Velill Trail

When you say Paznaun, you can look forward to high Alpine terrain. After all, the Velill Trail starts at just under 2,800 metres above sea level on the Idjoch. An impressive 10.3 km descent and 1,400 metres in altitude lie ahead of us all the way down to the valley. To get started, however, we first take the comfortable cable car up to the Idjoch - the transition from Ischgl to Samnaun. Here we not only follow in the footsteps of geological features and old muleteers and smugglers, but also in the tracks of the Ischgl Ironbike Marathon.

The first few metres give us a taste of the trail's character:

• close to nature
• embedded in the alpine rocky landscape
• winds along the slope
• crosses between large rocks and shimmering green layers of rock
• largely runs alongside the stream of the same name

Its biting high alpine character is somewhat softened from the point where it meets the Velillbach stream: From here, the trail picks up the gentle gradient of the stream, crossing it from time to time and increasingly disappearing into the forest. The trail becomes steeper and more challenging. Roots, stones and small steps force us to concentrate. We can focus completely - this is what flow feels like.

From this point onwards, we find ourselves in the Velilltal valley, where we hardly notice anything of the winter piste. This high alpine valley is quiet and almost untouched and spoils us with a panoramic view that is second to none: Saumspitze and Seekopf are the evocative names of the 3,000 metre peaks on the other side of the valley.

Finally, we reach the Obere Velillalpe. An old alpine pasture ensemble - a village of huts that is no longer in use - is the perfect place to take a breather and enjoy a snack. We reflect on what has happened in Ischgl in recent years in terms of biking. A new trail has been created directly below the Flimjochbahn cable car, which is perfect for beginners to get used to the sometimes challenging natural trails. You can also ride down towards the Engadin to explore the entire area - just like the smugglers did back in the day.

We cross the last few metres along the finishing slope - with the pretty town of Ischgl always in view. To be honest, we would have expected something different here in the Paznaun - Ischgl bike region... in line with the superlatives "bigger, faster, further". But we have found a real top-class natural trail. And we felt closely connected to the high alpine mountain landscape. Because the Velilltrail single trail perfectly reflects the terrain of the Paznaun mountains. It is a trail that you have to work hard for, but which rewards you with panoramic views, cultural history and a focus on the elemental. A signature trail, in other words.