Made for the love of mountain biking
Let’s build and maintain the trails for Ettlingen and Karlsruhe!
We are a community of people who breathe forest air, wear mud as a badge of honor, and share our passion for riding. For our kids and youth, we create safe places to learn and real adventures; for the community, a space to push themselves and feel at home — with respect for nature and other forest users, with expertise, and above all, with heart.
Who we are — and what we’ve already delivered
Over 1,000 members — from beginners to female racers — and around 130 kids in our bike school, whom we coach in a structured, age-appropriate way.
Why we do this
Biking brings people together, keeps you fit, and fosters a connection to nature. At the same time, it requires clear rules and good infrastructure so that everyone feels comfortable in the forest—walkers, families, and mountain bikers alike. With our projects in Karlsruhe and Ettlingen, we provide accessible, well-managed trails across a range of difficulty levels.
Added value for Ettlingen: nature-friendly trails with a clear concept
In the Ettlingen municipal forest, in the Hellberg/Lehmgrube area, a trail park is currently being developed with trails with
different difficulty levels — from child-friendly routes to more challenging trails. As
Mehrwert für die Gemeinde entstehen: Bewegung, Jugendarbeit und ein attraktives Freizeitangebot im Einklang mit der Natur.
Lehmgrube area has been used for generations as a recreational area and a nature-based space to play
including by bike. In the upper part, there is already an unpaved trail that is currently used very little
ridden. There are currently no developed, legal trails in the area. The new trail park closes
this gap: clearly routed, signposted, easy to maintain, and nature-friendly.
Dedicated, legal trails in the region: including Strommasten Downhill and Dachs Till Dawn at the Wattkopf — both are run by us on a volunteer basis and kept in good shape on an ongoing basis.
Powerline Downhill (SMDH),
The SMDH is a legal trail that we built back in 2015 and have continuously maintained ever since
mountain bike trail. It is rated red and includes individual
“black” (DH) features. The line choice is clear and safety-focused, with optional ride-arounds at difficult sections and clear signage.
From Dachs Till Dawn, Karlsruhe
Der „Dachs“ ist als „blauer“ Trail konzipiert: Flowige, gut lesbare Abschnitte mit moderater Neigung, technisch abwechslungsreich, aber kontrollierbar – ideal für fortgeschrittene
beginners through to intermediate riders.
Ettlingen Horbachpark Pump Track
The pump track in Horbachpark in Ettlingen is operated by the city and was largely initiated by MTB Club Karlsruhe. Together, we succeeded in bringing the city administration, planners, technical experts, and sponsors together and guiding the project through to its successful completion.
Special thanks go to the Ettlingen Community Foundation and the Kinderhaus Foundation of Hans-Peter Kast, whose significant financial support made the realization of the pump track possible.
The loop offers an easy entry into bike sports: no gears, no jumps — but plenty of flow, balance, and technique. Children, teenagers, and families use it with MTBs, BMX bikes, skateboards, or scooters. For us as a club, it’s an ideal place to learn and train — we offer taster sessions and school programs here, teach riding skills and safety rules, and create active experiences that motivate and connect people.
What we can make possible together
Need · Impact · Opportunities
Need
Our internal survey paints a clear picture: most people come for the fun and the experience of being in nature.
on the bike — closely followed by the desire for exercise, health, and a good dose of adrenaline,
skills. Community also plays a major role, while competition is more of a secondary priority.
When it comes to the trail types people want, flowy, beginner-friendly trails and natural
natural, technical singletracks come out on top. In addition, many people would like an advanced line with an enduro /
downhill character, jump and drop features, as well as practice areas for skills training. Family-friendly
family-friendly trails and a pump track are seen as a valuable addition — especially for getting started, training,
and spending time outdoors together.
What people say
"Off the Trail"
Good trails aren’t a coincidence — they’re the result of hard work and constant maintenance. That takes tools, people power, and creativity. And we’ve got it: for years, the MTB Club community has been making this happen successfully, for example by building and maintaining the “Dachs” and “SMDH” trails ourselves. Hard to believe, but building in the forest is actually fun — and a welcome change for me. A growing number of people who love trail building meet up regularly, and we make sure the trails are kept clean
so the trails stay in shape, everything works, and it’s safe. Whether you’re an old hand or a newcomer, everyone pitches in and has a role to play.
a place with us. “Together, we keep the wheels turning.
PATRICK SCHURR 46 „TRAILBUILDER“
"JUNIOR COACH"
As a youth coach and head of the MTB Club Karlsruhe bike school, where we currently introduce more than 130 children and teenagers to mountain biking, and also as a passionate mountain biker myself, a wide range of riding opportunities and good trails in the region are important to me — especially in view of the growing demand.
number of people who are passionate about biking.
These offerings should be designed so that inexperienced riders find ideal conditions in a controlled environment, while experienced riders also get their money’s worth. Berms, natural and built features, steep steps, rock gardens, drops, and jumps in different difficulty levels help newcomers ease into new challenges slowly and safely, while advanced riders can improve and expand their skills with purpose — or simply enjoy the ride.
Beyond these benefits, clearly designated trail areas give mountain bikers a controlled environment to enjoy their sport without coming into conflict with other forest users.
THOMAS GENSSLER, HEAD OF THE MTB CLUB KARLSRUHE BIKE SCHOOL
AND FATHER OF TWO BIKE-ENTHUSIASTIC BOYS AGED 10 AND 14
“EXPERIENCE MOUNTAIN BIKING — FAMILY-FRIENDLY, YET STILL PACKED WITH ACTION!”
I’ve been mountain biking for years and have visited plenty of bike and trail parks across Europe. But why spend hours driving when the perfect conditions for an extensive trail network are right on our doorstep?
Ever since I got my kids (6 and 8 years old) excited about my hobby, we hear it more and more often: “When are we going mountain biking in the woods again?” Then there’s no time to sit in the car for long — it’s “gear on” and off we go. A new blue flow line would invite children and beginners to discover mountain biking safely and experience real moments of joy — right on our doorstep. The conditions couldn’t be better: grippy ground, easy berms, and a fairly moderate gradient could create an authentic trail feel that motivates without overwhelming.
Inspired by the character of the existing “From Dachs Till Down” trail.
In parallel, experienced riders should get their money’s worth, too. Drops, tables, gaps, and steep berms can be integrated in a way that lets everyone choose their own level — so nobody gets bored. Whether young or old, beginner or advanced, in the end only one thing matters: having fun and enjoying nature.
SEBASTIAN OEKING, COACH, MTB CLUB KARLSRUHE BIKE SCHOOL
What we take away from this
- Act now: Implementing legal mountain bike trails in Ettlingen in the near term is important and the right thing to do.
- Varied and easy to access: Demand for a diverse, easily accessible official offering is high. Different needs (kids and families, beginners, advanced riders) must be taken into account.
- Feasible within the given constraints: The technical requirements defined in the project scope are sound. Within this framework, we can deliver an attractive, environmentally compatible trail offering.
- Natural feel vs. durability: Many want trails to feel as natural as possible, but durability and proper drainage require solid construction. With year-round use, robust solutions — drainage, surface design, and a maintenance plan — are essential.
- Progression for all: While the trails are graded blue and red, advanced riders should also be served with optional features that are easy to roll past (tables, side hits, technical sections) — safe, and built for gradual progression.
- Survey confirms our direction: Fun and the experience of nature, exercise and health, and a technical thrill are the main motivations. People want flowy, beginner-friendly lines and natural singletracks — complemented by enduro/jump features, skills areas, and family-friendly trails/pump track options.
Options as a valuable addition