on Schachen, begins in the Elmau Valley, following a broad forest road through the woods alongside the Kaltenbach stream toward the Wettersteinalm.
The climb builds gradually. The surface becomes rougher, the turns tighter, and before long the dramatic rock faces of the Wetterstein Mountains come into view. Beyond the Wettersteinalm, the route becomes more demanding, with steeper ramps, loose gravel, and short sections that require a real effort on the pedals.
At the summit stands King Ludwig II’s King’s House on Schachen, recently designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It feels less like a museum and more like an unlikely vision in the alpine landscape. The views are extraordinary, stretching across the Reintal Valley toward the Zugspitze and Alpspitze. The small pavilion nearby is the perfect place to enjoy a picnic while taking in one of the most beautiful panoramas in the Bavarian Alps.
Short enough for a half-day excursion yet demanding enough to feel like a true mountain-bike challenge, this tour offers one of the most rewarding climbs directly accessible from Schloss Elmau.
Difficulty: Challenging
Elevation gain: approx. 1,047 m (3,435 ft)
Riding time: approx. 2 hours
Karwendelhaus: Deep into the Karwendel
This is the classic “big day out” in the Karwendel Mountains. The route leads from Schloss Elmau via Mittenwald to Scharnitz and from there deep into the Karwendel Valley. For much of the journey, the trail follows wide gravel roads with only gentle gradients. Vast scree fields, riverbeds, forests, and towering gray rock faces create a landscape that feels increasingly remote.
This sense of space is precisely what makes the ride so special. The valley grows quieter, the sounds fewer, and at some point you realize just how far into the mountains you have come.
The final kilometers to the Karwendelhaus change the character of the day. The climb becomes noticeably steeper and the mountain hut seems to draw closer only very slowly. Perched at 1,765 m (5,791 ft) beneath the imposing peaks of the Karwendel Range, the historic mountain lodge has welcomed hikers and cyclists for generations.
Arriving here feels like stepping away from everyday life for a few magical hours. The sweeping views across the Karwendel Mountains are well worth the effort of the long ascent.
Difficulty: Challenging
Elevation gain: approx. 1,166 m (3,825 ft)
Riding time: approx. 4.5 hours
To the Isar’s Source: Following the River Upstream
The ride to the source of the Isar is the gentler Karwendel option.
Like the Karwendelhaus tour, it begins via Mittenwald and Scharnitz before continuing into the Hinterautal Valley. Broad forest roads and few technical challenges make this an accessible ride, while the Isar accompanies you for much of the journey.
The river is still young here: crystal clear, ice cold, flowing across gravel banks, disappearing beneath rocks, and re-emerging moments later. The dramatic peaks of the Karwendel Mountains rise on either side of the valley, creating one of the region’s most spectacular landscapes.
This is an ideal ride for anyone seeking a spectacular day in the mountains without spending hours at maximum effort. At the source of the Isar, it is worth stepping away from the bike for a while: walk to the springs, refill your water bottle, and cool your feet in the river.
If you’d like to go farther, continue on to the Kastenalm. Or turn around here and simply enjoy the same magnificent scenery all over again on the return journey.
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation gain: approx. 600 m (1,970 ft)
Riding time: approx. 3.5 hours
