The Karwendel was first opened up to climbers as early as 1843, and since then mountain sports history has been written there more than once. Four mountain ranges, crisscrossed by imposing pinnacles and embrasures, stretch for kilometers from west to east in the Karwendel. A total of 125 peaks with more than 2,000m above sea level form the silhoutte of this impressive natural area. Brittle and unattractive is often said of climbing in the Karwendel. For a long time, the attribute karwendelig was even considered a synonym for brittle in the climbing scene. But the true experts know that if you know the right walls and routes, you will be rewarded with terrific challenges, wonderful crack systems and smooth rock faces. The Halleranger area is an absolute insider tip here. Located virtually behind the gates of the city of Innsbruck, this jewel for ambitious climbers can be reached from the urban city center within a very short time.

 

Arrival, public transport

Access via the Nordkette: Take the Nordkettenbahn up to the Hafelekar mountain station without any effort. Continue via the Pfeishütte, the Stempeljoch, the exposed Wilde-Bande-Steig and the Lafatscher Joch to the Hallerangerhaus (walking time: approx. 5 hours). Access via Absam and the Halltal valley: From Innsbruck to Absam and follow the Salzberstraße uphill at the end of the village then straight on into the Halltal valley. Since the previous toll road into the Hall Valley is closed to public motor vehicle traffic, it is possible to travel to and from the Hall Valley by e-bike, by cab service. On the website www.absam.at you can find the contact to the local cab companies. By bike, the route continues up the former toll road through the Halltal valley for about 550 meters in altitude, past the manor houses on to the Issjöchl (1,650 m). Up to the Issjöchl you can easily ride your e-bike. From here it is still about 400 meters in altitude up to the Lafatscher Joch (2,085 m). From the Joch, it is then about 300 meters in altitude down to the Hallangerhaus and further in a few minutes up to Hallangeralm, which is located slightly above. Access via Scharnitz: From Innsbruck uncomplicated by train or via car to Scharnitz. To take your bike on the train, you need your own bike ticket. In the town center, after the church, turn right to parking lot no. 2 at the entrance to the Karwendel valleys. Continue by bike or on foot into the Hinterautal valley to the Kastenalm (1220 m) and then follow the very steep climb towards the Lafatscher Niederleger. Then it becomes a bit flatter again, before it gets a bit steeper again in front of the Hallerangerhaus (1768 m). After about 20 km and 850 hm, you will reach it in about 2.25 hours (normal mountain bike) or in about 1.25 hours with an e-bike. On foot the walking time is about 5h.