From HÉV to HÉV, or a little detour through the terrain

Itinerary

• We leave Szentendre on the Green bike trail
• After Kakashegy, when reaching road 1111, we switch to the blue bike trail
• After Csobánkai saddle, turning left at the quarry, we follow the red bike trail

Detailed description

Starting from the HÉV station, we cross road 11 via the underpass, then proceed along Kossuth Lajos street to reach the green bike trail along the Bükkös stream. We need to stick to this trail for quite a while. Riding along the stream, we leave the town on a traffic-free, picturesque road. Near the Izbég cemetery, we cross the stream three times in a short distance (it's worth paying attention here for orientation and because of the more technical, rooty ground). We briefly say goodbye to the water, and soon after at Dömörkapu, it crosses our path again.

We roll on through a quiet garden suburb before encountering slightly heavier traffic when turning onto Szentlászlói road, fortunately only for a short time. A few minutes later we turn left, leaving the main road towards Dömörkapu-Lajosforrás. From here, the road quality worsens somewhat, but the scenery becomes more spectacular. After the Izbég shooting range, we truly feel like we are in the forest. The valley walls towering above us enclose the narrow forestry road more tightly. Approaching a section protected by a barrier, the Dömörkapu waterfall can be found to the right along the road. It would be a big mistake to miss this, but we must be careful on the smoothly polished stones, especially with SPD shoes! They are very slippery even when dry, even more so when wet.

After a short rest, riding a few kilometers brings us to a wide junction where we have to turn left (to the right is Kis Rigó Restaurant and Pilisszentlászló). Continuing pedaling, we enjoy the tranquility of the closed forestry roads, the atmosphere of the winding valley, and the closeness to nature. The next notable stop is Sikárosi meadow and the forester’s lodge. The sudden open landscape always grants a captivating atmosphere to the meadow and its surroundings. It's hard to resist dismounting for a photo. Sikáros is also a useful orientation point, since after leaving it, we need to pay attention to leave the paved road soon!

Into the terrain!

At the same time, the steepness of the climb increases slightly, but certainly not to a disturbing extent. Riding on the two-track forest road, sometimes on rockier, sometimes on dirt paths, we gain meters not just horizontally but also vertically. Fortunately, the climb is not so hard as to prevent enjoying the surrounding forest's beauty. At Lom-hegy saddle, the S and P markings briefly meet, and we join them with our green bike mark. After the change of direction, our mountain bike tractor dodges the S mark. We ride on the southern side of the east-west valley, where glimpses through the tree canopy reveal stunning views to the opposite side. The vegetation is guaranteed to be suitable for bio, vegan, and allergen-free refreshing, as blackberry bushes line our path; judging by the ground disturbances, there’s fierce competition with locals for ripe fruits. A small roll gives momentum for the last climb before we return to the previously left asphalt at Fagyos-Katona.

Heading to Pilisszentkereszt!

We roll down from Kakashegy on solid pavement onto road 1111. Of the jointly running green and blue bike trails, the former ends, and from then on we follow the blue icon. Before turning off, it's worth taking a glance at the impressive block of Pilis opposite since from here there is an almost perfect panorama of the rippling white rocks of Vaskapu, rising above the canopy.

Entering Pilisszentkereszt, we descend all the way to the Piliszántó junction, then quickly leave the village through the small streets of Szentkereszt, finding ourselves along the Dera stream. The picturesque valley with its small bridges invites us, but this time we can only travel together for a few hundred meters. Soon we turn right and say goodbye to the valley, but before that, it’s worth shifting the chain to the smallest chainring, as the day’s first challenge follows. Climbing Som mountain, we face the steepest and quite uneven section so far. For rest, it’s worth visiting the recently renovated Som-hegy tourist lodge, which requires only a two-minute detour from the original route.

Fortunately, the next section offers some rest as our route from Szántói saddle to Csobánkai saddle gradually descends along the northern side of Hosszú hill. While gliding, the only discomfort comes from unusually large stones here and there. Approaching the border of Csobánka, perhaps the most beautiful view of the circuit unfolds before us. The rocks guarding the charming settlement above, the outlines of the already-traveled mountains in the distance, and opposite the looming Kevély.

Kevély, the day’s real challenge

It’s worth gathering strength from the view, as a tougher section follows. At the quarry at the foot of Little Kevély, we change direction and trail. Following the red bike icon, we turn left. At first, the ground is just more bumpy; later, the gradient also starts increasing. Careful attention is needed, as the hiking K mark runs parallel, then with a sudden direction change, we shift to the neighboring P mark. We are at the hardest section. In the gully-like valley, dodging head-sized stones, we must pedal hard to stay in the saddle on the climb. Luckily, this part doesn’t last long but will definitely sweat us out.

After this, a bulldozer road shortcut leads us to the Z mark, which accompanies us all the way down to Budakalász. From here, physical challenges decrease, but technical ones increase. Our route runs on very rocky ground, unsurprisingly alongside quarries and stone mines. Near one of these is perhaps the area’s most beautifully equipped resting place with a great view. It’s worth examining carefully and later returning with some barbecue treats in a totally different style. It’s relatively easy to reach on foot even with family from Budakalász.

After the rest, some sharp changes of direction await, especially paying attention to which road the red bike trail continues on. The forest gradually becomes sparser, replaced by shrubs, and Budakalász’s houses appear in the distance. The horseshoe prints show that this area is popular not only on two wheels. After several dozen kilometers, our bike can roll again on asphalt; from here, we simply have to ride straight to the center of Budakalász. Across the large intersection, we find the HÉV station, and riding straight towards the Danube, we can pedal back to Szentendre.