Hikes

From the Solsteinhaus mountain hut, follow the signs towards "Eppzirler Scharte" and "Eppzirler Alm". The route first leads along a marked trail through the Erlalm alpine pastures and then across stony, rocky terrain to the scree corrie and up to the Eppzirler Scharte col. When walking up through the corrie, the path splits. Continue along the path signposted to the "Eppzirler Scharte" (route no. 212), which leads steeply up to the col between the Kuhljochspitze and Erlspitze peaks. The route then continues along an equally good trail, which zigzags at times as it leads down through the rocky, scree-lined corrie (Kuhljoch) on the other side. The corrie is steep at first and then opens up to become very wide. At an altitude of around 1,700 metres above sea level, the trail dips down into green alpine pastures. After that, there is one more short, steep scree slope before the route reaches alpine pastures again. It then leads gently downhill and finally runs parallel to a dried-up stream bed until it reaches the Eppzirler Alm mountain hut. When you reach the hut, you have definitely earnt a break. From the hut, the route leads leisurely downhill along a wide road through alpine pastures and then continues in the same direction, along the Eppzirler Tal valley, past the turnoff for the Oberbrunnalm mountain hut (turnoff at 1,200 metres above sea level) and further downhill towards the entrance of the valley. The road then leads along the Gießenbach stream (alternating left and right of the stream) and into the Gießenbachklamm gorge. The gorge is wooded at first but becomes increasingly rocky. The route finally leads to the car park for the Eppzirler Alm in the Gießenbach district of Scharnitz. From there, you cross the tracks and the main road and then, when you come to the residential area, take the first right towards "Scharnitz" and then turn left towards "Hoher Sattel". Later, follow the signs for "Bogenschießstand" and "Scharnitz", before turning left towards "Leutasch" and soon after turning right onto the forest road "Leutasch über Hohen Sattel". After this short level section in Gießenbach, the forest road leads quite steeply uphill and then gently up through mixed forest to the Sattelklamm gorge. At the end of the path, a trail leads off through the sparse forest, mostly cutting across the slope but also leading steeply uphill in the middle part. This trail merges into a path that continues in the same direction towards Hoher Sattel. Keep following the signs to "Leutasch/Ahrn". On the other side of the Hoher Sattel col, a wide forest path leads downhill through the sparse forest of the col valley (sometimes very steep). Follow the route through the valley all the way to Leutasch/Ahrn and the bridge over the Leutascher Ache river.

Village centre of Kematen, car park. This trail starts in the village centre and heads north. Follow the roads Hintere Gasse and Grießgasse until you come to the well. From there, continue for a short distance below the Axamer Landestraße main road. Then turn right and follow the narrow trail that undulates gently along the edge of the forest to above the village of Afling. From there, continue to to the "Kirche Maria Schnee" (the Church of Our Lady of the Snows) and follow the path across the fields. At the wayside cross, head towards Kematen. Walking time approx. 1 hour – a very easy hike

The Akademikersteig is an easy forest trail that leads from the village of Götzens to the village of Birgitz (or vice versa) in about an hour. In Götzens, the path branches off below the M-Preis supermarket. The start of the trail offers beautiful views of the Vellenberg castle ruins. In Birgitz, the forest path ends at a road that leads south, directly to the village centre.  Just before leaving the forest, you can take the turnoff towards the "Hohe Birga" excavation site. This archaeological site is just a five minute walk away and a very worthwhile detour. The Rätermuseum (Raetic Museum) in the centre of Birgitz is also well worth a visit.

This hike starts in the village centre of Aldrans and leads south along Rinner Straße road to Dollinger-Säge. From there, turn right for a few metres and then turn left onto the path towards Sistrans, past the Gletscherkapelle chapel to the village centre of Sistrans.

From the Dorfplatz village square in Aldrans, follow the Rinner Straße road south until you come to the Herzsee junction. There, turn left and continue past Herzsee lake. About 70 metres after the lake, the path branches off and leads along the Herz Valley towards Ampass.

From the village centre of Aldrans, head south along Rinner Straße road and then turn left towards Herzsee lake. Continue past the lake before following the route uphill to the Prockenhöfe farms and on to the Hasenheide sports ground. Just before the sports ground, branch off to the right over a small stream and then turn left to pass the Teufelsmühle (Devil's Mill) before embarking on the last section of the hike through the forest and over the alpine meadows to Judenstein.

From the village centre of Aldrans, follow the Bahnhofweg road west towards the tram stop of the "Igler" tram. 100 metres before you come to the tram stop, you'll see the start of the route towards Innsbruck on your right. The path leads gently downhill the whole way, past the Tantegert stop to Innsbruck.

From the car park at the Fagslung roundabout, head south and follow the Almenweg trail to the Aldranser Alm mountain hut. After about 10 minutes, you will pass a new residential area before continuing through beautiful farm meadows to the start of the forest. Follow the Almenweg trail up to an altitude of around 1,300 metres. When you come to a crossroads, take the path that turns off to the left. This is the old route that takes you to the hut in about 30 minutes. (The hike can be extended to include the Sistranser Alm and Lanser Alm mountain huts) Follow the same route back or take the trail that leads past the Rinner Alm mountain hut and down to just before the village of Rinn at an altitude of approx. 1000 metres and then follow the Speckbacherweg trail to the Aldranser Almenweg trail and back to the starting point.

This route leads east from the mountain lift station of the Patscherkofelbahn gondola along the Zirbenweg trail to the Alpenhasthof Boscheben. From there, a path climbs quite steeply up through the forest to the Meissner Haus mountain hut on the south side of the Patscherkofel mountain, where you can enjoy magnificent views of the mountains in the Stubai Valley and the Wipp Valley. From the Meissner Haus, where you can stop for a break and a bite to eat, you hike for a while along a forest path leading out of the idyllic Viggar Valley until you reach the transport cable car (used to move goods). There, cross the stream over a small bridge. This brings you back to the Almenweg trail in the Föhrenwald forest, which you follow for quite some time at a relatively steady altitude to the Patscher Alm mountain hut. From there, the best way to get back to the Patscherkofelbahn gondola is to follow the route along the ski slope, which leads to the middle lift station of the Patscherkofelbahn in just a few minutes. 

The second stage of the Almenweg 1600 runs along the north side of the Patscherkofel from the middle station of the Patscherkofel cable car via the Patscher Alm, Igler Alm Boden, Lanser Alm, Sistranser Alm, Aldranser Alm and Rinner Alm to Rinn. Alternatively, you can also start at the top station of the Patscherkofel cable car and descend to the Lanser Alm. The rest of the route is identical. In principle, it is possible to descend directly from each alpine pasture to the valley. Buses run regularly during the day between Rinn and the Patscherkofelbahn valley station, and all valley resorts are served.

Take the Patscherkofelbahn lift up to the middle station: this is the start of the hike. The rustic Patscher Alm mountain hut is located 1743 metres above sea level and is only a five-minute walk away. Afterwards, walk back to the middle station and take the Patscherkofelbahn lift all the way up to the top. Sporty hikers can alternatively hike steadily uphill via the Vitalweg trail, past the Hochmahdalm to the top station of the Patscherkofel cable car (walking time is extended by 90 minutes in this case).From there, follow the alpine path past the "Schutzhaus" mountain refuge and slowly downhill through a sparse forest to the Lanser Alm mountain hut (1718 m). From the Lanser Alm, take the forest road to the north and follow the signs to Lans, Sistrans and the Sistranser Alm mountain hut. At the first sharp left-hand bend, the route continues straight on to the Sistranser Alm mountain hut (1608 m). From the Sistranser Alm, follow the forest road that leads gradually downhill for about half a kilometre until you arrive at the first intersection. From there, continue straight on towards the Aldranser Alm mountain hut (1511 m) and Hirschlacke. Then take the narrow mountain path leading northeast and follow signs to the Rinner Alm mountain hut (1394 m). The last part of the hike leads along the forest road to the village of Rinn (921 m).  Read about this hike on the Innsbruck Blog

The "AXAMER LIZUM" CIRCULAR HIKING TRAIL takes you on a hike at the foot of the majestic "Kalkkögel" mountain range. The trail is easy to walk and gives you the opportunity to experience Tyrolean nature up close at alpine heights. Several educational display boards line the route and provide information about the local flora and fauna. The route also passes two memorials near the barn of the old Lizum Alm mountain hut: one commemorates mountaineers from the local mountain association who lost their lives here, the other the crash of an American bomber near Marchreisenspitze peak during World War II. There are several benches along the way where you can take a break. The total walking time is about 75 minutes but the trail is made up of two sections that can be walked individually. The "AXAMER LIZUM" CIRCULAR HIKING TRAIL has a total length of about 3.5 km and is particularly suitable for families, senior citizens who enjoy walking and Nordic walkers. Tour description: start at Axamer Lizum car park in Axamer Lizum (1,583 m) > north along the car park to the Schafalm mountain hut > back towards the ski resort > south past the pond and the historic barn of the Lizum Alm (approx. 300 years old) > around the pond > past the Olympia Kapelle chapel > Axamer Lizum car park (1,583 m). Walking time: 75 minutes, difference in altitude: 30 vertical metres

The Innauen nature reserve is home to strictly protected plants and animal species. On the route up to the pilgrimage church of Maria Locherboden, you can learn a lot about the effects of the dry and hot climate on the sunny, south-facing, limestone slopes of the Fiechter Köpfl. Did you know, for example, that "feather grass", a plant that is otherwise only native to Mediterranean countries and Asian steppes, grows on the dry slope below Locherboden?  

This circular route starts from the car park at the recycling centre in Wildermieming and leads through sparse forests near Wildermieming and the Gerhardhof campsite. Along the way, 10 impressive display boards show the connection between environmental factors and adaptations in the forest. They also provide information about how glaciation, which ended 10,000 years ago, shaped the mountain forest habitat and compare the rich life found in a natural stream with the reduced diversity of a controlled waterway.

This circular hike starts at the Waldschwimmbad open-air swimming pool in Barwies and leads through the Geschwent Mooswiesen and Lörchenwiesen meadows. The route initially circles the Moosalmmoor wetlands on wide paths and then passes through vast meadows and wooded sections back to the starting point. By the end of the nature trail, you will know what breeds amongst the reeds, how crayfish ended up in the stream near "Krebsbach" and how they manage to survive. Plenty of background information about the Lärchenwiesen nature reserve is also provided.