Oberjoch Pass (from Bad Hindelang)
Category 28.5 km
Distance
430 m
Elevation Gain
5.1%
Average Gradient
11%
Max Gradient
The Oberjoch Pass (1,178m) holds a remarkable distinction: the eastern approach from Bad Hindelang contains 106 hairpin bends — one of the highest hairpin counts of any paved road in Germany and a number that draws cyclists as much for the novelty as the gradient. The 8.5km from Bad Hindelang to the summit is genuinely scenic — the Allgäu Alps spread south and west, the Hindelang valley narrows dramatically below, and the road's multiple direction reversals mean the view constantly reframes itself. The gradient of 5.1% average is manageable throughout, with the steepest sections arriving in the upper switchback sequence at around 11%. The pass itself sits on the German-Austrian border; the descent into the Inn valley on the Austrian side is fast and wide-open. Oberjoch village at the summit is a small ski resort with cafés and accommodation, making it an obvious coffee stop.
Pro Tip
The descent from Oberjoch into Austria on the B179 toward Reutte is 15km of fast, open road into the Inn valley — one of the finest descents in the German-Austrian border region. Crossing into Austria and returning via the Vilstal valley and the Vilsalpsee — a dead-end road to one of the Allgäu's finest Alpine lakes — adds a scenic extension before reascending to Oberjoch for the return. Total loop from Bad Hindelang: approximately 55km with 900m of climbing.
Part of
Cycling in Bavarian Alps