Tutzing to BadTolz - Road and forest bike ride

Date: 29-May-2005
Starting Point: Tutzing – lake Starnberger
Weather Very Hot (high 20C to low 30C) and sunny
Route: Giesing > Tutzing – S-Bahn n/a
Tutzing > Seeshaupt – Bike 12.2KM est.
Seeshaupt > Iffeldorf via Prälat – Bike 10.2KM est.
Iffeldorf > Penzber – Bike 5.0KM est.
Penzber > Bad Tölz – Bike 17.4KM est
Bad Tölz > Munich – by BOB n/a
Map Ref.: Radwander-Karte: München Bayerisches Oberland 1:100K

This was my second ride in Munich since newly arriving. I had previously done a test ride of the Starnberger See but a cracked bearing in a front hub cut my circum-navigation of the lake short. Now I was back.

If you have read my previous post, you will know that I am a 40’ish accountant in fair shape with a desk bulge about the middle. This particular ride was based on the “München Bayerisches Oberland� (3.95€ from a local bike shop) map.

As a North American, a quick thought on trains, bikes and Europe – I love ‘em. Crammed on to the S6 line at 9am in the morning were about two dozen cyclists in different compartments. These were older people, families and young lovers transporting their bikes to adventures unknown (okay, we can guess the young lover’s adventures). In North America, try loading a bike on to a bus, a train or an airplane – you are considered a nuisance at best. God bless European mass transit.

The S6 line is a great way to get to the Starnberger see. I hoped off at Turzing and after a few misplaced kilometres and backtracking from a ‘short cut’ (the story of my cycling life - and my driving life if my wife is to be believed), I was on the secondary road leading south from the town.

When you get to Bernried, stay on the cycle path – even if it is marked with circular blue sign indicating pedestrians only. It is highly preferable to the road and is much more scenic through a park area. This includes a bit of long slog up hill along a tree line path. Seeshaupt is a good place to grab a coffee (and release previously consumed coffees) before heading into wilder places.

Climbing out of Seeshaupt, I was soon heading south on the Prälat trail. This was the first of two very pleasant surprises about this trail. Through wooded areas, it reminds me of the lower foothills of the Rockies. The 5 or so kilometres through this portion was exception and highly recommended. On this clear May day - the vistas of the Alps were incredible.

Outside of Iffeldorf, you can either stay with the Prälat trail or follow the easier and shorter highway. Because of the heat (which may be an euphemism for my flabbiness), I took the latter. Nice but unremarkable was the trip through Penzberg. I did briefly contemplate going North up highway 11 to Wolfrathausen, but a steady North wind sent me east to Bad Tölz – and to the second pleasant discovery of the day.

If you have not yet gone to Bad Tölz, go there. They have done a remarkable job in creating a beautiful walking area in their downtown core. This is Western Europe people watching territory at its best. ‘Prendez une café’ or a gelato and enjoy a few hours of a sunny afternoon on the terrace.

The return trip from Bad Tölz to Munich was interesting – there were simply too many bikes wanting to get on to the BOB-train that had too few places. One family was nearly separated – half on the train with the kids left on the platform. Keep this in mind if you do the trip and you have pressing supper arrangements.

Next time if I do the trip I would like to ride out of Bad Tölz North to Walfratshausen (or even further into Munich).

Overall this is a good ride for beginners and low intermediates.

Good write-ups Phrank.

Our fave area is Holzkirchen and Dietramszell. Lots of lakes to jump in on a hot day. Buy the Moser Bike Guide.

Please note that this is not a mountain bike route. Most of it is road with a small amount (~7KM) of gravel through the forest. A trekking bike is more than sufficient for this trip. Hope you enjoy if you choose to go.

Not just a good write-up but also a useful write-up. Just the thing for this time of year. Especially as I don't need a mountain bike to do it!