14 Upper Hills Gravel Loop: Schwarzenburg - Riggisberg

Naturpark Gantrisch -

Up into the hilly country, over meadows, pastures and through forests. On this varied circular tour we also cross a wide variety of villages such as Rüschegg, Riggisberg and Rüeggisberg.

Past Schwarzenburg Castle, the route leads through the village forest along forest paths in the opposite direction to mountain bike route 501. The ascent to Riffenmatt is via Riedstätt along the road to Kalchstätten, along field paths to Sand and along asphalt roads to Neuenmatt. The view widens visibly towards the Mittelland and Jura. Shady forest roads lead from above Riffenmatt through the Scheidwald forest down to Rüschegg Heubach, the settlement centre of the sprawling municipality. Immediately you dive back in and climb up into the Längeneywald. Afterwards you cross the Biberzen over one of the wooden bridges before the route leads along Veloland Route 37 on asphalted side roads to Riggisberg. On a clear day, the snowy mountains of the Bernese Oberland now become visible. Riggisberg offers shopping and refreshment facilities. Follow the cycle route out of the village as far as the Abegg Foundation, then leave it via the Ey and Hasli farm groups in the direction of Taanwald. Through the shady Taanwald forest you reach the Than viewpoint. The panoramic route now continues via Mättiwil towards Rueggisberg and Schwanden. A rapid descent brings us down to the lowest point of the tour, where we cross the Schwarzwasser in the Wislisau. Along the course of the river with pretty resting and, depending on the water level, bathing places, we reach the hamlet of Rüschegg-Graben. On a goods road we now cycle again on a marked cycle route, this time the national number 4. With the ride via Henzischwand and Elisried in the direction of Schwarzenburg, we avoid the main road and thus return to the starting point Schwarzenburg over a wide plain.