Trek the soaring Tyrolean Alps from St Johann in Tirol to St Anton am Arlberg on Austria’s legendary Adlerweg, or Eagle’s Way. This iconic 326km (201 miles) long-distance path traces the outline of an eagle’s wings across the Austrian Tyrol, linking historic Innsbruck with spectacular alpine landscapes and the region’s famed hospitality. Experience the best of Tyrol as you traverse wildflower meadows, dramatic mountain ridges, and traditional alpine villages.

Perfect for experienced and fit walkers, this comprehensive Cicerone guidebook presents the full Adlerweg, described in 24 stages covering a total ascent of over 23,000m, from the rolling east to the rugged western peaks. Each stage ranges from 7–32km (4–20 miles), with easier alternative routes provided to avoid the most technical sections, allowing you to tailor the trek to your abilities and timeframe.

• Explore the iconic Wilderkaiser, Brandenberg, Rofan, Karwendelgebirge, and Lechtaler Alpen, with far-reaching views to Austria’s highest summits, including the Grossglockner and Grossvenediger. The Adlerweg route is well served by public transport, enabling flexible day trips or shorter sections.
• Stages of the Adlerweg are clearly described, with distance, ascent/descent, and estimated walking time, making it easy to plan your daily adventure, whether you aim for a steady 3-week journey, a more challenging 16-day traverse, or two fortnightly trips, with Innsbruck as a convenient midpoint.
• Each stage includes comprehensive information on start and finish points, high points, accommodation, and refreshment options to help you plan every day of your Adlerweg trek.
• Includes essential advice on preparation, transport connections, mountain safety, local wildlife and culture, and what to pack, ensuring you are ready for every aspect of your Eagle’s Way adventure.
• The Adlerweg is best enjoyed from mid-June to early October, when alpine flowers bloom, wildlife abounds, and mountain huts, inns, and guesthouses welcome walkers with legendary Tyrolean hospitality and cuisine.
• Features 1:50,000 mapping and downloadable GPX files for every stage of the Eagle’s Way, ensuring straightforward navigation across mountain paths and through remote valleys.

Plan your journey along Austria’s Adlerweg with the definitive Cicerone guidebook and discover a classic trek, where every stage brings new vistas and the spirit of alpine exploration guides you across the heart of the Austrian Alps.

Trekking Austria's Adlerweg (Eagle’s Way): Quick Facts

Location: Tyrolean Alps, Austria
Number of stages: 24 stages (with easier alternative routes available)
Distance: 326km (201 miles)
Duration: 3 weeks (can be completed in 16–21 days); daily stages 7–32km (4–20 miles)
Areas covered: St Johann in Tirol, Wilderkaiser, Brandenberg, Rofan, Karwendelgebirge, Innsbruck, Lechtaler Alpen, St Anton am Arlberg
Route type: Mountain trails, alpine meadows, forest paths, panoramic ridges, with classic valley alternatives
Difficulty: Challenging long-distance trek for fit, experienced walkers; easier variants included for technical sections
Terrain: Mountain passes, high ridges (above 2000m), wildflower meadows, alpine forests, remote valleys, and traditional Tyrolean villages
Navigation: 1:50,000 mapping for each stage, detailed route descriptions, downloadable GPX files
Best season: Mid-June to early October (ideal: mid-June to mid-September; higher sections may hold snow until July)
Highlights: Wilderkaiser, Karwendelgebirge, Lechtaler Alpen, panoramic views to Grossglockner and Grossvenediger, Tyrolean hospitality and cuisine, abundant wildlife including golden eagles, chamois, and marmots
Equipment: Sturdy mountain footwear, weatherproof clothing, trekking poles, sheet sleeping bag for mountain huts
Accommodation: Serviced mountain huts (Hütten), inns, guesthouses, and hotels at the end of each stage
 

Author Highlight

"The path was conceived and implemented by Tirol Werbung, the regional tourist promotion agency, who named it the Eagle’s Way (Adler being German for ‘eagle’); when overlaid on the map, its silhouette appears in the shape of an eagle, the outspread wings of which reach from one end of the Tyrol to the other, with Innsbruck, in the middle, as its head. The proud eagle is said to represent the feelings of freedom and independence, power and wisdom, grandeur and dignity, which you can experience when hiking the Eagle’s Way.” 

- Mike Wells, author of Trekking Austria's Adlerweg

CONTENTS

Route summary table

Overview map

Map key

Introduction

Background

The Adlerweg

The natural environment

Preparation

Getting there

Navigation

Accommodation

Food and drink

Amenities and services

What to take

Safety and security

About this guide

The Route

Section 1 Kaisergebirge

Stage 1 St Johann in Tirol to Gaudeamushütte

Stage 2 Gaudeamushütte to Schiesti (Hintersteinersee)

Stage 3 Schiesti (Hintersteinersee) to Kufstein

Section 2 Brandenberger Alpen and Rofangebirge

Stage 4 Langkampfen to Buchackeralm

Stage 5 Buchackeralm to Pinegg

Stage 6 Pinegg to Steinberg am Rofan (Unterberg)

Stage 7 Steinberg am Rofan (Unterberg) to Mauritzalm

Section 3 Karwendelgebirge

Stage 8 Maurach to Lamsenjochhütte

Stage 9 Lamsenjochhütte to Falkenhütte

Stage 10 Falkenhütte to Karwendelhaus

Stage 11 Karwendelhaus to Hallerangeralm (via Birkkarspitze)

Stage 11A Karwendelhaus to Hallerangeralm (via Karwendeltal)

Stage 12 Hallerangeralm to Hafelekarhaus

Section 4 Innsbruck and Patscherkofel

Stage 12A Innsbruck city tour

Stage 13 Patscherkofel to Tulfeinalm

Section 5 Wettersteingebirge and Mieminger Gebirge

Stage 14 Hochzirl to Solsteinhaus

Stage 15 Solsteinhaus to Leutasch (Weidach)

Stage 16 Leutasch (Weidach) to Ehrwald

Stage 17 Ehrwald to Loreahütte

Section 6 Lechtaler Alpen

Stage 18 Loreahütte to Anhalter Hütte

Stage 19 Anhalter Hütte to Hanauer Hütte

Stage 20 Hanauer Hütte to Württemberger Haus

Stage 21 Württemberger Haus to Memminger Hütte

Stage 22 Memminger Hütte to Ansbacher Hütte

Stage 23 Ansbacher Hütte to Leutkircher Hütte

Stage 24 Leutkircher Hütte to Arlbergpass

Section 6A Lechtal valley

Stage 19A Boden to Häselgehr

Stage 20A Häselgehr to Steeg

Stage 21A Steeg to St Anton am Arlberg

Appendix A Distances, timings and facilities

Appendix B Tourist offices

Appendix C Useful contacts

Appendix D Glossary of German geographic terms

Seasons

This is a summer walk, with a season from late-June to mid-September. On the highest parts snow can fall at any time of year, though this is unusual in July and August. The best time is August, though popular mountain refuges can be busy then.

Centres

The path mostly keeps to the mountains and avoids population centres. Apart from the start and finish points (St Johann and St Anton), the only towns/villages passed through are Kufstein, Maurach/Pertisau (Achensee), Innsbruck, Leutasch and Ehrwald.

Difficulty

To walk all the stages is a challenging undertaking that requires a good level of fitness, surefootedness and experience of mountain walking. Some of the stages have fixed walking aids in the form of chains, pegs, handholds or ladders, though neither climbing experience nor special equipment are needed to complete the walk. All stages are graded, either white (easy), red (medium) or black (challenging). For all the black stages, alternative less challenging routes are described.

Must See

‘Must sees’ are the various high mountains encountered en-route; the Wilderkaiser, Brandenberg Alpen, Rofangebirge, Karwendelgebirge, Wettersteingebirge (Zugspitze) and the Lechtaler Alpen plus Innsbruck, the historical capital of Tyrol.

September 2024

Stage 17 p157

September 2024

Adlerweg 2nd edition updates Sep 24

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