The Best Hiking Trails in Innsbruck
Explore Hiking TrailsNestled at the intersection of 2 famous alpine valleys and surrounded by mountains, Innsbruck fully deserves its title - "Capital of the Alps". Austria might not be home to any of the 82 4000m peaks, but it has a seemingly endless array of slightly smaller peaks, many of them easily accessible from Innsbruck. Innsbruck city itself is charming, with old cobbled streets winding around the River Inn and towering mountains looming above. The mountains themselves are spectacular, lined with hiking and biking trails and home to some of the best mountain huts in Europe. The network of huts above Innsbruck is extraordinary and they can be accessed year round thanks to the efforts of the guardians to keep summer trails clear and snowy tracks ploughed in the winter. Within an hour's drive of Innsbruck you'll find enough skiing to keep you going for several lifetimes, and 1000s of scenic hikes. The lack of famous mountains in the region mean that those who visit the area are real mountain folk, more interested in experiencing the wonders of the Tirol than peak bagging, and the culture of the area is wonderfully authentic. So if culture, a taste of city life and some epically wild mountains sound like your thing - get to Innsbruck!
Known as The Freeride City, Innsbruck is an adventurer's dream. Surrounded by big mountains with great hiking/biking trails in summer and great skiing in winter but with a big town vibe.
Top 21 hiking trails in Innsbruck
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1
Rauschbrunnen via Höttinger Bild
You can easily reach this hike from the city centre by bike or the bus line A Sadrach/Allerheiligenhöfe to the stop Sadrach.
Following the Planötzenhofstraße you will reach the beginning of the trail at the parking next to the Planötzenhof....
2
Hungerburg to Hall in Tirol
With everything from peaceful forests to a bustling Tirolian town and some huge views, this is a gorgeous trip through the lower hills of the Nordkette range.
Start at the Hungerburg cable car station to the north of Innsbruck....
3
Arzler Alm
This is a true classic of Innsbruck and takes you to one of the most celebrated mountain huts in the region - the Arzler Alm. The hut can be reached by following a good jeep track (check out our "Arzler and Umbruggler Alms Loop" bike route for directions) or by taking this slightly tougher but much more enjoyable hiking trail....
4
The Legendary Zirbenweg
This is a non-strenuous hike, with huge views across Innsbruck and to the Karwendal mountain range behind. The path also winds through Europe’s oldest and largest population of pine trees, making this a historic route as well as a scenic one....
5
Alpenzoo to Mühlau
This is a lovely, easy hike which makes good use of Innsbruck's lifts and buses. Start the day by riding either the Hungerburgbahn train or the W line bus from Innsbruck city centre to reach the famous Alpenzoo....
6
Rum to Arzl
Any time you fancy a bit of a stroll but don't want to push yourself or to use the car, this is the trip for you. The hike is accessed using public transport and involves just enough exertion that you've earned a drink by the end of it....
7
Salfeins- Schönangerl See
The start of this hike is the soccer field in Grinzens, which you can reach by car or within minutes from the bus stop Grinzenz Abzweig Kemater Alm of the 4162 bus....
8
Jausenstation Brunntal via Ehnbach gorge
The hike to the Jausenstation Brunntal starts at the entry of the Ehnbachklamm gorge.
The trail guides you along the Ehnbach stream deeper into the gorge. Especially on hot days, the cold and moist air offers a refreshing contrast to the heat of the sunny valleys....
9
Pfeishütte
A there-and-back trip to a beautiful mountain hut, this is rightly considered a true classic of the Inn valley. The Pfeishütte can only be accessed by human power (although it must be admitted that there is a jeep track for supplies to be brought up) and so there is a pleasant feeling of camaraderie when you are tucking into lunch exclusively with other people who have earned their calories....
10
Hafelekar to Hall in Tirol
A big day this one, but the rewards (and the views) are spectacular. The day takes you to the Pfeisshütte and then over the Stempeljoch col, over to the Lafatscher Joch col and then down to Absam village....
11
Hafelekar to the Pfeisshütte and Thaurer Alm
This is a great trip which takes you on a lovely loop through the Karwendel.
Start by riding the Nordkette cable car network up to the Hafelekar and then get hiking....
12
Höttinger Alm
This is a tough hike on a variety of terrain but the logistics of doing it couldn't be much more simple - it begins and ends at well served bus stops, and the fact that it takes you to 2 beautiful Tirolian huts means that you won't need to worry about taking food either....
13
Schlossbachklamm
This is one of those hikes that's perfect for when you have murky weather and just want a few hours out in the woods; it's not a big hike by any means and it's easily reached by public transport....
14
Vintl Alm Loop
For those willing to tackle some steep paths on both the way up and down, and with the fitness to keep going for a whole day, this is a brilliant hike high above Innsbruck....
15
Issanger Loop
Most local hikers are keen for any excuse to get into the wild Halltal valley and this hike is one of the best! It involves a long section of road walking both on the way up and down so biking (preferably ebiking) up to the St Magdalena guesthouse is highly recommended....
16
Thaurer Zunterkopf
For those seeking a scenic hike to a beautiful summit within easy reach of Innsbruck, this is the trip for you. It also gives you a good excuse to go to the wonderful Thaurer Alm hut, which is always worth a visit....
17
Neue Magdeburger Hütte from Hochzirl
The hike to the Neue Magdeburger hut starts from the train station Hochzirl, which you can get to by car or with the S6 train from Innsbruck or Garmisch-Partenkirchen. More experienced hikers can also start at the entrance of the Ehnbachklamm....
18
Bettelwurf Hut and Lafatscher Joch.
Starting and finishing in the beautiful and deep Halltal valley, this is a classic hike which requires a head for heights, some occasional easy scrambling and a good level of endurance....
19
Rumer Spitze East-West-Traverse
20
Morgenkogel
The hike starts at the beginning of the small and rather unfrequented Viggar Valley.
A small parking lot offers the possibility to go there by car, but the 4141 bus from Innsbruck main station to the bus stop Ellbögen Mühltal will also get you there....
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Top regions for hiking trails on Strava
- Axamer Lizum
- Dachstein Salzkammergut
- Elferlifte Neustift im Stubaital
- Gargellen
- Innsbruck
- Kaprun
- Kitzbühel
- Mayrhofen
- Niederösterreich
- Oberösterreich
- Patscherkofel
- Rangger Köpfl
- Saalbach Hinterglemm and Saalfelden Leogang
- Salzburg
- Schlick 2000
- Seefeld - Rosshütte
- Ski Juwel Alpbachtal Wildschönau
- Spieljoch – Fügen
- Stubaier Gletscher
- Tirol
- Vorarlberg
- Wien
- Wildkogel Arena
- Zillertal Arena
- Ötztal