The Valepp Loop: My Favorite Alpine Ride
A scenic cycling adventure connecting three Bavarian lakes with stunning views and refreshing stops.
My absolute favorite cycling tour is the Valepp Loop. This fantastic ride connects the famous Tegernsee, Spitzingsee, and Schliersee lakes. It's about 50 kilometers long with roughly 900 meters of climbing. While mostly paved, a gravel bike certainly helps for the 12% of compacted gravel paths.
I usually tackle this tour counter-clockwise and often combine it with a visit to Monte Mare Tegernsee. This is one of the top sauna spots near Munich and a real gem, offering many saunas, excellent Aufguss, a great restaurant, and best of all, lake access – perfect for cooling off after a summer ride! Plus, if you visit the sauna, you won't have to pay the hefty €5/hour parking fee directly at the facility.
Your Route Through Bavarian Beauty
Let's break down the ride:
Starting Point: Monte Mare Tegernsee I kick off from the Monte Mare Tegernsee Sauna parking lot. The tour first hugs the eastern side of Lake Tegernsee. As you head south, you'll be treated to some truly scenic views.
Into the Valepp Valley Next, you'll follow Valepper Strasse into the countryside and arrive at the entrance to the Valepp private road. Good news: bikes are free, even though cars pay! After tackling about three medium-to-heavy climbs, you'll reach the summit. If you need a break or some refreshments before the top, the Moni-Alm is a great spot.
Downhill Thrills The next 5 kilometers fly by as you enjoy a fast downhill on perfectly paved roads. Just remember to keep an eye out for cars as well as other cyclists going uphill; it’s not a dedicated bike path.
Towards Spitzingsee The southernmost part of the tour is just a few kilometers from the Austrian border. From there, we head north again towards Lake Spitzingsee. This section has a mostly steady, gentle incline with about three more medium climbs. Just before the final climb, you'll find the Albert-Link-Hütte, an excellent place for another break. This hut is a popular spot for families, and you'll see typical Bavarian scenery all around: lots of green, mountains, and cows.
Lake Spitzingsee Lake Spitzingsee itself is stunning. If you've got your swimsuit, definitely take a dip in this refreshing mountain lake. There are cafes and restaurants, but as I mentioned, the Albert-Link-Hütte is my top recommendation for a stop.
Spitzingsattel Continuing on, you'll reach the highest point, the Spitzingsattel. From here, get ready for a thrilling downhill ride to the bottom. Check your brakes – you’ll need them! At the base, be ready to turn left safely. You won't enter the main road but instead turn towards Neuhaus and then Schliersee to the north. Keep an eye out for a small bakery at the corner of Aurachstrasse and Josefstaler Strasse – it’s perfect for a quick snack and drink.
Lake Schliersee Soon you’ll reach the west coast of Lake Schliersee. Along the way, you’ll pass the Rixner Alm. Choose your hut or snack stop wisely; if you hit them all, you’ll add a few extra hours to your tour! Lake Schliersee is another great spot for a swim, with many accessible places to take a quick plunge.
Rixner Alm is worth a stop. Picture from a group tour last year. Back to Tegernsee From the northernmost point of the tour in Hausham, you’ll turn west and cycle back to Gmund and then Lake Tegernsee. This road has some ups and downs, plus a few gravel sections. The Oedbergalm is a great place for a final stop. Besides indoor and outdoor seating, they have a fun alpine coaster called the Oedbergflitzer that’s a blast.
Alternative Parking If the Tegernsee Sauna parking isn't for you, the "Ostin" parking lot is a good alternative, just a few meters from the Oedberglifte, offering full-day parking for €5.
And just like that, you're back at Lake Tegernsee! My most recent tour took me about 3.5 hours total, with two stops (the bakery and Oedbergalm) adding about an hour. If this sounds too easy, you could always follow my friend Christian’s lead – he recently completed a full Tegernsee Loop and the Valepp tour in one go!
Here’s a video summary of a Valepp Loop that I started at the Schliersee last year, it still gives you a good idea of what awaits.
What’s your go-to cycling route that perfectly combines sport and relaxation? Share your favorite in the comments below!