Dornbirn, the biggest city of Vorarlberg with more than 40.000 inhabitans, lies in the Rhine valley south of the Lake of Constance. Dornbirn's city borders are at and within the Alps, which offers great recreational potential. Many citizens use the area for hiking, mountain biking or other outdoor activities. For activities in and around Bregenz, the capital of Vorarlberg, see here.

One very popular location is a mountain topping Dornbirn, called Karren. At the top of the Karren, there is a nice restaurant with a cable car service. Of course, you can use paths to get up there (about 600 m altitude difference).

A very popular activity around Dornbirn is mountain biking. There a dozens of different paths, forrest roads, and mountain ways to be used for short and long distance tours. A very good overview over hiking and biking trails offers this map.

It's true that despite the high popularity, you won't bike with hundreds of others mountain biking fans. Occasionally you will meet some, and for sure at one of the popular cottages, where bikers gather together for a good coffee or breakfast with regional products. Get an idea about the surroundings here (the page is in german, but check out the pictures below).

Another idea: You can get great offers of mountain bike equipment at Wiggle!

The maybe most popular and longest mountain bike trip from Dornbirn within the "city limits" is to the Alpe Weißfluh. The way takes about 2,5 hrs upward, and depending of the route you choose (you can select different ones), you will be driving at paved, unpaved roads and ways, sometimes forced to push your bike.

You will follow a beautiful creek and small canyon, drive through forrests and mountain plains, sometimes meeting alp cows or imported scottish highland cows.

At the Weißfluh Alpe itself, you can enjoy a fantastic panorama to the west, overviewing Dornbirn, the Rhine valley and the Swiss mountains. Try some of the local food (especially the cheese), but also a Radler (a mix of lemonade and beer) or simply enjoy the sun.

The downhill path can be another route as you came up. It's fun, it's fast, it is pure mountain biking.

Idea: Lonely Planet provides a useful travel guide for the entire country of Austria - check their offers!