{"id":26346,"date":"2026-03-02T12:59:36","date_gmt":"2026-03-02T11:59:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cyclingdestination.cc\/?p=26346"},"modified":"2026-10-05T14:27:41","modified_gmt":"2026-10-05T14:27:41","slug":"fichtelgebirge-mountainbike-trail-horseshoetrail-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cyclingdestination.cc\/en\/verhalen\/fichtelgebirge-mountainbike-trail-horseshoetrail-2026","title":{"rendered":"MTB in Bavaria: 450km of new MTB trails in the Fichtelgebirge"},"content":{"rendered":"

It Fichtelgebirge<\/strong> in North Bavaria, a complete network of mountain bike trails is being rolled out 450 kilometers<\/strong>. The routes are already available digitally; signage will be installed before spring 2026. The basic concept is as follows: Horseshoe trail<\/strong>, a 170-kilometer round that connects the entire region. Ten circuits of 15 to 50 kilometers are located around it, for both beginners and experienced riders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Horseshoes trail \u2013 170km<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It Fichtelgebirge<\/strong> It forms naturally in the shape of a horseshoe, with peaks above 1,000 meters. That is where the main route gets its name from. The Horseshoe trail<\/strong> takes you on a grand tour through the most beautiful parts of the region, from the Felsenlabyrinth Luisenburg<\/strong> Until it Erika-Fuchs House<\/strong> (a strip museum, yes really). The trail is very demanding: narrow paths, technical sections, forest and rocks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition, there are ten shorter circuits, digitally planned, each with its own character. An example: the Schneeberg Tour<\/strong> (73.9km, 1,931 meters of elevation gain) includes the highest peaks, the Ochsenkopf<\/strong> and Schneeberg<\/strong>. There are also 15km rounds for those who want to take it easy or travel at a mixed level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"(c)<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Digital first<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you are looking for route boards, they are not yet available. They will be installed before the spring of 2026. Until then, you will have to rely on digital navigation, which we actually do as standard. All routes have already been integrated into the planning platforms and linked to public transport. Bus line 369 has bike carriers on board from May to October. Handy for point-to-point trips, or if you are having so many breakdowns that you can\u2019t reach anywhere else.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For the cyclists, there is also something extra: thanks to the digital first approach, there is a monitoring system that registers the usage per route: how busy, which direction, what type of user. That information is shared with visitors. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Specifically: before your ride, you can check if a route is full of other route users (such as hikers and cyclists), and choose an alternative route.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trail patter and reporting point \u2013 maintenance without hassle<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

For maintenance purposes, the region uses so-called Trail Patrons<\/strong>Experienced mountain bikers who monitor fixed sections of trail and report damage or obstacles via a digital reporting point, the Complaining about defects<\/strong>. Say: an app that prevents a swaying tree from staying on your line for weeks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The entire network has been developed in collaboration with landowners, nature conservation organizations, hiking associations and municipalities. Funded through the Bavarian program Heimat.digital.regional<\/em>, With a subsidy of \u20ac270,000, which covers 90% of the three-year project costs. Ferdinand Reb, director of the Tourismuszentrale Fichtelgebirge, said about this: \u201cIf the resident feels comfortable here, the guest will also feel welcome.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And gravel then?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

To be honest: the 450km network is a single track. It\u2019s narrow, technical, mountain bike terrain. With a gravel bike you\u2019re not at your best on most of the sections there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But it Fichtelgebirge<\/strong> Furthermore, it has an extensive network of broader forest paths and river valley routes that are perfectly suitable for driving on gravel. Main-Saale cycling path<\/strong> (24.3km) runs over fine gravel with low slopes. The Wallenstein-Radwanderweg<\/strong> The valley of the rivers K\u00f6sseine, R\u00f6slau and Eger follows, ideal for longer gravel rides without technical difficulties. During the regional Bike Future Workshop<\/em> (a kind of future workshop for cycling) gravel was explicitly on the agenda, including sessions on quality requirements for bike accommodations. The region is therefore deliberately considering this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The region was previously known mainly as a hiking destination. Previously we had already written articles about the beautiful Bavaria region. Check them out below or look at our Biking in Bavaria<\/a> page. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Tips for cycling in Bavaria \u2013 Germany<\/a><\/blockquote>