We have already written about the gravel possibilities in Saalbach-Hinterglemm. Soon we got in touch with Maaike from Sportchalet Viehhofen in Salzburgerland. She moved with her family to this neighboring village of the ‘Skicircus Saalbach-Hinterglemm-Leogang-Fieberbrunn’ in 2018. In a few years, that name probably won’t fit on a single line anymore, but that aside. Maaike wrote to us: If we wrote about Saalbach, Viehhofen couldn’t be missing as a cycling destination. Maaike sent us a whole series of cool ideas with great photos; we would have been delighted if we had had that. To be honest, we would have passed by Viehhofen without even knowing it, and without any prior knowledge a cycling holiday would probably have been planned in Zell am See or Saalbach. But Viehhofen certainly deserves a mention. Would you read along?
Basecamp Viehhofen
The hamlet of Viehhofen is geographically located between Zell am See and Saalbach. The Glemmerstrasse runs from Zell Am See through the village towards the end of this valley, in Lengau. From here, you are only 5.5 kilometers to the T-junction at Maishofen, which doubles the number of options by 10. That’s nice. Further in Saalbach and especially in Hinterglemm you have to work a little harder to get out of the valley. From the hotel, it’s easy to spend several days having fun without having to drive the same routes every time. Maaike gave us some brilliant examples!
Großglockner High Alpine Road
What many people forget is that the mighty Großglockner Hochalpenstraße is easily accessible from the valley of Viehhofen. We do not recommend this queen track on the first day, because you will have to choose it very carefully. This mountain is a kind of bucket list item. From Viehhofen, you reach the foot of the 33-kilometer climb after 45 minutes. The ascent is still very leisurely, and you really need to keep your spirits up. Further on, the percentages rise to over 10%. From FuscherTörl, the steep stretches are behind you; only then does it become clear that 8% of the ascent on a height of 2400 meters is actually just as strenuous. The highest point at 2504 meters is reached at Hochtor; after taking a photo and enjoying the achievement for a while, you then drive back a short distance to enjoy a fantastic view from lunch.
You can find an example of that route at the bottom of this article or on our website. komoot page
Even income
To get into the right mood as a guest in Viehhofen, there is a lighter alternative: the Pillerseerunde. This 100-kilometer-long ride is never really tough; there is plenty to see and you get to experience some beautiful mountain scenery. So it’s a good way to start your trip! First you drive out of the valley and then make a nice loop. You may be familiar with this part of the route from our route from the village Kufstein.
Hochkönig Round
The Hochkönig Round is an example of a ride that has it all. A steep climb to 1500 meters with stunning views of the Mandlwände of the Hochkönig massif, but also a kilometer-long descent through the mountain walls where cycling comes naturally and everyone feels like a pro for a moment.
From the Viehhofen campsite, all wind directions are explored. Each direction has its own characteristics. The south-west route winds mostly through the valley; the speed comes almost automatically here. To reach the lunch spot by the idyllic Hintersee pond, we still have to climb a bit hard, but the sweat drops are well worth it!
Climber goats
For the hill goat riders, Maaike and Joost are organizing a real hill time trial over 3.5 kilometers. The fastest riders reach the Hecherhütte, which is almost 400 meters higher, in a quarter of an hour. If you complete this route in 20-25 minutes, you also deserve a round of applause, because this route has an average elevation gain of 11%(!). There is also an ‘all-time ranking’, and there are some well-known names from the marathon skiing and short track sports who also fought for the ‘Hecherberg König(in)’ title.
Everything is present
In the Sports Chalet Everything is present that makes this a cyclingdestination.cc/ Approved Location:
- You can wash and repair your bike
- There is a safe place to store your bike
- There are routes and a guide available who will also accompany groups on the rides.
- Good facilities for food and drink in the hotel
- Tips and tricks for stops and food along the way
- An extra bonus is the Dutch owner
It’s called a sports chalet for a reason, so everything revolves around cycling. That’s a nice thing to have. It’s big enough to avoid running into the same groups of people every time, but with 12 apartments it’s small enough not to get lumped in with the crowd. If you want to know more about a stay in Viehhofen, check out the website of the local Tourismusverband, or ask Maaike and Joost for more inside info. That’s what you do here.
Questions & tips
Do you have any questions about this route, or have you been there yourself? Share them here. We read everything and usually respond within a few days.