This guidebook presents 60 routes covering some of the best day walks, scrambles, hut-to-hut walks, alpine mountaineering, sport climbing, via ferratas, mountain-biking routes, road rides, city and trail runs and family activities the Innsbruck area has to offer.

Ideal for a multi-activity holiday or for the keen amateur seeking a summary of the local highlights, it includes suggestions to suit most abilities and ambitions, from gentle strolls to adrenalin-filled mountain adventures, suitable only for those with the appropriate equipment and experience. Nearly all the activities are accessible by public transport from Innsbruck and many take advantage of the region's fantastic network of alpine huts.

Route descriptions are illustrated with maps, profiles and photo topos, and you'll also find practical advice on transport, accommodation and equipment. Long popular as a winter sports destination, Innsbruck also has much to offer the summer visitor, with many kilometres of paths and trails, sport climbing crags, via ferrata routes and engaging activity trails for children.

Map key

Regional overview map

Innsbruck city map

Overview map: walks and family activities

Overview map: adventure walks and scrambles, alpine mountaineering, sport climbing and via ferratas

Overview map: cycling and running routes

Introduction

History of the region

Geography and geology

Plants and wildlife

Art and culture

Other activities

Getting there and getting around

When to go

Accommodation

Tourist information

Language

Health and safety

Mountain guides

Using this guide

Walking

Day walks

Route 1 Innsbrucker Almenweg

Route 2 Zirbenweg

Route 3 Grawa waterfall

Route 4 Dreiseen hiking trail

Route 5 Elferhütte

Route 6 Three lakes, Seefeld Plateau

Route 7 Arzler Alm

Route 8 Aldranser Alm

Route 9 Bodenstein Alm

Route 10 Kreither Alm

Adventure walks and scrambles

Route 11 Wildewasserweg

Route 12 Südlicher and Nordlicher Polleskogel

Route 13 Glungezer klettersteig

Route 14 Brandjochspitze

Route 15 Nordgrat–Vordere Sommerwand

Route 16 Nordgrat Zwölferkogel

Overnight hut walks

Route 17 Halltal hike

Route 18 Nordkette traverse

Route 19 Karwendel traverse

Route 20 Rofan Range hike

Alpine mountaineering

Route 21 Habicht

Route 22 Wilder Freiger

Route 23 Zuckerhütl

Route 24 Wildspitze

Sport climbing

Route 25 Arzbergklamm

Route 26 OeAV klettergarten

Route 27 Engelswand

Route 28 Rofan cragging, Achensee

Route 29 Klettergarten Oetz

Route 30 Emmentaler multi-pitch

Via ferratas

Route 31 Innsbrucker klettersteig

Route 32 Achensee 5 Gipfel

Route 33 Crazy Eddy klettersteig

Route 34 Peter Kofler klettersteig

Route 35 Ochsenwand/Schlicker klettersteig

Route 36 Geierwand klettersteig

Route 37 Kühtai Panorama klettersteig

Route 38 Absamer klettersteig (plus Westgrat and Eisengattergrat klettersteig)

Mountain biking

Route 39 Nordkette singletrail

Route 40 Karwendel loop

Route 41 Rinn to Rinner Alm

Route 42 Aldrans to Aldranser Alm

Route 43 Maria Waldrast tour

Route 44 Mutters loop

Road cycling

Route 45 Gnadenwald Plateau

Route 46 Innsbruck loop

Route 47 Igls loop

Route 48 Innsbruck to the Mieminger Plateau

Route 49 Innsbruck – Telfs – Innsbruck

City and trail running

Route 50 5 Brücken Runde

Route 51 Bergisel-Lauf city run

Route 52 Sill-Inn-Schleife

Route 53 Wolfele-Wilde-weg

Route 54 Mühlau Runde

Family activities

Route 55 Wusel lake trail, Achensee

Route 56 Ghost trail, Oberperfuss

Route 57 Scheibenweg trail

Route 58 Kugelwald Adventure World, Glungezer

Route 59 Patscherkofel summit path

Route 60 Piburgersee

Appendix A Route summary tables

Appendix B Useful contacts

Appendix C Glossary

Appendix D Index of routes by location

Seasons

The guide covers summer activities. July and August can get very hot and some routes may still be snow-covered in early spring. Autumn is a wonderful time of year in the Alps, with September and October often being the best months. Note however that the routes requiring lift access will be dependent on operating schedules.

Centres

All the activities are based around Innsbruck city, with many routes starting from the city itself. Other valleys and towns covered include the Stubaital, the Öztal, Kühtai, Seefeld and Achensee.

Difficulty

The routes included here are not aimed at experts, but instead aim to encompass something for everyone. The activities range from easy days out for the whole family to low-grade alpine mountaineering. Some of the climbing and biking activities may require some previous experience and specialist equipment.

Must See

The Zirbenweg and Wilderwasserweg hiking trails; Brandjochspitze ridge scramble; Nordkette singletrail downhill mountain-biking track; Innsbrucker klettersteig via ferrata; sections of the Adlerweg (Eagle Trail) hiking path and the Bike Trail Tirol; ascents of Wildspitze (Tirol's highest peak) and Wilder Freiger; numerous superb mountain huts providing welcome refreshment and unbeatable views; the rugged wilderness of the Karwendel; Kugelwald (a giant outdoor marble-run)

August 2022

Karwendel Traverse (Route 19)

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