From a babbling brook to a mighty river - the Inn Cycle Path
Bike Touring Collection by Innradweg
14
Tours
50:26 h
453 mi
13,750 ft
High up in the mountains of Eastern Switzerland, springs the Inn River. The bubbling mountain stream soon becomes several lakes before flowing wildly into the Engadine. Once it reaches Austria, the Inn meanders through its wide valley, traversing Tyrol from east to west, before becoming a stately river in Bavaria. In Passau, the Inn finally flows into the Danube, together with the Ilz. On the Inn Cycle Path, you get to be part of the water’s exciting journey through the Alps to the river’s mouth.
In this Collection, you accompany the Inn for more than 550 kilometres (340 miles) from Maloja to Passau, passing through three countries and discovering unique natural landscapes, historic and lively cities, and marvellous views of high mountains and idyllic rivers. We have divided the Inn Cycle Path into 11 stages. You can choose whether you ride the last three stages on the left or right side of the river (we’ve marked them as ‘East Variant’ and ‘West Variant’).
The Inn Cycle Path is mostly signposted, although not everywhere and sometimes not consistently. You start in the Upper Engadine in Maloja which is easy to reach with public transport. From here, you cycle along the Upper Engadine lakes to Scuol in the Lower Engadine. Here, the saying goes "there are eight months of snow and four months are cold". So when you’re preparing for your trip, bear in mind that you start at an altitude of over 1,800 metres (5,900 feet) and that it can snow even in August. Although you always follow the River Inn, the stages are not always flat. The Inn has carved deep through the mountains and the cycle path sometimes runs high above the river. This means that you are treated to breathtaking views though!
After crossing the Engadine, you will cycle through Tyrol. Innsbruck, the capital of Tyrol, is the largest city on the Inn. At Kufstein, you reach Germany for the first time. Here, the Inn Valley narrows again and the cycle path becomes more hilly. Between Simbach and Passau, the Inn forms the border between Germany and Austria and has become a stately river surrounded by peaceful alluvial. After a good 550 kilometres (340 miles), you finally reach the three-river town of Passau. The Inn Cycle Path ends in this baroque pearl and you can then either return by train or start your next adventure on the Danube Cycle Path.
On The Map
Do it yourself
Ready to get going? Create and customize your own version of this adventure using the full Tour below as a template.
Last updated: November 23, 2021
Tours & Highlights
- Intermediate04:3135.5 mi7.9 mph1,325 ft2,425 ftIntermediate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
Your exciting journey along the Inn starts in the pretty Engadine town of Maloja. The best thing to do is to travel to St. Moritz with the Rhaetian Railway and take the bus from there, which also takes bicycles. From Maloja you can see the rugged mountains in which the Inn rises beyond the 2,500 meters…
by Innradweg
- Expert04:2832.7 mi7.3 mph2,950 ft4,400 ftExpert bike ride. Very good fitness required. Some portions of the Tour may require you to push your bike.
Ahead of you lies a crisp, but varied and promising stage. At the beginning the Inn valley is so narrow that there is no space for a bike path along the river. That's why you drive on beautiful, small roads through idyllic villages above the Inn.
From Zernez you drive via Susch to Lavin. After you have…
by Innradweg
Sign Up To Discover Places Like This
Get recommendations on the best single tracks, peaks, & plenty of other exciting outdoor places.
- Intermediate02:5027.8 mi9.8 mph1,175 ft1,950 ftIntermediate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
Martina is the last place in the Engadine before you go to Tyrol. Here the Inn valley is so narrow that there is only space for the country road on which you complete the first kilometers. Shortly after the junction in Vinadi - wine was actually grown here in the past, today a small road leads up from…
by Innradweg
- Intermediate03:0132.1 mi10.6 mph800 ft1,350 ftIntermediate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
In Landeck the Inn makes a bend and merges with the Sanna. From here you follow the Inn valley eastwards through Tyrol. Today's stage is much flatter than the last two. It is mostly flat with a few smaller counter climbs.
A wonderful route through the forest begins after Imst. The path leads a little…
by Innradweg
- Easy01:4018.2 mi11.0 mph75 ft250 ftEasy bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
Today you have a flat stage of just 30 kilometers in front of you as a breather. Then you still have plenty of time to explore the lively student city of Innsbruck. You start the stage in Telfs and follow the course of the Inn.
In Zirl you drive past a huge, gray mountain. The striking Hechenberg slopes…
by Innradweg
- Intermediate02:3127.1 mi10.7 mph200 ft375 ftIntermediate bike ride. Good fitness required. Some portions of the Tour may be unpaved and difficult to ride.
You leave the capital of Tyrol and follow the Inn. You drive through the Olympic Village, where the athletes lived during the Winter Olympics. After around ten kilometers you will reach the next gem on the Inn: Hall in Tirol. The many cafés in the narrow streets of the pretty old town are ideal for a…
by Innradweg
- Intermediate03:1434.2 mi10.6 mph375 ft500 ftIntermediate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
Shortly after your start you will reach a very special city: Rattenberg. The smallest municipality in terms of area and the smallest town in Austria in terms of population is a beautiful medieval town. About an hour later you drive through the former climatic health resort of Wörgl.
The next highlight…
by Innradweg
- Intermediate03:5433.6 mi8.6 mph800 ft925 ftIntermediate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
After you have left Erl, the Inn no longer forms the border river between Germany and Austria for the next two stages. The Inn valley is now very wide, the Inn has grown into a stately river and there are beautiful bathing lakes to the left and right, such as the Neubeurer See or the Hochstrasser See…
by Innradweg
- Expert03:2231.2 mi9.3 mph1,575 ft1,750 ftExpert bike ride. Very good fitness required. Some portions of the Tour may be unpaved and difficult to ride.
A demanding stage awaits you today: 50 kilometers and 500 meters in altitude are to be completed today. But by now you're well trained and beautiful views make up for any effort. Right at the beginning it goes up to the Innleiten and you can enjoy a great view of Wasserburg.
The Inn meanders through the…
by Innradweg
- Intermediate03:1929.9 mi9.0 mph1,325 ft1,500 ftIntermediate bike ride. Good fitness required. Some portions of the Tour may be unpaved and difficult to ride.
Right at the beginning it goes uphill on the Innleiten and you can enjoy a beautiful view of Wasserburg. The first 15 kilometers of the stage usually do not lead directly along the Inn, as the Inn valley is very narrow here and the river meanders through the hills. It also goes up and down a lot, but…
by Innradweg
- Intermediate03:5435.8 mi9.2 mph1,200 ft1,325 ftIntermediate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
The east variant of the tenth stage is a bit hilly and, for a change, hardly leads along the Inn. For this you make a detour to Burghausen with the longest castle complex in the world. From Mühldorf you cycle comfortably through small villages to Altötting. The town center with a rich ensemble of different…
by Innradweg
- Expert03:5532.6 mi8.3 mph400 ft575 ftExpert bike ride. Good fitness required. Some portions of the Tour may require you to push your bike.
On this stage, the focus is on wonderful bike paths through the beautiful nature. From Mühldorf you drive a little further between the Inn and the Inn Canal in the direction of Neuötting. A trip over the bridge into the town center is always worthwhile, because there you will find many beautiful, historic…
by Innradweg
- Intermediate04:2841.2 mi9.2 mph975 ft1,150 ftIntermediate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
The Inn Cycle Path will also come to an end at some point. Therefore, enjoy the last, varied stage especially. This variant takes you on the Austrian side along the Inn through idyllic floodplain landscapes to Obernberg with its colorful houses on the market square.
There are quite a few rows of houses…
by Innradweg
- Expert05:1841.1 mi7.7 mph600 ft750 ftExpert bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
The Inn Cycle Path is slowly coming to an end. So enjoy the last stage especially. This variant takes you on the German side along the Inn through extensive floodplain landscapes. After almost 30 kilometers you can make a detour to the spa town of Bad Füssing and pay a visit to the thermal baths there…
by Innradweg
Like this Collection?
Collection Stats
- Tours14
- Distance453 mi
- Duration50:26 h
- Elevation13,750 ft
You Might Also Like
Bike Touring Collection by NORTH STAR PEDALING
Bike Touring Collection by SalzburgerLand Tourismus
Bike Touring Collection by sunnosun
Hiking Collection by Taunus