Nebelhorn Bike Climb | Cycling Germany's Steepest Ascent

Germany Nebelhorn

40.6

PDI

4.6 mi

DISTANCE

3,522 ft

GAINED

ELEVATION GAINED

14.7 %

AVG. GRADE

AVG. GRADIENT

FULL CLIMB STATS

INTRO

Nebelhorn is Germany's hardest bike climb - 4.6 miles and 3,522 feet of gain at a brutal 14.7% average grade, finishing around 6,185 feet near the Edmund-Probst-Haus below the Nebelhorn summit in the Allgäu Alps. Along with Scanuppia (Italy) and Mombacho (Nicaragua), it's one of the steepest continuous 7+ kilometer climbs anywhere in the world - fittingly, it starts at the foot of an Olympic-level ski jumping stadium at the eastern edge of Oberstdorf. We first rode Nebelhorn on our 2017 European climbing trip, and it remains one of the three steepest continuous climbs we've ever done. The first few kilometers climb past the ski jump and the Seealpe Gasthof at km 3.2 - the last easy pedaling before the road narrows and pitches skyward. The crux, a 2.1 kilometer stretch starting at km 4.8, averages 23.8%, with pitches spiking past 30%; the single steepest kilometer begins at km 5, averaging nearly 25%. Loose gravel shows up in patches over the final two miles, making it a challenge just to stay upright - one of us broke a rear spoke on the way up. Nebelhorn still sees relatively few riders, and PJAMM's own Brad Butterfield holds the KOM. If the grade doesn't appeal, the Nebelhornbahn cable car climbs the same mountain from Oberstdorf in three stages, with a stop near our finish point.

PLAN YOUR ROUTE

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The average grade is 14.7% over 4.6 miles, gaining 3,522 feet. The crux is a 2.1 kilometer segment beginning at km 4.8 that averages 23.8%, and the single steepest kilometer - starting at km 5 - averages nearly 25%. The steepest quarter mile comes in at 26%, the steepest half mile at 25%, and even the steepest full mile still averages 16.6% - there's no easy pedaling once the grade turns upward past Seealpe.

Roadway: The first roughly three miles out of Oberstdorf, up to the Seealpe restaurant and cable-car station, are paved and in good condition. Above Seealpe the road narrows into what's effectively a paved hiking path reserved for foot traffic and cyclists - still rideable for strong riders with the right gearing, though the surface picks up patches of loose gravel over the final two miles that make it easy to lose traction while standing on the pedals at 20%+ grades.

Traffic: There's no motor vehicle traffic beyond the very base of the climb - a gate near Seealpe, about 4.3 km (2.7 miles) in, closes the road to cars entirely, leaving only hikers, cyclists, and the cable car for the rest of the ascent.

Parking: Park at one of the public lots near the Nebelhornbahn Talstation (valley cable-car station) at the base of the climb in Oberstdorf; the Talstation itself has paid parking, including an underground garage, right where the climb begins on Schanzenstraße. Oberstdorf parking map.

Provisions: The Seealpe Gasthof, at km 3.2, is the last chance for food or water before the real climbing starts, and there's another cafe and viewpoint further up at the Edmund-Probst-Haus near the finish.

Gear: A compact chainring paired with something like a 42-tooth cassette cog is close to the minimum most riders need for the steepest pitches, and a mountain bike's gearing is arguably a better match for this climb than a road setup. The loose gravel on the final two miles adds to the difficulty of staying seated and in control at 20%+ grades - budget extra caution, and maybe a spare spoke, for the descent as well as the climb.

Before heading out on any cycling adventure check out our Things to Bring on a Cycling Trip and use our interactive check list to ensure you don't forget anything.

Oberstdorf is one of Germany's biggest alpine tourist towns, with a full range of hotels and services, and it's a genuinely good base for road cycling well beyond this one climb - the Oberallgäu has over 200 km of marked road and bike routes across three altitude bands. Aim for June through September; the upper mountain past Seealpe is exposed and can hold snow or wet loose gravel into early summer, and afternoon thunderstorms are common in midsummer, so an early start pays off for both weather and having the Seealpe cafe mostly to yourself. If the climb itself doesn't appeal, or you want to preview the finish before committing, the Nebelhornbahn cable car covers the same mountain in three stages and is worth riding at least once for the views. See what else is worth riding nearby with our Routes in the Area tool.