!The road to Nenzinger Himmel has been closed to all traffic, including cyclists, since 2007 and is therefore not accessible for cycling! Only the first two kilometers at about 10% gradient up to the parking lot are still cyclable!
Cycling to heaven? The road to Nenzinger Himmel is close to where I stayed in 2005 (Brandnertal), and on the map, it seems like a decent cycling path, as there’s a significant elevation gain, and the road appears to be closed to cars. It’s often just a matter of buying a detailed map and then searching for interesting roads. That’s how I found this climb; the valley itself is called the Gamperdonatal. Arriving in Nenzing, it’s easiest to continue towards the center, and then, for example, park at the local Spar. Cycle uphill, and you’ll encounter the first signs for ‘Nenzinger Himmel’. Then the climb begins.
The first two kilometers go straight uphill with gradients around and above 10%. There are already 10 hairpin bends to conquer here. The road is naturally not as wide as on the major climbs with heavy traffic, but it’s perfectly cyclable. Aside from the steep gradients, that is. I hadn’t warmed up yet, so it was quite a challenge right from the start. Then you reach the forest, where cars are not allowed to proceed.
What follows next surprised me enormously, to say the least. The road is nothing like the other roads in the Montafon area; it’s a rugged and exceptionally beautiful area. After the forest, you cycle alongside (and under) a rock face, with a reason to stop and look around at every turn. The stream roars far below you, having carved its way through the narrow valley. The valley is sometimes so narrow that you could easily throw a stone across to the other side. In the first part, I rode mostly with my mouth wide open because I absolutely did not expect all this natural beauty. Rock walls, the stream, little waterfalls everywhere, caves, diverse flora; you’ll find everything here. Water drips from the rocks above onto the road, and the road climbs steeply.
Oh yes, the climbing. I must admit, I often got off the bike. Not because of the difficulty of the course but mainly to take pictures, although I utterly failed in that regard. You really have to experience it yourself to get a good impression. The gradients vary quite a bit. The first part of the climb is definitely the hardest, where the 10% gradient is often exceeded. A steep section can also be found immediately after the beautifully carved tunnel in the rock face. But as the valley widens again and meadows appear, it becomes flatter. The stream runs directly beside you here, and the scenery changes completely again. The really steep climbing is a bit less from here, and after crossing the stream again, we continue along the left side of the valley, now through a pine forest towards Nenzinger Himmel.
Ik reed de weg op een avond (startte om ongeveer 19:00 uur in Nenzing) en daarmee was het echt ontzettend stil hier. Het was bijna bedreigend, het invallende duister en de afwezigheid van de ‘beschaving’ en iedere vorm van leven. Je moet er niet aan denken om materiaalpech te krijgen onderweg… een mobiele telefoon is dan toch geen overbodige luxe.
I rode the road one evening (starting around 7:00 p.m. in Nenzing), and it was incredibly quiet. It was almost eerie, the encroaching darkness and the absence of ‘civilization’ and any form of life. You wouldn’t want to imagine getting a flat tire on the way… a mobile phone is certainly not superfluous here.
The Gamperdonatal towards Nenzinger Himmel is a beautiful climb for nature lovers. I was very impressed with the natural beauty. It’s not a Stelvio Pass in terms of climbing, although you do encounter steep sections (especially at the beginning). On the other hand, there are no exhaust fumes and the smell of scorched brakes (common on the major passes like Stelvio, Grossglockner, etc.).
