When people say Leogang, they usually mean the downhill bikepark — the steep black lines, the giant bike park infrastructure, the red bull livery on the timing tent. That version of Leogang exists and is genuinely excellent. But it is not the only one.
The UCI Mountain Bike World Series brings cross-country athletes to Saalfelden-Leogang because the valley's trail network — 720 kilometres of mountain bike routes spanning seven mountains and connected by nine cable cars — is as good for XC training as the bikepark is for downhill. The XCC Short Track circuit and the XCO course both wind through the Leogangtal on terrain that would draw riders without any race attached to it. The region is Austria's most developed mountain bike destination, and the XC side has been quietly excellent for years while the downhill claimed the media attention.
The Race Circuit
The XCO and XCC courses at Leogang trace the Leogangtal — the valley between Leogang village and the Asitz mountain — with climbing sections that gain and lose elevation in short, punchy increments. The race circuit is not a pure XC loop in the traditional sense of long sustained climbing; it uses the valley's topography to create repeated short ascents and technical singletrack transitions that reward handling skill and explosive power.
The course is accessible to recreational riders during non-race periods. The natural starting point is the base of the gondola in central Leogang, where the Birnbachhöhe lifts run to upper-trail access. During race week, the lower circuit sections are roped for competition, but the surrounding network remains open and provides context for what the athletes are riding at full gas.
The XC Trail Network
Asitz Trails: The Asitz mountain (1,823m) above Leogang is the XC network's centrepiece. The Birnbachhöhe gondola accesses the upper trail system, where a network of blue and red-graded XC singletracks link the alpine pastures back to the valley. The upper routes are above the treeline for their first kilometre or two, offering the Salzburg alps panorama before dropping into the forest switchbacks below. Riders with lift access can link multiple laps in a morning.
Saalachtaler loops: The Saalfelden basin to the east of Leogang hosts a longer, more sustained XC loop network through the Saalach river valley — rolling terrain through farmland and forest at 750–900m elevation. These are the warm-up and recovery routes for athletes staying in Saalfelden town. Less technical than the Asitz trails, easier to pace, better for base training weeks.
Hochkeil and the Pinzgauer Spazierweg: The ridge trails east of Saalfelden connect Hochkeil (1,696m) across a long traverse toward Zell am See. The Pinzgauer Spazierweg is a classic Salzburg mountain route at around 1,100–1,300m elevation, running east–west above the Saalach valley. It functions as an endurance loop for the fitter XC riders — long, varied, and spectacular, with the Steinernes Meer limestone plateau visible across the valley for most of its length.
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The key infrastructure question in Leogang is whether to use the gondolas or ride from the valley floor. For downhill athletes, the answer is always the gondola. For XC athletes, both approaches have merit.
Gondola access (Birnbachhöhe): Opens the upper network quickly and efficiently. Essential for trail exploration in a race week, when time is limited and athletes want to pre-ride specific technical sections without burning energy on the climb. The gondola runs bikes in dedicated carriers — the system was built for the bikepark but works identically well for XC riders.
Self-propelled: The climb from Leogang village to the Asitz upper trails is approximately 12km of paved and gravel road gaining 900m, followed by singletrack. It is a proper training climb and worth doing on a recovery day when the legs need volume without intensity. The descent back through the forest trails returns to the village in 30 minutes.
Where to Base
Leogang village gives direct gondola access and puts riders inside the bikepark ecosystem — meaning bike shops, service workshops, tire and parts availability, and a local hotel culture built around athletes rather than spa tourists. The village has grown considerably alongside the bikepark's expansion and now has enough accommodation variety (mid-range hotels, holiday apartments, a handful of higher-end options) for every race week budget.
Saalfelden town is larger, more conventionally Austrian in character, and better for athletes who want to separate their race-week accommodation from the bikepark atmosphere. Market town, central square, direct rail access from Salzburg (50 minutes), and proximity to the eastern valley trails. A car or e-bike is needed to reach the Leogang gondola from here (10 minutes by bike on the valley cycle path).
Getting There
Fly into Salzburg — the most direct entry point. Salzburg to Saalfelden by train is 55 minutes on regional rail; Salzburg to Leogang by taxi or car is 1 hour. The Salzburg–Leogang route via the Salzach valley is well-signed and straightforward.
By train: The Pinzgaubahn regional line runs through the Salzach valley and stops at Saalfelden. No direct connection to Leogang village, but connections are possible and the 10-minute valley ride is flat and well-maintained. Bikes travel free on the Pinzgaubahn.
Drive from Munich: 2.5 hours via the A8/A10 through the Salzburg ring. Standard European motorway driving; the mountain pass section from Lofer into the Salzach valley has some switchbacks but nothing technical.
Training Camps
Leogang's infrastructure makes it a natural choice for pre-season and mid-season XC training camps. The facilities — lift access, trail variety, altitude at 900–1,800m depending on chosen training elevation — are matched by a local service economy that knows how to handle athletes' logistics. Group camps regularly arrive from Austria, Switzerland, Germany, and the Netherlands in May and June before the race calendar heats up.
The 25th anniversary year of the bikepark in 2026 has brought additional trail development and some new upper-mountain singletrack sections that were not open in previous race editions. Athletes training in Leogang this week are riding infrastructure that was partially brand-new at the start of the season.
When to Go
May through October for XC riding. June is the race month — the World Series event creates a high-energy environment in the valley, with spectator access to the circuit areas and a racing atmosphere throughout the weekend. July and August see peak trail usage; the gondola queues grow but the trail network is large enough to spread traffic. September brings reliable cool-weather conditions and fewer visitors.
The upper trails above 1,400m can hold snow into late May. Check the bikepark website for trail-opening status if arriving early in the season.
Frequently Asked
Can recreational riders use the XCO race course? The XCO course is marked and accessible outside competition windows. During race week, some sections are roped off. The full network remains open with alternate routing clearly signed.
Is Leogang only for advanced riders? No. The bikepark grades its lines from blue (easier) to double-black (expert). The XC trail network similarly spans skill levels, with the Saalachtaler valley loops accessible to confident beginners and the upper Asitz technical trails requiring experienced bike handling.
Is Leogang better for DH or XC? The bikepark infrastructure was built for DH and enduro; the region's trail breadth is equally good for XC. Which disciplines you prioritise depends on what you're training.
Where can I find XC training partners for Leogang? Connect with athletes already in the region via Find Athletes in Saalfelden-Leogang on ZealZag.
For today's XCC race coverage, see our Leogang XCC field report. For the bikepark's DH and enduro infrastructure, see our Epic Bikepark destination guide.