A “Bahnentour” is a day on the bike where most – if not all – uphills are done with gondolas, cable cars, or any other form of transport.
After 4 months of mostly punchy climbs on our bikes in New Zealand, we were definitely looking forward to days spent slashing down trails in the Alps while getting shuttled back up to the top by a gondola. When we heard from Herbert that he had created a new Bahnentour Arosa-Lenzerheide route, we knew immediately that this was something we had to try as soon as we were back in Switzerland. The region between Chur, Lenzerheide and Arosa offers an almost endless number of single trails and gondolas. The list of must ride single trails that Herbert put together was way too long for one day so he came up with a 2 day plan, which we were going to ride.
It’s quite incredible what Herbert put together for these two days. Over 125 Kilometers of single track descent – and the best of it: Not once will we be riding the same trail twice.
The plan was set. It did not take long to gather friends to join us for this adventure and so we ended up being a rather large group of eight riders. Why adventure? The time schedule is tight: there is almost no room for technical problems, crashes or even lunch breaks. Herbert really wants to show us everything he’s got in those two days.
Rocky wake up call
On the first day, we rode mostly above the tree lines on alpine single trails between Lenzerheide and Arosa. In the trail book that we received from Herbert, the very first trail from Parpaner Rothorn down towards Lenzerheide was described as “Juicy singletrail that passes Alp Sanaspans”. And well, it was definitely juicy.
Plenty of rocks where you had to keep up momentum to not get stuck and end up OTB made us all wake up quickly. Only the last part in the woods was full on flow with loamy turns before it ended back in Lenzerheide downtown. Even though some of us had their first crashes in the rocks, we all arrived with smiles at the bottom and were looking forward to what the rest of the day had to offer.
After the tech comes the flow
Again we boarded the gondolas up towards Parpaner Rothorn. The long connection that gets you from Lenzerheide to Arosa counts as one of the classic descents in the region. It offers amazing views and the trail itself is super fun and full of flow.
The few easy rockgardens keep you on your toes, but only add some more fun into the mix. We make quick progress and end up at Älplisee, a wonderful mountain lake on the lower part of the descent, only a short way before Arosa. It is so beautiful here, we just had to stop and soak up the panorama.
Quick stop at Älplisee to soak up the beautiful views
We need more of this!
It’s already lunchtime and I don’t have to tell you that riding down makes you hungry too. No time for a proper stop at a restaurant, we eat at the gondola station while waiting for the next uplift to Weisshorn.
Up next is – according to Herbert – a rarely frequented hiking trail down to Innerarosa. And so it was, there were hardly any hikers, so we could open our brakes and speed down a wonderful, fast single track without too many technical sections.
Arosa offered stunning views and interesting descents, which were playful and not too difficult – without any crashes and flats we could make good progress and still ended up taking one of the last gondolas up to the Hörnlihütte – a mountain hut standing at the start of the last, but not least descent, of the day. Now, without any more gondolas to catch before they shut down, we allowed ourselves some time for coffee and cake before attacking the 2,000 vertical meters long trail to Chur.
Brilliant end to a long day on the bike
From the Hörnlihütte we could already see the winding single track that expected us (if you are ever in this mountain hut, check out the toilet that offers probably the best view ever!). Like the first trail of the day, the last one starts with many rock gardens, but gets easier and faster within minutes. After the 2,000 vertical meters of descent, we end up in Chur where there was only one thing to do. Try to get our fingers off the handlebars and order beer for everyone.
Beers to celebrate the day and a postauto to get us back to Lenzerheide
What an epic day on the bike. Exhausted, some with new bruises but very happy we boarded the Postauto that took us back to our basecamp at Hotel Krone in Churwalden. We had already heard many good things about the Cordon Bleus in Hotel Churwalden and were not disappointed. After dinner, it didn’t take long before everybody got to bed, everyone was exhausted and had to rest as much as possible. After all, this was only the first of the two days.
Brambrüesch – more than just an amazing bikepark!
In contrary to the first day of the Bahnentour Arosa Lenzerheide, the second day rarely gets above the tree line. Singletrack in the forest is where it’s at today.
The first one gets you from the start of Bikepark Lenzerheide down to Chur. Since we slept a bit outside of Lenzerheide, we decided to make it a little easier for ourselves. Instead of driving up to Lenzerheide for the first gondola, Martin from Bikeshuttle Lenzerheide got us to the trail head – this saved us a lot of time, and also the first climb. And the second day started off with maybe my favourite trail of the whole two days. Really fast, rooty, loamy singletrack with some slippery and wet intersections – a really, really fun way to start the second day! We didn’t stop for a long time and were in Chur rather soon, were a big part of the second day of the Bahnentour Arosa Lenzerheide takes place.
To our big surprise the Bahnentour doesn’t only follow the bikepark downhill trails, but leads you to almost untouched descents down from Brambrüesch. Three times you get onto the Alpenbikepark gondolas. The first run consists of a long, hugely varying and fast hiking trail that leads you back to Chur. The second one starts at the top and is to a big part very exposed but – as long as you don’t look to the left – fast and mostly easy singletrack. Only the third descent leads you down some of the bikepark trails. It’s up to you if you wish to challenge some of the big features or just speed down a blue line. There is a stunning range of options to choose from. We need to come back and play around in this park – what we saw and rode was really just a small appetiser.
Singletrail transfer back to Lenzerheide
Funny how the connecting trails from and to Lenzerheide stand out. This time we take on the other side of the valley on a trail that gets us from Brambrüesch to Churwalden. The trail is superb and the short uphills in between keep the blood pumping. Unfortunately, it is already time to say goodbye to some of our friends who have to leave us at Churwalden. They miss out on the last trails of the Bahnentour, some classic singletrack descents at Piz Scalottas at Lenzerheide.
For the first time of the day, we end up riding above the tree line and the trails quickly get rocky again. It is a good thing that we are riding towards lift closing times, we only meet a handful of friendly hikers, but soon we feel all alone on the mountain and ride the last trail down to Lenzerheide.
Tired but happy!
We did it – 126km and just 14’000 vertical meters and a total of 15 gondola rides in two days. I can’t remember when I rode this much on different trails – and 99% of the trails were amazing. Only one trail from Hörnli down to Innerarosa was a bit boring, but we heard from Herbert that they plan on building a flow trail there only for bikers – it’s just not here yet.
The dopamine compensates the few aching or sore muscles. I think everyone crashed at least once, but with that many trails I would be surprised otherwise. Everyone of the group agrees – the Bahnentour Arosa Lenzerheide is an unbelievable experience in the mountains of Graubünden. The quality and quantity of singletrails we rode the last two days really stands out. And clearly shows why this region should be on the bucket list of any mountain biker. It really offers something for anyone and should not be on the map only because of its bike park.
If the length or vertical meters seem a bit too much, no worries, both days can be easily shortened to a suitable length. Also, you could do the first day and then have rest for a day and attack the second day of the Bahnentour with renewed energy.
You will find more information about the Bahnentour Arosa Lenzerheide on Herbert.bike
