Best mountain bike trails in Germany

Mountain biking is all about the feeling of freedom – to load your bike on your car, escape your everyday routine and feel the adrenaline rush through your body! It doesn’t matter if you are an extreme mountain biker or at the beginning of your journey, mountain biking is a lifestyle that you share with others.

In Germany, mountain biking is one of the most popular activities to explore the country. And let’s face it, we’re mainly in it for the speed or to disconnect from the world. But if you still want to discover the country’s distinct landscape, don’t you worry, this article is also for you!

We talked to Andi Wittmann, one of the world’s best MTB athletes, and asked him to give us his favorite mountain bike trails in Germany.

Head to one of his top locations to enjoy mountain biking at its best.

About the trail:
“For me Bikepark Geisskopf is an absolute classic. I’ve been here since my early days of mountain biking and I keep coming back. It offers trails for every kind of mountain biking, from beginners to experts and exactly that is what makes it so special.”

For who:
Beginners to experts

How to get there?
The bike park is a 2 hours’ drive northeast of Munich. It is also possible to take a train from Regen, Tiefenriede or Deggendorf to the bike park’s local town of Bischofsmais. Otherwise, buses also go from Regen and Deggendorf to Bischofsmais.

Are lessons available?
Geisskopf bike park has lessons for a variety of different skill levels, including courses on the basics, jump & drop techniques and enduro.

Getting up to the top:
The easiest way to avoid lugging your bike up the mountain is to use the various gondola lifts and cable cars located around the park.

Options for families?
Yes! The park offers diverse trails for all skill levels and one trail even for kids from the age of five. The bike school also offers lessons for kids of different ages and families, as well.

Safety considerations:
It is important for parents to remember that even though a trail is recommended for kids of a certain age, experience is also an important consideration. If your child does not have the adequate skills yet, make sure to practice first on some easier trails. Geisskopf recommends that parents walk alongside their kids to make sure that they can handle all the obstacles that come their way.

About the trail:
“My home spot more or less. It’s a super familiar beautiful spot in south Bavaria where you can take a little chairlift to the top or ride up by yourself – depending on what you prefer! It’s great for day riding but also a perfect spot for some after work riding in the evening.”

For who:
Intermediates to experts

How to get there?
The park is about an hour’s drive southeast of Munich. If you are opting for public transport, the Samerberger Wanderbus shuttle goes between the local town of Rosenheim and Samerberg bike park. The bus lets you transport your bicycles, too.

Are lessons available?
Training is available with the help of the park’s experienced guides. They also offer the "Gravity Generation" course for those who are fans of enduro and freeriding.

Getting up to the top:
At Samerberg, bikers can get to the top of the mountain with the lift or shuttle that requires a separate ticket. If you are feeling especially ambitious, there is also the option to skip the lift and brave the mountain yourself!

Options for families?
This park offers a range of trails with different difficulty levels. The main route is easy and suitable for kids. The Maloja Bike Playground is also a space where children or beginners can test out their skills on the balance beams, seesaws and suspension bridges.

Safety considerations:
Make sure you practice before trying out an especially difficult trail. Don’t stray away from the marked path and always wear the proper protective gear!

About the trail:
“A nice spot in the Bavarian Alps, near Garmisch Partenkirchen. The Kolbensesselbahn [a type of chairlift] brings you up on a nice platform where you will find a Almhütte [a local lodge], that offers amazing “Kaiserschmarren” [a fluffy, shredded pancake dish]. The cool thing is that they are keeping it as natural as possible. The trails are integrated in the nature and offers a really nice and flowy experience.”

For who:
Intermediates to experts

How to get there?
To get to the bike park it’s about an hour’s drive southwest of Munich. If you’d prefer to travel by train, take a train from Munich Central Station to Murnau and transfer from there to Oberammergau. This should take about 2 hours.

Are lessons available?
Yes! The bike park offers two-hour long courses for beginners with little experience. There is also the option for private lessons where you tell the coach what specific skills you want to improve.

Getting up to the top:
Visitors buy an extra ticket for the lift that takes them up to the top of the bike trails.

Options for families?
The bike park offers family tickets that are transferable between partners, which means that one parent can watch the kids practice their skills while the other can speed off to try a challenging trail. The park also offers Family Days where bike instructors teach the kids how to freeride while the parents go off to test their own skills.

Safety considerations:
Helmets and other protective gear is a must. It is also important to stay on the marked route, since in certain parts of the mountain are allocated for toboggans riders. The park recommends that you bring with a cellphone just in case of an emergency.