A 3-day bike adventure in Arberland

1,300 kilometers (800 miles) of bike trails and 18 thousand-meter (3,250-feet high) peaks. Welcome to Aberland, a place where mountain and bike go perfectly together—the ideal destination for adventurous riders everywhere. To help you make the most of this area, we have compiled three challenging but beautiful rides through this pearl in the Bavarian Forest National Park, which you can perfectly combine to form a three-day bikepacking adventure to conquer over a long weekend.

This region in the southeast of Germany, directly on the border to the Czech Republic, is considered one of Germany's biking hotspots. Here, dreamlike forests, pure nature, challenging trails, extensive elevation and quality infrastructure complement each other to form a demanding mtb paradise.

The idea
Take three days and squeeze out as much bike enjoyment as you can, something the Arberland is perfect for. Each of our rides starts and ends in towns abound in accommodation options, so it doesn't matter where you decide to start. This means that if three days prove too much for you, you can always cut your ride short earlier and spend the rest of the trip in the bike parks that we've planned into rides themselves. Basically, you have the choice—we've just provided the basic framework so you can take over or use our plans as the basis for your personal, perfect bike adventure.

The route
On the ride, you'll drive straight through the Bavarian forest, often on officially marked bike routes. In Aberland, there is a huge network of official cycle paths and bikeways, taking you up to 1,455 meters (4,500 feet), before bringing you back down again through the low mountain range. For that reason, you should arrive in fairly good shape and be ready for some challenging stages. If you want to add in a few more runs, you can head to the bike parks at Bischofsmais and at Špičák, where you can take lifts up to various trailheads and enjoy the exciting ride back down.

Bikes
Whether you ride a cross-country bike or a full-on enduro—the route is suitable for all types of bikes. All that matters is that you ride a machine you feel comfortable on, although we recommend taking an enduro bike if you intend on tackling some downhill runs. The better your suspension, the more fun you'll have, so consider this before heading to Aberland.

Getting there
All stages are easily accessible by car. Špičák can be reached by train via Bayerisch Eisenstein. Bischofsmais is not connected to the rail network, but you can take the train to Regen, which is about ten kilometers (6 miles) away.

Accommodation
In Arberland, there are numerous accommodation options proudly displaying the German ADFC seal of approval, the 'Bett+Bike'. These places are well suited for bikers, guaranteeing ample safe space to lock your bike, places to dry clothes and repair equipment, and awesome, energy-powered breakfasts to ready you for a day on the trails. Information about accommodation options can be found at mountainbiken.arberland-bayerischer-wald.de/unsere-fahrradfreundlichen-gastgeber/150/773/21389