Allgäu Alps Pass Loop

Overview

The Allgäu Alps Pass Loop is one of those rides that earns its reputation the moment the road tilts upward. Measuring 70.9 kilometres and beginning and ending in the same place, it is a self-contained circuit through the Bavarian Alps of southern Germany — a region where dark forest, alpine meadow and jagged limestone crowd in on every side. With 1,299 metres of total climbing packed into its distance, this is not a route that lets you settle into a rhythm and forget where you are. It is a proper pass loop, defined by the effort of the ascent and the reward of the descent, and stitched together entirely on asphalt.

The Route

As a loop, the ride returns you to your starting point, which makes logistics simple and the sense of journey complete. You set off, climb into the heart of the range, and come back down having closed the circle. Over 70.9 kilometres the elevation profile does the storytelling: 1,299 metres of accumulated ascent means the road is rarely flat for long, alternating between grinding climbs and the fast, sweeping descents that make Alpine riding so addictive. Because every kilometre gained on the way up is eventually given back, the loop rewards riders who can pace an ascent and then trust their handling on the way down.

Key Climbs

The centrepiece of this loop is the Riedbergpass, the highest paved road crossing in the Allgäu Alps and a name that carries real weight among German climbers. Crossing it is the emotional and physical heart of the ride — the point where the loop stops being a scenic tour and becomes a genuine test. The Riedbergpass is the sort of climb you plan a day around: a steady, committing ascent that draws cyclists from across the region specifically to say they have ridden it. On this loop it is the summit that anchors the 1,299 metres of climbing, the high point from which the return leg unspools. Everything before it is a build-up; everything after is the descent and roll home.

Terrain & Surface

The entire loop is ridden on asphalt, which shapes the character of the day. There is no gravel to negotiate, no cobbled sections to rattle through — just sealed mountain road from start to finish. That surface consistency lets you run a standard road setup with confidence, keep speed on the descents, and focus your attention on gradient and gearing rather than traction. Alpine asphalt has its own texture, of course, weathered by mountain seasons, but across the full 70.9 kilometres you are on tarmac, which makes this a pure road-cycling proposition rather than a mixed-surface adventure.

When to Ride

High passes in the Bavarian Alps are a seasonal pleasure. The warmer months are the natural window for tackling the Riedbergpass, when the pass road is clear and the meadows are green. Early starts help you climb before the day heats up and before traffic builds on the popular pass roads. Given 1,299 metres of climbing and a summit crossing, choose a day with settled weather — mountain conditions can shift quickly, and a long asphalt descent is far more enjoyable, and safer, on dry roads.

Logistics

Because the route is a loop, you can park or base yourself at the start and finish in the same spot, ride the full 70.9 kilometres, and return without needing shuttle transport or a point-to-point plan. That simplicity is one of the loop's quiet strengths. Come prepared for real climbing: gearing suited to a sustained pass ascent, layers for a cool descent off the high point, and enough food and water to see you through 1,299 metres of vertical gain. Standard road tyres are all the asphalt surface asks of you.

Summary

The Allgäu Alps Pass Loop distils everything good about riding in the Bavarian Alps into a single 70.9-kilometre circuit: 1,299 metres of climbing, an all-asphalt surface, and the iconic Riedbergpass at its heart. It begins and ends in the same place, yet the ride between those points — up to the highest paved pass in the Allgäu and back down again — is what makes it unforgettable.