Mountain Biking Brandnertal: Trail Guide to Bikepark Brandnertal
Mountain Biking Brandnertal: Trail Guide to Bikepark Brandnertal
A first-person guide to one of the Alps' most talked-about bike destinations in 2026 — the jump lines, the fast-access gondola, and the quiet world of natural singletrack that most visitors never find.
There was a moment early in 2026 when Brandnertal was everywhere. Instagram, YouTube, MTB forums — this small Vorarlberg valley had become the season's social media darling, and the marketing was working: the bikepark had leaned fully into the jump-line crowd, the younger freestyle audience, the kind of riders who hit a park the way others hit a skatepark. Energy, progression, tricks, style. That whole world.
I'm not that kind of rider. I'm the guy on the e-enduro with 170mm travel looking for rocks and roots and singletrack that takes you somewhere rather than somewhere that loops back to the start. So I watched the Brandnertal hype with mild detachment — noted it, filed it under "worth checking," and moved on.
Then it came up on my Gravity Card tour list, and I found myself there in early June 2026. And the part that surprised me wasn't the bikepark, which was exactly what I expected — well-built, energetic, genuinely fun if that's your genre — but rather the moment when the gondola stopped at the summit station instead of the middle, and I rode out into open alpine terrain with almost nobody else around.
If you know what you're looking for at Brandnertal, you'll find two completely different mountains in one lift ticket. Most people never find the second one. This guide is for both types — and a honest account of how they sit next to each other.
A bit of context: I spent four days in Brandnertal at the start of the 2026 season. A friend of mine lives nearby, and what started as a visit turned into a proper boys' weekend — the best way to get to know a new spot. I rode every trail and line multiple times, the black jump line aside, so I have a fairly thorough feel for the place. Two natural trails were still closed due to the seasonal grouse protection closure, which means I'll probably have to come back in July. There are worse obligations.
Bikepark Brandnertal at a Glance
| Stat | Details |
|---|---|
| Location | Tschengla 5, 6707 Bürserberg, Vorarlberg, Austria |
| Total trails | 12 designated trails + freeride zones and features |
| Trail network | ~30 km |
| Lift system | 1 gondola (new 2025): middle station + summit stop |
| Season 2026 | Mid-May → 1 November |
| Opening day 2026 | 8 May 2026 |
| Seasonal closure | ST-04 + ST-05 (Loischkopf trails): closed until 15 June each year |
| Gravity Card | ✓ Accepted — valid for all bikepark lifts |
| Trailforks | Bikepark Brandnertal |
| Website | bikepark-brandnertal.at |
What kind of place is this? Bikepark Brandnertal is primarily a freeride and jump-line destination with a strong personality: young audience, high-energy atmosphere, social media presence, and some genuinely excellent shaped terrain. It also has an often-overlooked upper tier of natural singletrails that are enduro in character and far quieter. Via the A14 motorway, it's one of the most easily reached bike parks from Germany and Switzerland — which is both an asset (easy logistics) and a consideration (it gets busy, especially on weekends).
The New Gondola — 2025's Best Upgrade
The single most significant change at Brandnertal in recent years is the new gondola, which replaced the old slow chairlift system in 2025. It's worth understanding how it works because it fundamentally changes the experience.
The old system involved two separate lifts — a slow, single-seat chairlift for the upper section that riders estimated at 9–17 minutes ride time, plus queuing. On popular weekends, you could spend 45 minutes getting back to the top. This was the main complaint about the park.
The new gondola is a single, modern cable car with two stops:
- Middle station — where all the major bikepark lines (ST-01 through ST-06) begin
- Summit station / Loischkopf — for the natural trails and enduro terrain
The bike-handling system is genuinely clever: a separate gondola car carries up to 8 bikes in a rotating holder. You're assigned a numbered slot, hang your bike on arrival, and when you reach the top, the holder rotates to present your bike back to you in the same order. No fighting over bikes in a packed gondola, no scratches from other people's handlebars. For loaded e-MTBs it's clean and efficient.
Ride time back to the top: on normal days around 5–10 minutes. On opening weekend (8 May 2026) with around 1,000 riders on site the queues were longer — but the gondola's throughput was still noticeably better than the old system.
E-bikes: permitted on all gondola rides. No battery removal required.
Trail Tables
Bikepark Lines — Middle Station and Below
All of these trails are accessible by exiting at the middle station. They all terminate in the valley area where the dropzone, airbag, and skills zones are located.
| Trail | Code | Type | Difficulty | Character |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tschengla Unchained | ST-01 | Flow line | Easy (Blue) | 3.1 km of machine-built flow. Berms, rollers, optional jumps, some forest sections. Ideal for beginners, kids, and anyone wanting a relaxed warm-up or quick laps. Rebuilt for 2026. |
| Tschäck the Ripper | ST-02 | Freeride | Intermediate (Red) | The main jump line. Tables, berms, sharkfins, doubles, and a three-stage jump sequence at the end where the ambitious try tricks. Reshaped for 2026. Jumps are rollable but reward speed. |
| Tschack Norris | ST-03 | Downhill | Difficult (Black) | The classic DH line. Technical, fast, rooty in sections. Black rating is honest. |
| Tscharlie Tschäplin | ST-04 | Freeride | Intermediate (Red) | Red freeride line. Closed until 15 June each year (grouse protection). |
| Tschonny Noxwil | ST-05 | Enduro | Intermediate–Difficult | Natural enduro line, rooty and technical. Closed until 15 June each year (grouse protection). |
| Tschäckie Tschan | ST-06 | Enduro | Difficult (Black) | The rooty, raw, natural enduro line. Black rating is earned. Great fun for enduro riders willing to commit. Multiple line options throughout. |
| Burtscha Trail | ST-07 | Singletrail | Intermediate (Red) | Natural singletrail connector from Burtschasattel to the Tschengla area. |
| Schmalzbödile Trail | ST-09 | Singletrail | Easy | Transfer/connector path. |
Also at the valley station:
- Dropzone: A tiered drop line with drops in multiple sizes — small, medium, and large — for practicing drop technique in a controlled environment. New for 2025/26.
- Airbag / Airtime Zone: A jump with an inflatable landing for progression riders learning airtime. Ride Tschengla Unchained and look for the turn-off toward the airbag area near the finish zone.
- Whip Zone: Dedicated jump with a lip for practising whips.
- Kids' Area: Small features and a conveyor uplift for young riders. Being expanded with its own small park from July.
- Tschina Wild: An advanced freeride area — larger features than the Tschäck the Ripper, not always open. Access requires signing a liability waiver at the Wallride shop and riding with at least one partner watching the line. A key is issued at the shop to unlock the entry drop. Not for casual visitors — this is serious airtime territory.
Natural Trails — Summit Station and Loischkopf
These are the trails most first-time visitors miss. To reach them, you stay on the gondola past the middle station to the summit stop. From here the terrain opens up, and the crowd thins noticeably — the freeride audience exits mostly at the middle station, making the summit area quieter and wilder.
To get from the summit station to the singletrails, there's a short pedal transfer — partly flat, partly with a gentle climb. That's the natural filter: you won't find riders on pure DH bikes up here.
The two main options from the summit station:
| Trail | Code | Type | Difficulty | Distance | Descent | Character |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alte Statt Trail | ST-08 | Singletrail | Intermediate (Red) | ~3.5 km | ~500 m | Singletrail back to the bikepark valley station. Mixed natural and raw terrain, some gravel sections. Shared with hikers — closes daily at 17:00. |
| Parpfienz Trail | ST-10 | Singletrail | Easy | ~3.8 km | ~300 m | Easy-rated singletrail with sweeping panorama views down the valley toward Brand. Some short counter-climbs mid-trail. Technical in the final section. Ends in the valley at Brand village. |
| Upper Tschoy Ride | ST-11 | Flow trail | Easy | — | — | Flow trail connector below the Parpfienz Trail toward Brand. |
| Lower Tschoy Ride | ST-12 | Flow trail | Easy–Intermediate | ~1.6 km | ~180 m | The valley flow connector between Bürserberg and Brand. Designed for families and average riders, but enjoyable at speed. |
The full loop from summit → Brand: Gondola to summit → short pedal transfer → Parpfienz Trail → Upper Tschoy Ride → Lower Tschoy Ride → Brand village. Total: 6.2 km of descending, 660 m elevation loss. From Brand, the Loischkopfbahn gondola (separate from bikepark gondola) can return you. Check Gravity Card coverage for this lower lift in advance.
Trail Highlights in Detail
The Summit Loop — Brandnertal's Hidden Enduro Side
The trail I actually came for — and the one that most people who treat Brandnertal as a pure bikepark never find — is the combination of summit station access, the Parpfienz Trail, and the Tschoy Rides down to Brand.
The character shift when you exit at the summit instead of the middle is immediate. The bikepark infrastructure is behind you. Ahead: open mountain terrain, panoramic views down the Brandnertal, and singletrack that rewards navigation and terrain reading rather than progression toward a shaped feature. The pedal transfer keeps DH bikes out and creates a completely different atmosphere — quieter, more purposeful, less sessioned.
The Parpfienz Trail (ST-10) is officially rated easy, and the overall difficulty is accessible — but that rating comes with the context of counter-climbs and a technical finale that require attention. The middle section is sweeping open singletrack above the valley with views that make you want to slow down. The final section tightens up and gets rockier before spitting you out into the upper end of Brand village.
From there the Upper and Lower Tschoy Rides flow you down the remaining 180 m to the valley floor in Brand. The Lower Tschoy Ride (ST-12) is shaped flowtrail — built berms, rollable jumps — but it's enjoyable rather than demanding and a good contrast to the natural character above. Brand village at the bottom offers restaurants and cafés for a proper post-ride stop before you sort out the return.
Alte Statt Trail (ST-08) is the other option from the summit: a red-rated singletrail running roughly 3.5 km back to the bikepark valley station. With 500 m of descent it's a proper trail, with a mixed character of raw natural sections and gravel crossings. The key detail: it's a shared path (with hikers) and closes daily at 17:00. If you're planning this as the last run of the day, build in enough time before the 17:00 close.
Tschäckie Tschan — the Enduro Highlight in the Bikepark
For natural terrain riders who aren't there for jump lines, Tschäckie Tschan (ST-06) is probably the most satisfying option in the main bikepark. Black-rated and genuinely earned — rooty, raw, multiple line options throughout, and demands full commitment. Not a DH track, not a shaped freeride line: this is an enduro descent that happens to be located in a bikepark. Multiple riders have put in 10+ laps in a single day and still found new lines.
The character has been described as "endless roots" by one rider — which is either your idea of a good day or your idea of a flat tyre. Plan for a high-grip tyre setup and suspension tuned to absorb square-edge hits rather than optimised for big air.
Tschäck the Ripper Jump Line — What the Park is Known For
For completeness (and because you'll end up on it sooner or later if you're with friends who jump): the Tschäck the Ripper (ST-02) is the main freeride line and drives Brandnertal's social media profile.
Reshaped for 2026, it runs roughly 3 km with tables, berms, sharkfins, and a three-stage finale where riders regularly try tricks. The tables are rollable — you can roll everything on your first lap without leaving the ground — but the tables are long enough that you get real airtime when you're riding it properly. That distinguishes Brandnertal's jump line from some comparable parks where the jumps are built more for confidence than consequence.
The blue Tschengla Unchained (ST-01, 3.1 km) runs alongside and is a genuine beginner/family route — smooth, well-bermed, genuinely accessible. Good for warming up, good for kids, good for riders who aren't ready for the Ripper yet but still want to do laps.
Early Season Note — Seasonal Trail Closures
A practical note for early-season visitors: Tscharlie Tschäplin (ST-04) and Tschonny Noxwil (ST-05), both in the Loischkopf area, are closed until 15 June each year — for the protection of grouse breeding season. These include some of the more interesting natural terrain options — ST-05 in particular is the enduro-intermediate line with significant roots and technical character.
When I visited in early June 2026, both were still closed. The park manages this with reroutes (Schmalzbödile Trail as the transfer alternative). It's not a dealbreaker — there's plenty to ride — but plan accordingly if those specific trails are on your list.
Rider Level Guide
| Rider Type | Best Areas | Expected Experience |
|---|---|---|
| Complete Beginner / Kids | Tschengla Unchained, Kids' Area, Airbag | Genuinely good beginner infrastructure; kids' area expanding summer 2026 |
| Intermediate / Blue–Red | Tschengla Unchained, Tschäck the Ripper (rolled), Parpfienz Trail | Core audience for the park; jump line is accessible when rolled |
| Advanced / Red–Black | Tschäckie Tschan, Tschack Norris, Alte Statt Trail, full summit loop | Strong options; natural terrain side is especially worth doing |
| Expert / Freeride | Tschina Wild, Tschäck the Ripper at the limit, Tscharlie Tschäplin (from 15 June) | Built specifically for this audience |
Honest assessment for natural terrain riders: Brandnertal is primarily a bikepark destination and doesn't apologise for it. If you're mainly coming for natural singletrails, calibrate your expectations for the core bikepark — it does what it does very well, but it's not an enduro area in the middle section. The summit area with the Parpfienz loop is genuinely good, and Tschäckie Tschan gives you real enduro character. But if your baseline is full days of natural alpine singletrail, build your trip around Brandnertal as a half-to-full-day addition rather than a multi-day base.
For mixed groups: Brandnertal works very well for groups with different riding styles. The bikepark crowd can lap the Tschäck the Ripper all day while the enduro riders do the summit loop and Tschäckie Tschan. The gondola brings everyone back to the same point. A day here makes everyone happy.
On the Ground
Campervan and Camping
Brandnertal has one of the better-organised campervan setups in the Gravity Card network — not free like the Nauders spot, but solid and practical.
Official Bikepark Camper Zone:
- Location: Upper car park terraces at the bikepark
- Access: Bikepark users with valid lift ticket only
- Check-in: Wallride Bike & Snow Store at the valley station (or online pre-registration). Arriving after 17:00: check in the following day from 09:00.
- Cost: €20 per vehicle per night + €3.60 local tax per person per night
- Facilities: Shower/WC container on the top terrace. Open around the clock on bikepark operating days.
- Rules: Quiet hours 22:00–08:00. No noise, no open fires, no tents, no generators. Compact parking — forward-parked vehicles only. No reservations possible.
- Park only in the marked campervan zone on arrival. Overnight parking on all other areas is subject to police enforcement.
Bonus: On the way back from the Alte Statt Trail, you pass a small waterfall close to the bikepark access road. In summer the water is cold enough for a proper ice bath — one of those unplanned extras that makes arriving on two wheels worth more than the trail itself.
Alternative campsites if the bikepark zone is full:
| Name | Address | Website |
|---|---|---|
| Alpinspot Brand – Stellplatz | Mühledörfle 7, 6708 Brand | alpinspotbrand.at |
| Campingplatz Heidi Bürserberg | Boden 5, 6707 Bürserberg | burtschahof.at |
| Campingplatz Auhof Bürs | 6706 Bürs | auhofbuers.at |
| Alpencamping Nenzing | Garfrenga 1, 6710 Nenzing | alpencamping.at |
| Panorama Camping Sonnenberg | Hinteroferst 12, 6714 Nüziders | camping-sonnenberg.com |
Supply note: There's no supermarket directly at the bikepark. For food shopping you'll need to go to the valley — Bürs or Bludenz are the nearest options (approximately 15–20 minutes down the mountain road).
Food and Coffee
At the bikepark: The "Unicorn" sun terrace at the bikepark serves as the main food and drink hub during operating hours — good for mid-day recovery, cold drinks, and watching riders in the lower sections.
Brand village: After completing the Parpfienz loop down to Brand, the village has multiple restaurants and cafés. This is a genuine reason to do the full descent loop rather than returning via the Alte Statt Trail — the post-ride stop in Brand with lunch and views down the valley is a properly good end to a morning. Specific recommendation: the Heuboda is a reliable stop — we went back multiple times. The pizza is €12.50, generously topped, and large enough that three people share two pizzas comfortably.
Bike Shop and Rental
Wallride Bike & Snow Store at the valley station is the bikepark's integrated shop:
- Rental: Propain bikes available. Day rate approximately €100 per bike + €20 for a protection gear package (full-face helmet, body armour, knee pads) — the "First Try" package designed to lower the barrier to first-time bikepark riding.
- Shop: Fox, Troy Lee Designs, POC, Endura and other brands; helmets, armour, gloves, knee pads including kids' sizes; common parts and consumables including Maxxis tyres.
- Workshop: Minor repairs and quick fixes on-site. Not a full-service centre, but adequate for typical trail-day problems.
Helmet requirement: Full-face helmet mandatory in the bikepark and on all freeride lines. The Wallride shop rental includes this. If you own an open-face enduro helmet, bring your full-face anyway — or rent one.
Season and Conditions
| Period | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Mid-May → 14 June | Open — partial | All core bikepark lines open; ST-04 and ST-05 (Loischkopf) closed until 15 June (grouse protection) |
| 15 June → October | Full programme | ST-04 + ST-05 open; complete trail network accessible |
| July–August | Peak season | Highest crowds; weekends can get very busy; arrive early to avoid gondola queues |
| September | Excellent | Less busy; stable conditions; trails well-ridden and grippy |
| October–1 November | Late season | Some higher trails may close due to weather; lower lines excellent |
| Season end: 1 November 2026 | One of the latest closing dates in the Gravity Card network |
Weekend note: Brandnertal's proximity to the A14 makes it one of the most easily reached bike parks in the Alps from Germany, Switzerland, and western Austria. On peak summer weekends — especially July–August — gondola queues can be significant. Come mid-week, on opening day, or accept that you'll be waiting on a Saturday afternoon.
Weather: The Rätikon range is relatively sheltered compared to the main Alpine chain, but still prone to afternoon summer thunderstorms. The machine-built bikepark lines drain fairly well — fresh roots after rain on Tschäckie Tschan are a different story. Check forecasts and start early.
Getting There
By Car
| From | Drive time | Route |
|---|---|---|
| Stuttgart | ~2 hours | ~170 km via A8/A96 to Lindau, then A14 to exit Bludenz, mountain road to Bürserberg |
| Munich | ~2 hours | ~170 km via A96 toward Lindau, then A14 to exit Bludenz |
| Zurich | ~1.5 hours | ~110 km via A1/A13 to Sargans, then A14 through Feldkirch to exit Bludenz |
| Vienna | ~4.5 hours | ~430 km via A1 and A14 |
| Frankfurt | ~4 hours | ~360 km via A5/A8 and A96/A14 |
From the A14, take the Bludenz exit and follow signs toward Bürs and Bürserberg. The road climbs for around 10 minutes to the bikepark car park. The approach is well-signposted.
Parking is at the valley station. On peak days the upper car park terraces are reserved for the campervan zone and require lift ticket verification. Normal day parking is in the lower areas.
By Public Transport
Brandnertal is reachable by train to Bludenz (ÖBB connections from Innsbruck, Bregenz, and Zurich HB), then local bus toward Bürs/Bürserberg. Check current bus timetables at vorarlbergmobil.at — the connection is less frequent than the bikepark traffic would really demand, so confirm times in advance.
Practical Info
| Info | Details |
|---|---|
| Address | Tschengla 5, 6707 Bürserberg, Vorarlberg, Austria |
| Region | Rätikon, Vorarlberg, Austria |
| Altitude | ~900 m (valley station) to ~1,700 m (Loischkopf summit station) |
| Currency | Euro (€). Card payment at bikepark; bring cash for mountain huts. |
| Language | German (Vorarlberg dialect) |
| Mobile coverage | Good at the bikepark; occasional gaps on upper trails |
| Emergency (Mountain Rescue) | 140 (Bergrettung Austria) / 112 (general emergency) |
| Trail Map | PDF download at bikepark-brandnertal.at/strecken or Komoot (linked from official website) |
| Navigation | Komoot collection available on the official Bikepark Brandnertal page |
| Gravity Card | Valid for all bikepark lifts. Details at gravity-card.com |
My Setup for This Trip
The park itself doesn't strictly need an e-MTB — everything is lift-served, and the summit transfer climbs are manageable. But the Amflow PL setup made the connector sections noticeably more comfortable:
- Bike: Amflow PL e-MTB
- Fork: 170mm Öhlins RFX 38
- Shock: EXT Coil
- Tyres: Continental Kryptotal front and rear
For the bikepark lines, 170mm travel is more than necessary but never a problem. For Tschäckie Tschan, the coil shock absorbed the rooty hits well. The Kryptotals held on the wet roots in the lower sections of the enduro lines — where a faster-rolling tyre would have washed out on the diagonal root surface.
For rental: The Wallride shop's Propain fleet is a reasonable option for those trying the park for the first time. Day rental (~€100) plus protection gear (~€20) is the accessible entry point. If you own a decent enduro or trail bike, bring it — the park sits well within the capabilities of any modern 29er enduro setup.
FAQ
Is Brandnertal worth it for natural terrain riders who don't care about jump lines?
Yes — with calibrated expectations. The bikepark is the core offering and excellent at what it does. The natural terrain side — summit loop via Parpfienz, Tschäckie Tschan, Alte Statt Trail — is genuinely good and less crowded. You'll get more out of a day by riding both sides than by ignoring the park entirely. But if you're planning a pure enduro weekend, the summit trails are supplementary rather than the main programme.
When do the upper Loischkopf trails open?
15 June each year. Tscharlie Tschäplin (ST-04) and Tschonny Noxwil (ST-05) are under grouse breeding protection until then. All other trails, including the bikepark lines and the summit singletrails, are accessible from the park's opening day.
Is Brandnertal on the Gravity Card?
Yes. The Gravity Card covers all lifts at Bikepark Brandnertal. Gravity Card 2026 pricing: €680 adult / €510 youth / €340 child, valid 4 April – 8 November 2026. For the lower Brand area lift connections (return from the Lower Tschoy Ride) check Gravity Card coverage at the ticket desk on arrival.
How busy does it get on weekends?
Very busy in peak season. Brandnertal's proximity to the A14 makes it a weekend destination for a large catchment area. The new gondola handles throughput better than the old lift system, but queues at the middle station on a sunny Saturday in July will still be 15–30 minutes. Weekdays are noticeably quieter.
How long does the gondola take to reach the summit station?
Under normal operating conditions, around 5–10 minutes. The new 2025 gondola is significantly faster than the old chairlift system, which could take 45+ minutes including queuing.
What is the Tschina Wild, and can I ride it?
The Tschina Wild is a large-jump freeride area at the bikepark — bigger features than the Tschäck the Ripper, with a different risk profile. It requires: (1) signing a liability waiver at the Wallride shop, (2) always riding with at least one partner watching the line, and (3) a key from the shop to unlock the entry drop. Expert jumpers only — the first feature alone will tell you whether it's within your level.
Can I ride from the bikepark to Brand and back in a day?
Yes. The Parpfienz Trail → Tschoy Rides → Brand loop takes roughly half a morning. From Brand the Loischkopfbahn brings you back to the bikepark area (check Gravity Card coverage for that lift separately). With both lifts available, you can run this loop multiple times in a day alongside time in the main bikepark — a logical combination.
Is the Alte Statt Trail always open?
It closes daily at 17:00 as it's a shared path with hikers. It also falls under the Loischkopf trail group, so check whether seasonal closures affect the route on your specific visit date.
Conclusion
Brandnertal is a bikepark that knows exactly what it is. The marketing works, the social media presence is real, and the trail crew has built something that a specific audience — jump line riders, progression seekers, young freestyle culture — finds excellent. If that's your world, you'll have a very good time.
If it's not — and it's not mine — there's still a worthwhile day here, but it requires looking past the headline. Take the gondola to the summit. Pedal the short transfer. Ride the Parpfienz loop down to Brand, eat somewhere in the village, and ride back up. Do a few laps on Tschäckie Tschan for the roots and the enduro satisfaction. And if you time it right — after 15 June, on a weekday, when Tschonny Noxwil is open and the park isn't yet packed with weekend riders — you'll have a genuinely rounded mountain biking day without having to be someone you're not.
The new gondola removes the main historical complaint. The bikepark side is as good as it's ever been. And the summit trails remain the quiet reward for those willing to pedal the transfer.
Visited: Early June 2026. Part of the Gravity Card Gebiete Entdecker Tour. Some upper trails (ST-04, ST-05) were still closed on this visit due to seasonal grouse protection.
Current trail status at status.bikepark-brandnertal.at. Trail data: trailforks.com/region/bikepark-brandnertal.