The Inn is one of the longest rivers in the Alps. There is a lot to experience along its varied river valley. The best way to start the tour is in the Engadine at 1800 m, as the mouth of the Inn in Passau is 400 m above sea level.
Route profile
- Length: 517 km
- Signposting: - incomplete
Switzerland: regional route 65 Inn cycle path Maloja - Martina, partly also a national route 6 Graubünden route
Tyrol: Name: "Inntal-Radweg"
Between Kufstein and Wasserburg: State signpost with green figures on a white background
From the mouth of the Salzach: "Unterer Inn nature adventure trail". - Slopes: - in the Engadin sometimes considerably, in Austria and Bavaria almost always flat. Exception: at Imst, Griesstätt to Wasserburg and behind Wasserburg to Gars.
- Path condition: Gravel, asphalt
- Traffic load: - only a few parts are on roads, but in Tyrol on long stretches near the noisy autobahn.
- Suitable bike: Bike with gearshift and brake system suitable for mountain use, no racing bikes
- Family suitability: - suitable for children from 12 years
- Inline suitability: partially: suitable for inline skiers between the German border and Innsbruck. Some short pieces are gravelled.
background
The origin of the name is in the article Inn to find.
preparation
A tour on the Inn cycle path is not possible all year round. In winter, snow prevents you from driving over large parts of the trail. A tour should only be started in the spring after the snowmelt has ended, as during the snowmelt you can expect flooding of sections of the route close to the river and muddy conditions on the unpaved sections of the route. Such route conditions can, however, also be caused by heavy rain in the warm season. When taking a tour in autumn, it should be noted that winter in the Engadine can set in much earlier than in the lower elevations.
Since it can get very cold in the Upper Engadine even in midsummer, a set of warm cycling clothes should be taken with you on a tour on this part of the Inn cycle path.
In Tyrol, especially between Pfunds and Innsbruck, the blood-sucking ones are Brakes very numerous. A repellent should be used here.
getting there
Public transportation
You can take your bike with you from May to October. In Switzerland, the PostBus / train-bike day pass costs CHF 18.00; in Austria with regional trains 5, - € (only Tyrol 2.50 €), in Intercity 10, - €; in Germany 5, - €, in Intercity 9, - €; from Germany to other countries € 10, from Austria to other countries € 12.
- PostBus to: Maloja from St. Moritz (CH) - superfluous due to the flat route.
- PostBus to Silvaplana from Chur via Julierpass 2284 m (La Veduta) - 3 connections daily á 2 h 19 min., 33.00 CHF.
- Train: The bike path between St. Moritz and Scuol is accompanied by a train.
- St. Moritz - St. Moritz is also the end of two branches of the route Chur − Bernina Pass (2253 m - Lecco (Italy). The hourly RegioExpress from Chur takes exactly 2 hours.
- Scuol-Tarasp from Chur and St. Moritz - terminus.
- PostBus at Scuol-Tarasp and Martina (CH) from Nauders (A)
- Post bus runs between Nauders am Reschenpass, Pfunds and Landeck (A) - from Nauders you can cycle down to Martina.
- Train to: Landeck from Bregenz and Innsbruck
- There is almost always an accompanying train connection from Landeck to Passau.
By bicycle
- The Graubünden route 6 accompanies part of the route in the Engadine
- The Via Claudia Augusta accompanies the route between Martina (CH) over Landeck (A) to the branch after Imst.
Route description with sights
Upper Engadine
After arriving you should treat yourself to a few days in this beautiful area. You can easily get to St. Moritz by train from three directions. From there it is only 20 km to the Maloja Pass, which is just 40 m higher than the St. Moritz train station. In between there are several lakes in the high mountain landscape. Why not spend the night in the Bernina or Inntal valleys and take a “lake tour” with light luggage and a short mountain hike in between?
Maloja - St. Moritz - Zernez: 57 km
- 1 Maloja(Passo del Maloja) · Km: 0 - 1815 m - At the lake "Lej da Segl" (Silsersee) left along, flat route.
Busy main road Maloja - Sils. Rough or swampy paths are possible at higher altitudes. - Sils(Segl) · Km: 8 - 1799 m - through the village, then half left to the lake “Lej da Silvaplauna” on the right on gravel paths.
- Silvaplana(Silvaplauna) · Km: 13 - 1815 m - over the bridge, then on the left along the lakes “Lej suot dat Silvaplauna” and “Lej da Champfer” next to the road.
- → Champfer 1799 m - to the right of the Inn (En)
- St. Moritz-Bad · 1774/1769 m - on the left at "Lej da San Murezzan"
- St. Moritz in the Engadine(San Murezzan) · Km: 20 - 1770 m at the lake, 1822 m (city center) - over the Inn bridge to the small "Lej da Staz" (Stazersee) (1809 m) and on gravel paths through the forest to the Flax river
- → Celerina (Schlarigna) 1730 m
- → Pontresina 1805 m
Route through the city of Samaden (Samedan). You can also continue on gravel roads to the left of the Flax until you meet the Inn again.
- Samads(Samedan) 1706 m - right behind the train station, then next to the main road. Cross the road at the bend in the river.
- La Punt · Km: 35 - 1687 m - junction of the Graubünden route 6 to Chur - Signposting: Graubünden route 6 to Martina
- → Zuoz 1669 m, town center: 1716 m
- S-chanf Km 41 - 1667 m
- Zernez Km 57 - 1473 m
Lower Engadine
Zernez - Scuol - Martina - Pfunds: 65 km
- Zernez 1473 m
- Susch 1422 m
- Lavin 1412 m - there is a continuous uphill climb of 280 meters. Alternative: switch to the main road or to the right of the Ins on the dirt road to Giarsum to the train station
- Guarda 1654 m, highest point 1666 m
- Ardez · 1464 m ÷ a not quite so dramatic increase of 170 m. Alternative, road or train to Baraigla train station (1335 m)
- Ftan 1633 m
- Scuol(School) 1303 m (train station: 1286 m, city center: 1243 m)
- Pradella 1172 m
- Sur En 1125 m
- San Nicla · 1067 m - change over the Kajetansbrücke to the right side in the arch to the river.
- Strada 173 m
- Martina(Martinsbruck) (CH) 1035 m → Vinadi Weinhöhe pass (1086 m)
Until shortly before Pfunds the cycle path runs 10 km on the road. - Vorderrauth (A) 991 m - change to the right side
- Pfunds (A) 971 m
Tyrol
Pfunds - Landeck: 31 km
The route runs mainly on farm roads (agricultural and forestry motor traffic, sometimes used as secret routes by local drivers) and roads with little traffic. The profile is almost entirely wavy.
Landeck - innsbruck: 79 km
Up to Haiming the profile is wavy, in the Imster Gorge there is a ramp with an 18% gradient to overcome in both directions. The route from Haiming to Innsbruck is mostly flat.
Innsbruck - Kufstein: 82 km
This section is mostly accompanied by the busy Inntal motorway and is therefore very noisy. It is therefore advisable to switch to the train.
- Hall in Tirol - the Hall Mint is well known
- directly on the left between the Autobahn and the Inn. - Wattens
- black - with Tratzberg Castle and silver mine
- Jenbach
→ Driveway to Achensee possible - Brixlegg
- Rattenberg
- Kundl
- Worgl
- Kufstein - Fortress and city center, which is well worth seeing
Upper Austria and Bavaria
From the mouth of the Salzach in the Inn west of Braunau am Inn the Inn forms the state border with Austria (federal state Upper Austria). From here on the Austrian side, the one accompanying the Salzach runs parallel to Passau Tauern bike pathso that you can choose to drive on both sides.
Kufstein - Moated castle: 65 km
West bank:
East bank to Rosenheim:
- → Kiefersfelden (D) (western secondary route, not on the water)
- Ebbs-Oberndorf (A)
- Erl-Mill moat (A)
- → Nussdorf am Inn (D)
- Rosenheim
Alternatively on the east bank up 3 Moated castle
Moated castle - Gars on the Inn
West bank:
The route up Marktl is 80 km on the west bank.
One drives up Königswart continuously on asphalt and mostly on busy roads. The route is slightly mountainous. Since the Inn runs very meander here, you rarely get to see it. Most of the time you are very high above the river, sometimes up to 100 m. The tour has nothing special. The route is badly signposted.
From Königswart you have the opportunity to drive through a forest far away from the motorways and from time to time next to the Inn. The route is very hilly and muddy for a long time after it has rained. This route is not signposted.
East bank:
Gars on the Inn – Mühldorf am Inn
North / West Bank:
You drive the entire route on asphalt and mostly on busy roads. The mountains or hills become less and less in the further course. For a long time you drive south next to the Innwerk Canal, a branch of the Inn. There is nothing special about the tour. The route is poorly signposted, including in Mühldorf.
South / east bank:
Mühldorf am Inn – Marktl
- Altoetting (famous place of pilgrimage)
- Marktl is the birthplace of Pope Benedict, the birthplace is a museum
North / West Bank:
The route leads completely over gravel and flat paths, far away from busy roads. You move next to the Inn almost the entire time. About 2 km before Marktl you should decide whether you want to be very close in the narrowest lane next to the Inn with the utmost attention and sometimes on foot, or whether you prefer to drive on a barely traveled road from here.
Marktl - Stammham, approx. 10 km
Bank on the German side:
Even if the path looks narrow, you can continue right after the bridge on the Inn. After approx. 1 km there is a detour with the information about falling trees and branches. So you can choose between the risk of a traffic accident on the road or an accident at the edge of the forest. The path next to the Inn is narrow and about 2 km long. In fact, (a few) fallen trees block the path and it sometimes runs very close to the Inn and you should get off your bike in front of some depressions. Then there is an asphalted, but little-traveled road. Attention: in Stammham don't miss the sharp right turn onto the narrow bike path to the Inn.
Stammham - Bergham
Bank on the German side:
Here you continue next to the Inn to the confluence of the Salzach in the Inn near Bergham. Since the path bends right at the mouth and the water flow is very wide overall, you don't notice much of the confluence.
Bergham - Braunau am Inn
Bank on the German side:
Partial ride on the dam crest.
Braunau am Inn – Frauenstein (A), 12 km
Bank on the German side:
The ride leads past the Innauen nature reserve. This biotope was created as a result of the downstream hydropower plant built in the 1930s. Every year birds rest here on their migration to and from the south. Many native and very different species can also be observed here at an ornithological station. If you are lucky you can even spot sea eagles.
Frauenstein (A) - Obernberg, 19 km
Bank on the Austrian side, "Innweg":
After Frauenstein you cross a hydroelectric power station. For about 5 km you first have to drive on a paved route between villages. Then you drive 8 km along the nature reserve, which at times gives you the feeling of being part of it. The cycle path on the Austrian side is clearly better signposted than on the German side. There are also more places to stop for refreshments and there are always signs indicating nearby restaurants.
Obernberg - Neuhaus/Schärding, 20 km
Bank on the German side:
The route runs consistently on a level dam that is sanded with fine gravel. This route has hardly any curves and is monotonous. The landscape also seems monotonous, as trees and the large distance from the path to the water prevent the view of the Inn. Along the way, however, there is an educational fishing trail with information boards that are set up approx. Every 400 m.
In Schärding you should plan a little more time to make a detour to the old town and various sights. In Schärding there are two bridges over the Inn.
Neuhaus/Schärding – Passau, approx. 15 km
Bank on the German side:
You drive almost exclusively through the wooded area near the Inn. You only have to leave this route briefly once on a main road. As compensation, you can then drive over one of the rare covered wooden bridges. The route is slightly mountainous and should suit mountain bikers. Drive carefully as there are many walkers on this section!
In 4 Passau one arrives at the 'mouth of the Inn' in the Danube, where the Inn the mightier stream is.
Note: If you are familiar with the route, remove the heading "Corner points of the route" and replace this section with a detailed route description with stages. It is best to simply work the place names into the stages. You can find instructions on how to do this here .
An example of a fully developed cycle route with stages is here to find.
trips
- Cross-border Danube cycle path
- Via Danubia - alternative Danube route
- back About the Tauern bike path - Austrian side of the cycle path on the lower Inn
GPS data
- Route profile with GPS data and Google Earth KMZ file in the bike travel wiki
References to literature and maps
- Bruckmanns Radführer Inn-Radweg, 13 daily stages from Innsbruck to Passau with maps 1: 75,000, 1 edition. Bruckmann publishing house, Munich 2013, ISBN 978-3-7654-5279-6 , Thorsten Brönner, 192 pages, € 14.95.
