30
PDI
9.4 mi
DISTANCE
4,254 ft
GAINED
7.7 %
AVG. GRADE
FULL CLIMB STATS
Page Contributor(s): Helmuth Dekkers, Netherlands; Jerry Nilson, cycloclimbing.com
INTRO
Malbun's Old Tunnel Route climbs 9.4 miles and 4,254 feet from Vaduz, Liechtenstein's capital, to Malbun, the country's only ski resort, at 5,275 feet (1,608 m). The average grade is 7.7%, with the steepest mile averaging a brutal 14.9% and the steepest kilometer touching 15.7% - most of that concentrated in the climb's distinctive middle section.
What sets this route apart from the standard road to Malbun is a detour onto the Kulmstrasse, a narrow side road that peels off shortly before the modern Stegtunnel and grinds up at grades as steep as 24% to the old Kulm tunnel - a roughly 48-meter passage cut through the ridge in 1867, long before the current tunnel existed. The old tunnel's floor is unpaved, and the road drops steeply on the far side down into Steg, adding real elevation loss and regain that the modern-tunnel route skips entirely.
From Steg, the final three kilometers climb directly to Malbun with no switchbacks to break up the effort - the last kilometer in particular is a genuine test with the finish already in sight. Malbun hosted a Tour de Suisse mountaintop finish in 2004, and the resort sits in a high side valley of the Saminatal with views back across the Rhine Valley to the Swiss mountains beyond.
PLAN YOUR ROUTE
We've partnered with Sherpa-Map.com to bring you the best route planning tool. With a PRO Membership you can use this climb as a reference when creating your route. Malbun - Old Tunnel Route averages 7.7% over 9.4 miles, gaining 4,254 feet from Vaduz (1,502 ft) to Malbun (5,275 ft). The numbers undersell how hard the middle section is: the steepest mile averages 14.9%, the steepest 2.5 miles hold 11.8%, and the steepest kilometer spikes to 15.7%, almost all of it on the steep Kulmstrasse detour and the short, sharp drop and re-climb around the old tunnel. The final three kilometers into Malbun from Steg are steady and direct, with no hairpins to ease the effort.
Roadway: The road is paved from Vaduz through the Schlossauffahrt's cobbled hairpins and up through the forest to the Kulmstrasse turnoff; the Kulmstrasse itself is paved but narrow and rough in places, with the short passage through the old 1867 Kulm tunnel unpaved underfoot. From Steg, the final stretch to Malbun is paved and in good condition.
Traffic: Traffic is heaviest on the lower Schlossauffahrt out of Vaduz, where a one-way-uphill section keeps descending cars off your line but through traffic still uses the road up to Triesenberg. The Kulmstrasse detour sees only a trickle of local and tourist traffic, and Malbun itself is quiet outside winter ski season, when parking near the base area fills up on weekends.
Parking: Vaduz has ample on-street and public parking near the town center for riders starting the climb there. At the top, Malbun's ski-resort infrastructure means generous parking near the village, though most of it goes largely unused outside the winter months - our Weather tool is worth checking before you go, since Malbun's alpine elevation means conditions can shift quickly.
Bring low gearing for the Kulmstrasse detour and the final kilometer into Malbun, both of which regularly hit double-digit grades. The brief unpaved surface through the old Kulm tunnel is easy enough on a road bike but worth being ready for. The Berggasthaus Sücka, near the old tunnel, has recently been closed - a self-service vending machine with drinks, cheese, and snacks next door has been available as a substitute, but don't count on either being open. Malbun has restaurants and shops for a proper post-ride meal, so carry only what you need for the climb itself.
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.
Vaduz, Liechtenstein's capital, has plenty of restaurants and cafes for a pre-ride coffee or a post-ride meal, along with the city's small but distinctive castle grounds and museum district. Malbun, at the top, is a genuine ski town - most restaurants and lifts operate seasonally, so don't count on much being open outside the winter and summer high seasons. The climb is best ridden between late spring and early autumn; snow can linger at Malbun's elevation into May.
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