A new trail park for mountain bikers is opening this summer in western Austria in the Tyrolean Paznaun valley which is renowned for its ski resort Ischgl.
The park offers two trails that span approximately 6.7 and 1.4 kilometres, featuring sections ranging from easy to challenging.
Both trails begin at the Alpkogelbahn mountain station, the Paznaun-Ischgl tourist board says. There is also a practice area and an 800-square-metre pump track circuit that includes rollers and jumps.
The new Silva Trails bike park is set to open in July and expansion plans are already under way, with three additional trails in the pipeline.
Trails in Austria-Switzerland border region also growing
The Silvretta Bike Arena Ischgl/Samnaun, which includes routes that run between Ischgl in Austria and Samnaun in Switzerland, is also being expanded.
Normally a winter haven with some 240 kilometres of ski slopes, the area now boasts nearly 89 kilometres of bike trails for summer sports enthusiasts.
This year, two new trails for advanced riders that span about 16.3 and 12.8 kilometres respectively are set to open.
According to the tourism association, the Austria-Switzerland border region is one of the largest biking destinations in the Alps with 11 trails and further growth is expected for 2025.
New training centre for e-bikes planned
Meanwhile, in Ischgl, the main town in the valley and home to Austria's most famous ski slopes and accompanying "après-ski" nightlife, a new facility tailored for e-bike enthusiasts is being built.
It is set to feature a training centre designed to assess riding techniques, analyse performance and offer targeted training, such as obstacle avoidance on trails. According to the tourism association, this e-bike riding centre is to be completed in stages by 2026.
As a sneak peek, a prototype is to be erected on the Silvretta spa's terrace this summer, providing a glimpse into the upcoming facility. Ischgl is located in south-west Austria, about 100 kilometres from Innsbruck.
