Dinner on the mountain – thanks to evening rides on the Patscherkofel. With the construction of the new Patscherkofel lift, evening rides every Thursday have also been added to the event schedule of the local mountain. What you can already enjoy on the opposite side of the valley, on the Nordkette, has now also been possible on the Patscherkofel.
Evening ride in winter
On Thursday evening the Patscherkofel becomes an event mountain. The slopes are open to ski tourers from 6:00 p.m. onwards and the gastronomy on the local mountain offers a wide variety of culinary delights. Pedestrians are just as welcome as snowshoe hikers. Especially for the latter, a combination with a ride up the mountain and the ascent to the summit is a rewarding but not too strenuous destination. The middle station is also served and a visit to the Patscher Alm is also easy for pedestrians. Tourers can of course also choose the route via the Patscher Alm to the summit. Please note that the Gipfelstube is not open on Thursday evenings. You can read more about ski touring on the Patscherkofel in the blog post of my colleague Hartmut. Blogger colleague Lea has also made a snowshoe hike to the summit in the course of the Vitaltag.
At the top station, the restaurant “Das Kofel” and the well-known Schutzhaus are open. The Schutzhaus with its rustic ambience offers home-style cooking and a homely atmosphere. “Das Kofel” at the top station also offers all sorts of culinary delights in a more modern style. Special sunset dinners are offered here on request. Das Hausberg” is also open at the valley station.
Evening sunset at the Schutzhaus.
Sunset Sessions at the Patscherkofel
In March and April the so-called “Sunset Sessions” also take place. This event offers one hour longer skiing until 18:00. At the snowpark you can have fun with different obstacles and enjoy the sun in deck chairs. There will also be a barbecue. If you want, you can bring your own food and have it grilled. In addition there will be fine tunes from the boxes, which will make the sunset an even better experience.
Music, barbecue and deckchairs at the Sunset Sessions
One hour longer snowboarding and skiing during the Sunset Sessions
The sun goes down, the lights come on
I can recommend everyone, even those who are not so active in sports now, to go to the Patscherkofel and enjoy the sunset and the sunset glow. Behind the peaks of the Oberland you can see the most beautiful warm colours while the lights come on in the city. Very romantic, for every nature lover, as well as for couples a perfect evening with a very good dinner afterwards in one of the numerous refreshment stops.
Furthermore, the Hochmahdalm, best accessible for tourers and snowshoe hikers, is open on Thursday evenings, as is the small tea hut below Heiligwasser.
Breathtaking view of Innsbruck and the Nordkette mountain range
Enjoy the evening and the nature at the evening trips at the Patscherkofel
Evening trip in summer
The evening rides in summer offer the possibility to experience a sunset at one of the numerous peaks in the area of the Patscherkofel. The cable car also runs until 22:00 in summer, so hikes are possible until late at night. The restaurants described above are also open.
I have already used this offer in the summer and had wonderful moments on the Viggar – and Neunerspitze, as well as on the Zirbenweg. The relatively short and not very difficult hikes are easily accessible from the mountain station and offer a breathtaking nature experience. A sunset at the summit is far more intense than in the valley and remains very long in memory. It’s best to just let the pictures do the talking. Please note that missing the last descent will result in a long and tiring descent to the valley. Hikes in the dark are only advisable with the appropriate equipment and it can get nippy quickly after sunset at the peaks, even in summer. Warm clothing, a headlamp and good shoes are therefore a must.
View from the Viggarspitze to Innsbruck.
The Neunerspitze is easily accessible during the evening trips for sunset.
Sunset on the Viggarspitze
Further information
Patscherkofelbahn in winter
Patscherkofelbahn in summer
Patscher alpine pasture
Patscherkofel shelter
Hochmahdalm
Timetable line J
All photos © Danijel Jovanovic Photography – www.djphotography.at