18.2
PDI
9 mi
DISTANCE
3,020 ft
GAINED
6.2 %
AVG. GRADE
FULL CLIMB STATS
INTRO
Hahntennjoch from Elmen is the western, Lech valley approach to the Hahntennjoch, the 1,894 m (6,214 ft) pass that links the Lechtal with Imst and the Inn valley. From just outside Elmen it climbs 14.6 km (9.0 mi) and gains 920 m (3,020 ft) at a 6.2% average grade. It ranks #43 in Austria by our rankings.
That average hides a climb of three very different parts. A steep opening ramp lifts you out of the Lech valley into the Bschlaber Tal, a quiet, wooded side valley. The middle 7 km (4.3 mi) are close to flat as the road runs up the valley past Bschlabs, the tiny seat of the municipality of Pfafflar. Then, just before the hamlet of Boden, the pass road turns off and everything changes: the last 5 km (3.1 mi) average almost 10% on a narrow road that winds up past the summer-only hamlet of Pfafflar into open alpine terrain, with the pass itself hidden until nearly the end.
This is the far quieter side of the Hahntennjoch. Riders describe having the western road largely to themselves apart from a few motorcycles, while the Imst side (see our Hahntennjoch (Imst) page) carries most of the weekend traffic. The pass section is closed in winter, and in 2026 it reopened on May 11.
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. Hahntennjoch from Elmen averages 6.2% over 14.6 km (9.0 mi), gaining 920 m (3,020 ft) from 962 m (3,156 ft) to 1,866 m (6,123 ft) at the end of our route, just below the pass sign.
The overall average is misleading. The first 2 km (1.2 mi) out of the Lech valley average about 9%. From about km 2 to km 9 the road barely climbs - several kilometers through Bschlabs average under 2%, with short dips along the way - so this is the place to eat, drink and save your legs.
The real climb is the final 5.5 km (3.4 mi) from the Boden turnoff, which average about 9.4%. The steepest 5 km (3.1 mi) average 9.9%, the steepest 2 km (1.2 mi) 10.9% and the steepest kilometer 11.5%, starting at about km 10.3 below Pfafflar. The steepest 500 m (0.3 mi) average 12.2%, and the steepest 100 m (109 yd) reach 12.7%. The last half kilometer to the top eases slightly.
Roadway: Paved the entire way. From Elmen the route follows the L 266 Bschlaber Straße up the Bschlaber Tal to the Boden area, then turns onto the pass road, the L 72, for the final climb to the Hahntennjoch. The western side is noticeably narrower than the Imst side, in places little more than a single lane, so ride predictably on the bends. The section from Boden over the pass is closed in winter because of avalanche danger - in 2026 it reopened on May 11 - and it is generally open from late May to late October, depending on snow. Storms can also close the pass at short notice: mudslides shut the road on August 7-8, 2026. Check Tirol's road reports before you go.
Traffic: Light on the way up the Bschlaber Tal, which carries little more than local traffic for its three small villages. The pass road gets busier on fine summer weekends, when many motorcyclists and drivers cross it. Since 2020, motorcycles with a registered stationary noise level over 95 dB(A) have been banned in season on the roads around the Hahntennjoch, including the L 266 and the L 72, which has taken the edge off the loudest of that traffic.
Parking: Elmen is a small Lech valley village. Park considerately in the village and ride the roughly 1 km (0.6 mi) to the start. At the top, the municipality of Pfafflar runs gravel car parks at the pass, which may ask for a voluntary fee. They're a handy meeting point, or the place to start if you only want to ride the descent and climb back up the steep upper section.
Provisions: Elmen has a guesthouse restaurant, the Gasthof Elmer Hof, and the villages up the valley - Bschlabs, Boden and Pfafflar - have small guesthouses and farm stays, but don't count on anything being open. Fill up in the Lech valley and carry enough for the steep final 5 km (3.1 mi), where there's nowhere to stop.
Gear: Gear for the last third, not the average. Sustained pitches of 10-12% call for a compact chainset with a 32- to 34-tooth largest cog. The pass sits close to 1,900 m (6,234 ft) and is often much cooler and windier than the Lech valley, so bring a jacket and gloves for the descent, which is steep and narrow on this side.
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.
The Bschlaber Tal is one of the quietest corners of Tirol. Its three villages - Bschlabs, Boden and Pfafflar - make up the municipality of Pfafflar, whose coat of arms shows three hay barns, one for each. Bschlabs, recorded as early as 1284 as "Bislafes," is thought to take its name from its position "behind the waters" where the streams meet, and the valley was settled in part by religious refugees from the Engadine. Its church, Maria Schnee, grew from a chapel consecrated in 1648, with the tower and onion dome added in the 1770s - a worthwhile stop as you roll through around km 5.6.
Higher up, the hamlet of Pfafflar is lived in only during the summer, and the side valleys above Boden lead to mountain huts such as the Hanauer Hütte for anyone combining a ride with a hike. For accommodation, the valley has a handful of guesthouses in Bschlabs and Boden and the Berghaus Pfafflar near the top.
Over the pass, the road drops steeply to Imst in the Inn valley - see our Hahntennjoch (Imst) page for that side, and for a big day, ride over and back. The summit is close to 1,900 m, so check the forecast at the top with our Weather tool before you set out.
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