01 - Overview
The Achensee Cycle Path (R29) links the Inn valley with the "Tyrolean Sea" and the Bavarian border over 32.6 kilometres. From Jenbach it climbs more than 400 metres steeply up to the Achensee - the largest lake in Tyrol - then rolls almost level along the traffic-free eastern shore and descends gently through the Achental to the Achenpass. The headliners are the lake itself, framed by the Karwendel and Rofan ranges, and the Achensee Railway: Europe's oldest exclusively steam-operated cog railway, puffing up from Jenbach to Seespitz since 1889.
The Achensee Cycle Path is no ordinary downhill valley run - its highlight is not the valley floor but the lake up top. The ride begins in Jenbach in the Inn valley (around 524 m), arguably the most unusual station in Austria: here the standard-gauge Inntalbahn, the narrow-gauge Zillertalbahn and the metre-gauge Achensee Railway meet on three different track gauges. Via Wiesing the route now climbs steeply through the forest - the same flank that the Achensee Railway has scaled with its steam locomotives since 1889. At the top of the climb, at Eben am Achensee, stands the pilgrimage church of St. Notburga (Rococo, rebuilt 1736-1738): Notburga of Rattenberg (c. 1265-1313), once a maid and farm servant, is the patron saint of domestic servants and farmworkers; her popular veneration was confirmed by Pope Pius IX in 1862. Then the Achensee opens up - at 929 m, almost 8.4 km long and up to 133 m deep the largest lake in Tyrol, the "Tyrolean Sea," framed by the Karwendel to the west and the Rofan to the east. At Maurach, the lake access, the Rofan cable car (with the AIRROFAN Skyglider) climbs into the Brandenberg Alps, and the Atoll Achensee offers a swim right on the shore; the Achensee Railway terminates at Seespitz. The heart of the route is the roughly ten-kilometre, largely traffic-free shore path along the eastern bank heading north, past Buchau and Scholastika, always with a view of the water. A curiosity on the western shore is the Gaisalm - the only alpine inn directly on the lake, reachable however only by Achensee ferry or on foot via the Gaisalm cliff path, not by bike. Pertisau with the Karwendel cable car also lies on the western shore and is only linked as a side trip. At the northern end follow Achenkirch (~916 m) and Achenwald; from here the lake naturally drains north via the Seeache to the Isar - a northward drainage atypical for Tyrol, even though since 1927 the utility TIWAG diverts most of the water south into the Inn for power generation. The final four kilometres or so through the upper Achental share the B181 federal road with traffic, until at the Achenpass (941 m) the border to Bavaria is reached - an old salt route, beyond which the road descends via Kreuth to the Tegernsee and connects to the Bavarian cycle network (Via Bavarica Tyrolensis). Around 83 percent of the route is paved; the short fine-gravel sections along the shore stay easily rideable. Because of the steep climb out of the Inn valley the tour is moderate overall - those who want to save the metres of ascent take the Achensee Railway (May to October) or the Regiobus 4080 up from Jenbach and enjoy the relaxed lakeside section up top.
- Regions
- Tyrol
- Start
- Jenbach (Inn valley)
- Finish
- Achenwald / Achenpass
- Surface
- Paved · Compacted
- Network
- Regional
- Best season
- May - October
- Signposting
- fully signposted
- Road-bike friendly
- Yes · Mostly pavedwell documented
83 % paved, effectively paved throughout.
02 - Stages
3 stages · 33 km
01Jenbach (Inn valley) - Maurach am AchenseeJenbach · Wiesing · Eben am Achensee · Maurach8 km
The opening stage is the most demanding: from Jenbach in the Inn valley (the three-gauge station) the path winds steeply up through the forest via Wiesing, gaining a good 400 metres to the lake - the same flank that the steam-hauled Achensee Railway has climbed since 1889. At the top, at Eben am Achensee, stands the pilgrimage church of St. Notburga, before the Achensee opens up at Maurach. Those who want to save the climb take the Achensee Railway or the Regiobus 4080 uphill.
- Ascent
- 503 m
- Descent
- 24 m
- Duration
- approx. 1.0-1.5 h
- Surface
- Paved
Surface (measured): paved 77 % · fine gravel 23 %
02Maurach am Achensee - AchenkirchMaurach · Buchau · Achensee · Achenkirch14 km
The scenic heart of the route: from Maurach - with its Rofan cable car and the Atoll Achensee lakeside lido - the largely traffic-free shore path runs north along the eastern bank, past Buchau and Scholastika, almost always with a view of the water and of the Karwendel and Rofan ranges. Pertisau and the Gaisalm lie on the western shore and are reachable only by ferry or on foot. At the northern end of the lake waits Achenkirch.
- Ascent
- 53 m
- Descent
- 104 m
- Duration
- approx. 1.0-1.25 h
- Surface
- Paved
Surface (measured): paved
03Achenkirch - Achenwald / AchenpassAchenkirch · Achenwald · Achenpass (border)11 km
From the head of the lake the route rolls gently downhill through the upper Achental via Achenwald to the national border. The final four kilometres or so share the B181 federal road with traffic. At the Achenpass (941 m) - an old salt route - the Tyrolean R29 ends; beyond the border the road descends via Kreuth to the Tegernsee, and the Bavarian cycle network (Via Bavarica Tyrolensis) takes over.
- Ascent
- 85 m
- Descent
- 200 m
- Duration
- approx. 0.75-1.0 h
- Surface
- Paved
Surface (measured): paved 66 % · fine gravel 34 %
03 - Elevation
Elevation across the full distance - move the cursor to read altitude and kilometre.
Elevation profile over 33 km. Ascent 641 m, descent 328 m. Lowest point 524 m, highest point 963 m.
Elevation from OSM geometry + Digital Terrain Model (DGM) Austria (10 m).
Hover the profile to see the point on the map - and vice versa.
04 - POIs & Services
- Achensee ("Tyrolean Sea", largest lake in Tyrol, 929 m, Karwendel & Rofan)
- Achensee Railway (Europe's oldest exclusively steam-operated cog railway, since 1889, Jenbach - Seespitz)
- Pilgrimage church of St. Notburga (Rococo 1736-1738, patron saint of domestic servants)
- Rofan cable car with AIRROFAN Skyglider (mountain railway into the Brandenberg Alps)
- Achensee shipping & Gaisalm (alpine inn on the west shore, reachable only by ferry or the Gaisalm cliff path on foot)
- Atoll Achensee (lakeside lido and leisure pool on the shore)
- Pertisau & Karwendel cable car (side trip on the west shore, Karwendel Nature Park)
- Achenpass (AT/DE border, old salt route, link to the Via Bavarica Tyrolensis towards the Tegernsee)
Services along the route
- Bike serviceBike shops and e-bike service in Maurach and Achenkirch as well as at the start in Jenbach; along the lakeshore the towns are close enough for good support. For the steep climb a check of brakes and (for e-bikes) the battery is advisable.
- E-bikeSeveral charging stations along the corridor, concentrated around Maurach and Achenkirch. E-bike rental in the lakeside towns - best reserved in advance in high season.
- Drinking waterDrinking-water fountains in the lakeside towns; the continuously settled shore ensures good supply between stops. In the Achental towards the border the gaps grow larger.
- Food & drinkInns, cafés and lakeside lidos in Maurach, Pertisau and Achenkirch and along the shore. A curiosity is the Gaisalm mountain inn on the western shore - reachable only by ferry or on foot via the Gaisalm cliff path, not by bike.
Service points along the route
- Drinking water38
- Bike shop3
- Charging station14
Service points from OpenStreetMap. Coverage may be incomplete, some fountains are seasonal - verify before you rely on them.
05 - Impressions
The Achensee, the "Tyrolean Sea," with the Karwendel range - the largest lake in Tyrol and the highlight of the route.Photo: Achensee mit Karwendel · Bigmanbaloo · CC BY-SA 4.0 The steam-hauled Achensee Railway at its upper terminus Seespitz on the south shore - since 1889 Europe's oldest exclusively steam-operated cog railway.Photo: Achenseebahn am Seespitz · Herbert Ortner, Vienna · CC BY 2.5 The south shore at Maurach, where the cycle path reaches the lake and the Achensee Railway ends.Photo: Achensee bei Maurach · Stephan van Helden · CC BY-SA 4.0 The eastern shore of the Achensee, which the largely traffic-free shore path follows northwards.Photo: Achensee-Ostufer · EmsiProduction · CC BY 2.0 View from Achenkirch at the northern end across the lake to the Rofan range.Photo: Achensee bei Achenkirch · Dirk Schmidt · CC BY-SA 3.0
06 - Public transit
- Achensee Railway (steam cog railway Jenbach - Seespitz)Europe's oldest exclusively steam-operated cog railway (since 1889) overcomes the 440 metres of ascent from Jenbach to Seespitz on the south shore - the ideal way up to save the steep climb. It runs only in season (roughly May to October), all trains steam-hauled; bicycles carried for a fee subject to space. After the 2020 insolvency it has operated again since 2022.
- Rail: ÖBB Jenbach (Inntalbahn) + ZillertalbahnJenbach is a three-gauge junction: the standard-gauge ÖBB Inn Valley line (Railjet/Cityjet towards Innsbruck and Kufstein/Wörgl), the narrow-gauge Zillertalbahn and the metre-gauge Achensee Railway all meet here. Bicycle carriage on ÖBB regional trains.
- Bus: Regiobus 4080 (Jenbach - Achensee)The Regiobus 4080 links Jenbach via Wiesing, Maurach and Pertisau with Achenkirch (about 27 min) and carries bikes for a fee - the alternative to the Achensee Railway for reaching the lake without the climb. The AchenseeCard covers the local VVT buses.
The Achensee Cycle Path is the classic train-up tour: with the steam-hauled Achensee Railway (May to October) or the Regiobus 4080 you save the steep 400-metre climb from Jenbach and start in comfort up at the lake. Jenbach itself, a three-gauge station (ÖBB, Zillertalbahn, Achensee Railway), is easily reached by train.
07 - GPX & TCX download
Download for GPS devices & apps
Clean track with elevation - imports as a single tour, compatible with Komoot, Garmin, Wahoo, Strava, RideWithGPS, OsmAnd.
Download stages individually (3)
Route derived from OpenStreetMap geometry - may differ slightly from on-the-ground signage. © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0) · Elevation © DGM Austria (CC BY 3.0 AT). Redistribute with attribution.