Bicycling Nebelhorn (Höfatsblick)

RB Road bike recommended / MTB Mountain bike recommended / GB Gravel bike recommended

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New in 2024
	Voras Ski Center NEW	2.074m	RB
	Monte Titano NEW	652m	RB
	Bwlch y Groes NEW	550m	RB
	Bwlch Pen-y-Feidiog NEW	530m	RB
	Dingli Cliffs NEW	245m	MTB
	Vatican Hill NEW	77m	GB

World's highest cyclable roads
	Overview v30 / January 2024

European Alps
	Theodulpass	3,332m	MTB
	Hohtälli	3,286m	MTB
	Col du Jandri	3,150m	MTB
	Hohsaas	3,142m	MTB
	Madritschjoch	3,123m	MTB
	Rothorn	3,103m	MTB
	Gornergrat	3,089m	MTB
	Gaislachkogel	3,040m	MTB
	Ortlerhaus	3,025m	MTB
	Wurmkogel	3,023m	MTB
	Colle Sommeiller	3,009m	MTB
	Festkogel	2,898m	MTB
	Eisjöchl	2,895m	MTB
	Stubai Glacier	2,889m	MTB
	Ötztal Glacier	2,822m	RB
	Cime de la Bonette	2,802m	RB
	Col de l'Iseran	2,770m	RB
	Viderjoch	2,763m	MTB
	Stilfser Joch	2,758m	RB
	Kaunertal Glacier	2,750m	RB
	Colle dell'Agnello	2,744m	RB
	Col du Chaberton	2,674m	MTB
	Gaviapass	2,652m	RB
	Col du Galibier	2,645m	RB
	Colle del Nivolet	2,612m	RB
	Großglockner	2,571m	RB
	Timmelsjoch	2,509m	RB
	Umbrailpass	2,503m	RB
	Nufenenpass	2,478m	RB
	Great St. Bernard	2,473m	RB
	Furkapass	2,436m	RB
	Hochwurtenspeicher	2,422m	RB
	Großsee	2,414m	RB
	Oscheniksee	2,394m	RB
	Col d'Izoard	2,360m	RB
	Albulapass	2,315m	RB
	Uina Gorge	2,309m	MTB
	Julierpass	2,284m	RB
	Kronplatz	2,275m	MTB
	Sellajoch	2,240m	RB
	Passo Pordoi	2,239m	RB
	Passo Giau	2,236m	RB
	Sustenpass	2,224m	RB
	Little St. Bernard	2,188m	RB
	Grimselpass	2,164m	RB
	Ofenpass	2,149m	RB
	Grödner Joch	2,137m	RB
	Pfälzerhütte	2,108m	MTB
	Passo Falzarego	2,105m	RB
	Jaufenpass	2,094m	RB
	Gotthardpass	2,091m	RB
	Col de la Croix de Fer	2,067m	RB
	Mangart	2,055m	RB
	Oberalppass	2,046m	RB
	Manghenpass	2,042m	RB
	Nockalmroad	2,042m	RB
	Silvretta / Bieler Höhe	2,032m	RB
	Kühtaisattel	2,017m	RB
	Zillertal Höhenstr.	2,015m	RB
	Col de la Madeleine	2,000m	RB
	Col de Sarenne	1,999m	RB
	Kitzbüheler Horn	1,996m	RB
	Malta-Hochalm	1,924m	RB
	Col du Glandon	1,924m	RB
	Lukmanierpass	1,914m	RB
	Mont Ventoux	1,912m	RB
	Alpe d'Huez	1,896m	RB
	Hahntennjoch	1,894m	RB
	Passo Campolongo	1,875m	RB
	Mortirolopass	1,852m	RB
	Furkelpass	1,789m	RB
	Monte Zoncolan	1,750m	RB
	Villach Alpine Road	1,732m	RB
	Sliezsky Dom	1,670m	RB
	Les Deux Alpes	1,650m	RB
	Col du Mollard	1,638m	RB
	Gerlospass	1,621m	RB
	Vršič	1,611m	RB
	Col du Telegraph	1,570m	RB
	Reschenpass	1,507m	RB
	Norbertshöhe	1,410m	RB
	Brennerpass	1,370m	RB
	Passwang Antenna	1,166m	RB
	Passo Predil	1,156m	RB

Spanish Sierra Nevada
	Mulhacen	3,482m	MTB
	Pico del Veleta North	3,394m	RB
	Pico del Veleta South	3,394m	MTB
	O Sel Ling	1,462m	MTB

Canary Islands
	Roque Muchachos	2,426m	RB
	Pico del Teide	2,362m	RB

Pyrenees
	Col du Tourmalet	2,115m	RB
	Col d'Aubisque	1,709m	RB
	Col de Peyresourde	1,569m	RB
	Col d'Aspin	1,489m	RB
	Col du Soulor	1,450m	RB

Mallorca
	Puig Major	879m	RB
	Coll dels Reis	718m	RB
	Coll d'Honor	550m	RB
	San Salvador	510m	RB
	Coll de Sóller	497m	RB
	Port de Valdemossa	323m	RB
	Cap de Formentor	225m	RB

Giant Mountains / Ore Mountains
	Sniezka	1,602m	MTB
	Modré Sedlo	1,500m	GB
	Vrbatova Bouda	1,400m	RB
	Klinovec	1,244m	RB
	Fichtelberg	1,215m	RB
	Spindlerpass	1,200m	RB

Balkans
	Štulac Sedlo	1,957m	GB
	Durmitor Sedlo	1,908m	GB
	Sveti Jure	1,762m	RB
	Qafa Thores	1,681m	RB
	Visočica Sedlo	1,625m	GB
	Galičica Sattel	1,564m	RB
	Prevalac	1,560m	GB
	Qafa Bordolecit	1,355m	RB
	Krstac	958m	RB

Scandinavia
	Juvasshytta	1,851m	RB
	Dalsnibba	1,459m	RB
	Flatruet	975m	MTB
	Trollstigen	866m	RB
	Ørnevegen	623m	RB
	Møllehøj	171m	MTB

Baltics
	Suur Munamägi	318m	RB
	Gaizinkalns	312m	GB
	Aukštojas	294m	GB

Benelux
	Botrange	694m	RB
	Kneiff	560m	RB
	Vaalserberg	323m	RB

United Kingdom
	Great Dun Fell	848m	RB
	Lowther Hill	724m	RB
	Cairnwell Pass	670m	RB
	Bwlch y Groes NEW	550m	RB
	Bwlch Pen-y-Feidiog NEW	530m	RB

Greece
	Voras Ski Center NEW	2.074m	RB

San Marino
	Monte Titano NEW	652m	RB

Malta
	Dingli Cliffs NEW	245m	MTB

Vatican State
	Vatican Hill NEW	77m	GB

Serra da Estrela (Portugal)
	Pico Torre	1,993m	RB

Trodoos Mountains (Cyprus)
	Olympos	1,950m	RB

Matra Mountains (Hungary)
	Kekestetö	1,014m	RB

Carpathians (Romania)
	Transalpina	2,145m	RB
	Transfagarasan	2,042m	RB

Rila Mountains (Bulgaria)
	Kalin reservoir	2,550m	MTB

Great Caucasus (Georgia)
	Abano Pass	2,865m	MTB
	Gergeti Trinity	2,170m	MTB

Germany
	Osterfelderkopf	2,032m	MTB
	Nebelhorn	1,932m	MTB
	Alpe Schlappold	1,740m	MTB
	Eagle's Nest	1,716m	MTB
	Roßfeld-Höhenring	1,540m	RB
	Riedbergpass	1,420m	RB
	Feldberg	1,493m	MTB
	Fichtelberg	1,215m	RB
	Brocken	1,142m	RB
	Salwert	11m	MTB

Andes
	Uturuncu	5,768m	MTB
	Chacaltaya	5,300m	MTB
	Salar de Uyuni	3,650m	MTB
	Yungas Death Road	3,200m	MTB

Himalayas
	Khardung La	5,602m	MTB
	Taglang La	5,358m	MTB
	Potokonkga La	4,900m	MTB
	Namshang La	4,800m	MTB
	Lamayuru Monastery	3,714m	MTB

Rocky Mountains
	Mount Evans	4,307m	RB

Hawaii
	Mauna Kea	4,200m	MTB

Ethiopian Highlands
	Tulluu Dimtuu	4,377m	MTB

Alborz-Range (Iran)
	Dizinpass	3,257m	RB
	Emamzadeh Davod	2,929m	MTB

Marathon (European Alps)
	Ötztal Cycle Marathon	5,209Hm	RB
	La Marmotte	5,180Hm	RB
	Maratona Dolomites	4,190Hm	RB
	Dreiländergiro	3,546Hm	RB
	Alpenbrevet	3,643Hm	RB
	Alpen-Challenge	2,499Hm	RB

Nebelhorn / Höfatsblick 1,932m

Trafficability of asphalted runway from the valley station of Oberstdorf Nebelhornbahn up to the cableway station Höfatsblick has always been subject to many discussions among cyclists. In its lower part this roadway is cyclable with a mountain bike but then becomes an extremly steep hiking path. Thus, you have to push your bike beginning at an altitude of some 1,400 meters for significant parts of the further way. Behind the cableway station Höfatsblick/Edmund-Probst-Haus at an elevation of 1,932m the way is even said to lead to a ski-lift above 2,000 meters. Anyhow, this steep hiking way can not be named Germany's highest continuously ridable road. This title should rather be awarded to close-by road up to Alpe Schlappold (1,740m). Furthermore it is possible to challenge a very demanding mountain bike ride to Osterfelderkopf with its peak at more than 2,030 meters.

3. Attempt (August 2016)

Departure: Oberstdorf 813m
Altitude difference: 1,130m
Distance: 9km

After some two kilometers of riding the ascents to Seealpe (1,280m) starts right at the ski jump stadium. After Seealpe it becomes very steep: Between kilometers 6.5 and 8.5 the cyclist has to overcome 500 meters of altitude gain providing an average gradient of 25%.

Once again start at the ski jumps after to unsuccessful attempts in previous years (see below).

Asphalted road in the lower part of the route - suitable for road bikes as well.

It becomes much more challenging behind this fence at middle station Seealpe (1.280m).

Today's secret weapon: 42 cassette gear, 22 front crankset.

But it does not work... Pushing becomes necessary from here :-(

Short flat passages alternate with pushing parts.

Some say this is even cyclable on road bike...

A 4WD gets up here.

View down to the steep ascent of the last two kilometers

Oberstdorf in the very back

Arrival at Edmund-Probst-Haus of German Alpine Club (DAV) situated directly next to cableway mountain station Höfatsblick

View up to Nebelhorn mountain. You could get even higher on the bike, but there is a construction site today.

Scenery landscape

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2. Attempt (July 2015)

Start: Oberstdorf 813m
Altitude difference until termination: 653m
Distance until termination: 7km
July 2015

Today's departure at the ski jumping hill in Oberstdorf

Asphalted road on the first four kilometers with an average grade of 11%

The paved hiking path begins at the middle station of Nebelhorn cable way (Seealpe) at an elevation of 1,280m. However, dark thunderstorm clouds appear in the background...

After a moderate beginning behind Seealpe the path becomes a very brutal climb at this pump station.

80 meters of altituide gain on a 350m distance - 23% grade! Even with a Fat bike and 22/36 gear hardly cyclable today. And it even becomes worse behind this passage. Anyhow, rumbling thunder on top and beginning rain force me to return back to Oberstdorf...

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1. Attempt (July 2013)

Departure: Oberstdorf 813m
Altitude difference until termination: 728m
Total distance until termination: 8km

The profile starts in Oberstdorf and leads up Schanzenstraße to Gasthof Seealpe. Behind Seealpe the road narrows and becomes a very steep hiking path. Between kilometers seven and eight the ramp has an average grade of 20% (!).

The climb commences at the ski-jump stadium in Oberstdorf.

Lower part of the climb provides some shadowy parts and high grades. Average gradient until Seealpe is 13%.

View back to one of these steep asphalted turns.

Seealpe is being reached after a few kilometers. The runway now narrows and becomes a very frequented hiking path - no longer asphalted but a flattened path.

The way becomes steeper and provides gradients of up to 20%.

Average grade between Seealpe and mountain station Höfatsblick is more than 16%.

The view back does not indicate the exceptional incline at this spot. Lowest gear is necessary.

This tremendous sight expects the cyclist behind the following turn at some 1,500m: No idea how to cycle this climb, even pushing the bike is hardly possible. As we do not want to carry or push our bike we terminate the ride at this point, categorised as "not cyclable"!