Maria Waldrast - Innsbruck

This mountain bike ride from Matrei am Brenner to the popular place of pilgrimage Maria Waldrast offers a mix of wonderful views and cultural highlights. The ride begins with a climb of 700 vertical metres, but the rest is more or less flat. The route leads through the lush meadows of the Telfer Wiesen past traditional villages such as Mutters and Natters down to Innsbruck.
The ride begins at the railway station in Matrei am Brenner. From there, head north through the village to the turning marked "Mützens, Wallfahrtskirche Maria Waldrast". Branch off left here. The route leads under the motorway bridge through the settlement of Mützens. After the final few houses, ride past the toll booth and along the Waldraster Bach stream. The road winds its way up via several switchback corners into an area of open pastureland and on to the Maria Waldrast place of pilgrimage. The road ends here, but riders should continue straight on to the highest point of the ride, before descending down the other side into the Stubai Valley. Here, there is a fork in the trail and the route leads to the village of Mieders. Take route 559 downhill until you reach the first houses in Mieders. At the bottom station of the cable car, turn left onto the road and ride towards Fulpmes, along the "Kleine Talrunde 566". After 600 metres, branch off right. Follow the road straight on, passing under the Stubaitalstraße road, all the way to the bridge over the Ruetz river. Then turn right and ride towards "Gallhof, Telfer Wiesen". The route soon climbs again, and you will reach a fork in the trail. Take the left-hand fork to Telfer Wiesen. Shortly after crossing the tracks of the Stubaitalbahn tramline, take a sharp right and ride towards "Kreith, Mutters". The up-and-down route leads through forests and meadows, parallel to the tram route, all the way to the settlement of Kreith. When you reach the paved road in Kreith, follow it straight on to the church in Mutters. Here, bear left and head downhill towards Innsbruck until you cross over the tram tracks again. Immediately after the tram tracks, the route branches off to Natters. Continue through the centre of the village and then along the road to Innsbruck. At the roundabout, take the "Brennerbundesstraße" road towards Innsbruck. Shortly before crossing over the tram tracks once again, turn right onto a smaller road. This will take you to the Bergisel ski jump (follow the signs). From the ski jump, ride down until you can see the main road once again. This will take you past the Stift Wilten abbey on your right and the Wiltener Basilika abbey on your left, into the centre of Innsbruck. Take the Leopoldstraße to the Triumphpforte arch, then turn right onto the Salurner Straße road and follow it for around 300 metres to the main railway station. Trains run about every 20 minutes to the starting point in Matrei am Brenner.