Walking (Sports)
Say hello to hiking and trail running heaven in Innsbruck
There’s a reason Austria's Innsbruck region is such a great place to hike and trail run. This guide reveals exactly why.
Nestled in the heart of Austria’s Tyrol region, the ancient city of Innsbruck is surrounded by mountains on all sides, making it the perfect gateway for incredible hiking and trail running with spectacular panoramic views.
The Innsbruck region is a unique paradise for hiking and trail running. You’ll find steep and technical terrain in the high mountains, flowing trails through alpine meadows and forests, and an abundance of traditional huts to grab a drink – or a bed for the night, if you want to extend your adventure over multiple days.
Take a cable car to instantly transport you to the mountains or start from the city to enjoy almost 2,000m of uninterrupted uphill trail – whatever you’re into, the views and atmosphere will have you hooked. For trail runners, look out for the Innsbruck Alpine Trail Run Festival, which offers races from 7km to 85km.
Reach great trails in just 20 minutes via the Nordketten cable car
© Lukas Pilz
Anyone staying longer than one night with a selected hotel or guesthouse should also take advantage of the Welcome Card, which offers a range of benefits and discounts on lifts, public transport and pools, as well as free guided hikes to the most impressive viewpoints.
Hiking
The Kalkkögel mountain chain is one of Innsbruck's best hiking spots
© Lukas Pilz
There are five main hiking areas around Innsbruck: Naturpark Karwendel, Patscherkofel, the Miemingerkette, Kalkkögel and Sellrain-Stubai (find out more about Innsbruck hiking here). If your trip to Innsbruck is short though, it's worth prioritising the Naturpark Karwendel and Patscherkofel.
1. Nordkette and the Naturpark Karwendel
The Karwendel mountains are known for their unique rock formations
© Lukas Pilz
The Karwendel is a unique nature reserve to the north of Innsbruck, with great trails and incredible views looking south. There are also plenty of high mountain huts here, making it ideal for multi-day hikes.
Check out the spectacular scenery you can expect to enjoy in the player below:
2 min
Hiking in the Naturpark Karwendel
Take in views that you'll get when you hike in the Karwendel nature reserve.
One of the Karwendel’s highlights, which gives a real feeling for the area, is the Goetheweg Trail. The Nordketten cable car takes you from the city centre to the start of this high altitude walk at 2,000m in just 20 minutes, where views of the city, the Karwendel, the Inn Valley and the southern Alps await.
This trail is sometimes narrow, rocky and exposed, so make sure you’ve got the right gear.
Catch a glimpse of the Goetheweg Trail in the player below:
2 min
Hiking on Goetheweg on the Nordkette
Take in terrrain and views that you'll get when you hike the Goetheweg on the Nordkette.
2. Patscherkofel
Innsbruck’s ‘local mountain’ offers around 60 hiking routes up to an altitude of 2,250m. It’s perfect for easy hikes and family-friendly strolls. It’s also famous for its numerous mountain huts, offering rustic Tyrolean cuisine.
Traditional Tyrolean mountain food: Brettljause, or cured meats
© Lukas Pilz
The Zirbenweg Trail is one of the highlights. High above the city it leads you through one of Europe's biggest pine forests. The 7.4km trail starts at the top of the Patscherkofel cable car and takes in breathtaking panoramas of the region. A chair lift and bus ride will take you back to where you started.
Trail running
Find perfect running trails beside the River Sill
© Lukas Pilz
Innsbruck offers limitless opportunities for trail runners. The city has a well-marked network of trails (find a map of runs from the city here), some of which are relatively short and flat, and others longer and more challenging, taking you up into the mountains. Alternatively, you can take a lift and be transported to the high mountain environment in minutes.
Just outside the city, you'll find mountain rivers and lush green scenery
© Lukas Pilz
As the trail running centre of Austria, Innsbruck also hosts the Innsbruck Alpine Trailrun Festival, which takes place in May each year. Attracting around 3,000 participants from 53 nations, it's one of the biggest trail running festivals in the Alps.
Oh, and if you want to update your trail running gear, make sure you head to the Tomaselli Sportlerei downtown, where you'll find everything you need.
Get an insight into what it's like to run on the scenic trails surrounding Innsbruck's Sill River in the player below:
2 min
Trail running at Sill Canyon
See what it is like to trail run at Sill Canyon near Innsbruck in Austria.
Where to stay
You'll find lots of accommodation options in Innsbruck, catering to all budgets, from spa hotels to family guesthouses and everything in-between. Find and book your accommodation here.
Riding the lifts
The summer lifts run from May 30 to October 27, but towards the end of the season, some lifts may only run at weekends. Click here for detailed opening hours of cable cars.
Getting there
Innsbruck is located in the western part of Austria and has great transport connections. Daily flights operate from Innsbruck Airport to several international destinations including Frankfurt, Amsterdam and Vienna. It is also easy to reach from all directions by car, train or coach. Check out this page for tips on planning your journey to the region.
For the best hiking and trail running, visit Innsbruck from May to October
© Lukas Pilz
When to go
The best hiking and running season is from mid-May until the end of October.
The late spring and summer months of June, July and August offer nice warm temperatures. September and October are a bit cooler, with shorter daylight hours, but it’s often less busy and you get to experience the gorgeous autumn scenery.
With thanks to our friends at The Innsbruck Tourist Board.
Do you want to know how Red Bull helps to preserve nature? Find out more about Red Bull´s efforts to protect the environment here!