Great Walks in Tirol

Fully enjoy the scenic diversity of the Rofan Mountain Range on this challenging walk, with its gentle pastoral hills to the south and the sheer rock faces to the north.

After a good night’s sleep in Pinegg, take a walk from Gwercherwirt Inn over the bridge across Brandenberger Ache River and follow Jägersteig Path all the way to Aschau, a hamlet of Brandenberg. Take the paved road to get to Burgstallgraben, from where the path winds up to Wimm, Wimmerjoch Peak and old Lahnalm Alpine Pasture Hut.

Behind the charming mountain village of Eng (featuring a dairy farm open to visitors) there is a wide walking trail towards the Falken Hut.

This day, the Eagle Walk starts gently: Take Rofan Gondola for an effortless and scenic downhill ride from Erfurter Hütte Hut to Maurach and enjoy magnificent views of emerald Lake Achensee.

This trek along the Eagle Walk is where you will get the best of both worlds – the urban sophistication of a historic city and remote mountain wilderness.

This segment will take you to the small town of Kufstein located on the banks of the Inn River – a town which has been celebrated in song and is steeped in history and character. Walk through the lush and verdant beauty of a pasture paradise with cosy huts and mountain restaurants to take a rest (delicious “Kiachl” are served at Brentenjoch Hut every Saturday).

This walk is largely for those interested in heading up, steeply. The grade will keep you busy as you follow trails up, up, up. However, it more than makes up for the efforts with superior views. Views to knock off your sweaty socks.

When leaving the charming historic small town behind, you might still be able to hear the sound of the “Heroes’ Organ” with its 4,948 perfectly tuned pipes – the world’s largest outdoor organ.

Today starts rather swiftly with a train ride on the Karwendelbahn/Mittenwaldbahn Train from Innsbruck to Hochzirl. From there, follow signage to Solsteinhaus Lodge. While presenting nothing in the way of technical challenges, the grade is steep in places.

Trailhead is Rummlerhof Inn, northwest of the village centre of St. Johann. After a successful first segment, why not take a rest at Gaudeamus Hut, raise your glass and sing: “Gaudeamus igitur – Let us be happy!” For many hikers this is far enough, contentment has already set in. Adventurous souls continue on the trail that works its way up across Klamml Gorge to Grutten Hut, which entails another 400 metres of climbing.

Is it about the journey or the destination? You decide. There is nothing like a pristine mountain lake for relief from summer's heat. You might find it incomparably refreshing to cool off in lovely Hintersteinersee Lake at the end of your hiking day.

True mountaineers will be drawn back into the mountains again. Therefore, this easy walk will be just right after living the high life in town.

Excelsior! On this walk, you will find yourself in a world almost as far removed as you can get from the forested valleys below.

The challenging Berlin High Trail is a must-do high Alpine hike starting in Finkenberg and leading right through the heart of the extraordinary Zillertal Alps, visiting one of the crown jewels of Tirol’s park system: the Zillertal Alps Nature Park. Among the highlights of the hike is the Berliner Hütte hut, the largest hut in Tirol to be run by the Austrian Alpine Club and the first hut in the region to become a listed building. With its wood-panelled rooms, five-metre-high dining hall and chandeliers on the ceiling, it is a true pearl of the Alps. The Berlin High Trail is a challenging hike for experienced walkers. It takes around a week to complete the full trail from start to finish with 85 kilometres and 6,600 vertical metres. The route can, however, also be shorted - from each hut there is the option of descending down into the valley.

Add to travel guide Measuring at least 85 kilometres in length and generally staying at between 2,000 and 2,500 metres above sea level, this is an outdoor adventure for fit and experienced mountaineers in search of a real challenge. The route follows the main ridge of the Lechtal Alps and is divided into 18 stages which can be completed in between 10 and 19 days depending on the fitness level of the group. The shortest of the several variations available has 7,000 vertical metres of climbing and descending along technical trails. Along the way there are 13 huts run by the Austrian Alpine Club offering not only accommodation but also hearty food and good company in the evenings. The biggest attraction from a landscape perspective is the Steinsee lake, a shimmering green-blue pearl located to the east of the Steinseehütte hut in a natural rock amphitheatre capped by the imposing Dremlscharte ridge. The Lechtal High Trail is part of the North Alpine Long-Distance Trail 01 and the European HikingTrail E4. The majority of the route leads through high alpine terrain. That means hikers must be very fit, experienced in the mountains, sure-footed, not afraid of heights and familiar with the basics of rock climbing. Depending on the snow conditions, some stages of this hike may require a rope, ice pick and crampons. Among the most difficult sections is the Roßkarscharte ridge between the Steinseehütte and the Württemberger Haus huts and the traverse of the south-east face of the Vorderseespitze mountain between the Ansbacher Hütte and Kaiserjochhaus huts.

The Carnic Trail follows the Austrian-Italian border heading from west to east along the main ridge of the Carnic Alps. With a total distance of 168 kilometres, this high-altitude hike is a challenge even for experienced hikers and generally takes up to eleven days to complete. It is popular with walkers in the summer months thanks to its fine views of the Dolomites. The trail begins in Sillian in the High Pustertal Valley and ends in Unterhörl in the neighbouring province of Carinthia. The highlight of the hike comes right at the start. The first third from the Hollbrucker Spitze mountain takes hikers along the first section of the Peace Trail leading through the Dolomites all the way to the Swiss border. This trail traces the Austrian-Italian front during the First World War and includes passages along trails created back then to move troops and equipment. Each stage features a number of mountain huts or restaurants serving local food. All in all there are no fewer than 30 peaks along the trail such as the Großer Kinigat (2,689 metres) and the Pfannspitze (2,678 metres), the highest point of the hike. The information boards along the Geo Trail give visitors information about the geological diversity of the Carnic Alps between Sillian and Nassfeld. There is the option of shortening the route by taking a transfer along the road over the Plöcken pass (stage 7) and at Nassfeld (stage 9).