Description

This is a great place to start on your exploration of the Zillertal's hiking trails as it provides a manageable physical challenge and enough difficulty that you can get to find your walking legs without overly taxing yourself.

The fact that it takes you to a beautiful hut and beneath some dramatic peaks doesn't hurt either.

This is a popular day trip but staying at the Edelhütte is also a good option for those who want to take their time climbing the nearby Ahornspitze peak. Start the day by riding the Ahronbahn cable car up from Mayrhofen and then hiking up a good path which leads south-east to a broad ridge just above the Ahornsee lake.

From here there's a wooden archway to walk through and the hut is clearly signposted.

Descend a good path as it heads around a ridge then climbs steeply up and rightwards to where the 2 routes to the hut diverge.

It's possible to take either one up but taking the righthand branch (as shown here) is marginally more aesthetic.

Follow the path as it climbs - via some steep and rocky sections - south-eastwards and then crosses a river and heads north-east directly to the hut.

At times the path is tricky to negotiate and those without much hiking experience might even need to use their hands for very brief sections of scrambling.

Upon arriving at the hut, grab a table and order a drink.

There's the usual array of hot and cold beverages, and the standard high-quality Tirolian food on offer.

Virtually all of the walk back to the Ahornbahn is downhill but there are some sections of ascent so restrain yourself somewhat and don't depart the hut too bloated! Leave the hut in a westerly direction and head down a couple of zig zags before making a long, descending traverse north and then west to the floor of a valley.

Cross this, passing a bucolic little farm building midway across, and then climb back to the path junction and on to the Ahornbahn.