Attraction Großer Ahornboden

To see the fall colors, usually from late September through mid-October; in early summer, when the trees are a vibrant green.

Yes, the Großer Ahornboden is one of the most easily accessible natural highlights in Tyrol. From the parking lot at the Eng, a short, nearly flat trail leads directly into the impressive maple forest with its centuries-old mountain maples. This makes the Großer Ahornboden ideal for families, leisurely walks, and anyone who wants to experience the beauty of the Karwendel Nature Park without having to tackle a challenging hike.

Yes, the Großer Ahornboden is also accessible by public transportation during the summer months. You can get there via the “Bergsteigerbus,” which runs from Lenggries in Bavaria through the Risstal valley to Eng am Großen Ahornboden. The bus connects with rail service and allows you to travel without a car.

Alternatively, during the summer season, the Eng Bus runs directly from Achensee to Großer Ahornboden. This service is particularly suitable for guests spending their vacation in the Achensee region. For both bus routes, we recommend checking the current schedules, as they operate seasonally.

From the Eng bus stop, it’s just a few minutes’ walk to the centuries-old maple trees.

No, the Große Ahornboden is not accessible by car in the winter. The toll road through the Risstal valley between Hinterriß and Eng is usually closed from early November through late April and is not plowed. The seasonal mountaineering bus also does not run during this time. Once the toll road reopens in the spring, the Großer Ahornboden is once again easily accessible by car, bicycle, or the seasonal bus service.

The Großer Ahornboden is located in the Karwendel Nature Park in Tyrol and can be reached from May through the end of October via the toll road between Hinterriß and the Eng. Although this natural gem is located in Tyrol, the only road access is through Bavaria. Depending on your starting point, you can reach it via Bad Tölz, the Sylvenstein Reservoir, and Hinterriß, or via Mittenwald, Wallgau, and the Risstal Valley.

Parking is available at the Eng, at the end of the toll road. From there, it’s just a few minutes’ walk to the Großer Ahornboden with its centuries-old mountain maples. Those who prefer not to drive can also reach the Großer Ahornboden during the summer season by taking the mountaineering bus or the Eng Bus.

The Großer Ahornboden is an ideal starting point for hikes in the Karwendel Nature Park. From the Engalm, both leisurely walking trails and more challenging mountain hikes lead into the surrounding mountains.

Easy hikes and walking trails:

• Circular walk through the Großer Ahornboden and the Engalm: This short stroll through the alpine village with its centuries-old maple trees is the perfect way to experience the unique landscape without much effort.
• Hike to the Binsalm: The trail from the Engalm to the Binsalm is one of the most popular routes at the Großer Ahornboden. This easy alpine hike leads through the impressive Karwendel landscape and offers beautiful views of the surrounding peaks.
• Enger Grund: A leisurely trail leads into the valley toward the head of the Enger Grund. Amid alpine meadows, streams, and the mighty rock faces of the Karwendel, you can experience the landscape in a particularly peaceful setting.

Moderately Difficult Hikes:

• Falkenhütte: The hike to the Falkenhütte is one of the best-known trails in the Karwendel. The route leads through the impressive mountain scenery surrounding the Laliderer Wände.
• Plumsjoch: The crossing over the Plumsjoch offers a scenic mountain hike with views over the Riß Valley and connects the Eng region with the Achensee region.

More Challenging Mountain Hikes:

• Gamsjoch: The ascent to the Gamsjoch requires good physical conditioning and mountain experience, but offers one of the most beautiful viewpoints of the Großer Ahornboden, the Engalm, and the surrounding Karwendel landscape. At the summit, you can often spot ibex.

The maple trees at the Großer Ahornboden are several hundred years old. Many of the approximately 2,000 mountain maples in the Karwendel Nature Park are between 300 and 600 years old. A few particularly ancient giant trees are even estimated to be even older.

The gnarled mountain maples have shaped the landscape around the Engalm for centuries. Their massive trunks, wide-spreading crowns, and extraordinary shapes make the Großer Ahornboden one of Tyrol’s most famous natural landmarks. The old trees are not only of great scenic value but also serve as a habitat for numerous plant and animal species.

Since many of the old maple trees are now reaching their natural lifespan, measures are being taken to preserve this unique tree population for future generations. Young mountain maples are being replanted to ensure that the unique cultural landscape around the Engalm and the Großer Ahornboden will continue to exist in the future.

If you’d like to experience the Großer Ahornboden more fully, you can spend the night right in the Eng or at one of the surrounding mountain huts. Staying overnight there is especially lovely in the evening, once the day visitors have left and you can truly feel the unique tranquility of the Karwendel landscape.

Right on the Großer Ahornboden:

• Engalm: This historic alpine village is nestled in the heart of the Großer Ahornboden, a natural gem. Rustic lodging is available in the traditional farmhouses. In total, Engalm offers about 60 beds for guests who wish to spend several days in this unique alpine and mountain landscape.
• Naturhotel Die Eng: Those seeking more comfort can stay at the Naturhotel right on the Ahornboden. The hotel offers rooms, suites, and mountaineering dorms—ideal for anyone who wants to explore the area without staying in a mountain hut.

Overnight stays at mountain huts around the Großer Ahornboden:

• Binsalm (1,502 m): This rustic alpine hut is located above the Eng and is a popular stopover on the way to the Lamsenjochhütte. It offers lodging and is particularly well-suited for a cozy night in a mountain hut.
• Falkenhütte (1,848 m): This well-known Alpine Club hut is located in the Karwendel Mountains below the Laliderer Wände and is a popular destination for hikes starting from the Großer Ahornboden.
• Lamsenjochhütte (1,953 m): The hut is located above the Ahornboden and can be reached via the Binsalm. It serves as an important base for crossings of the Karwendel and multi-day hut-to-hut tours.

Early reservations are recommended for all overnight stays, especially during the summer months and on weekends. Those who wish to stay for several days can also combine a visit to the Großer Ahornboden with a hut-to-hut tour through the Karwendel.

The maple trees at Großer Ahornboden usually begin to slowly change color from green to golden yellow from mid- to late September. The most impressive fall colors are generally expected from late September through mid-October, when the old mountain maples around the Engalm glow in vibrant shades of yellow and orange.

The exact timing, however, depends heavily on the weather. Temperature, humidity, frost, and wind all influence when the leaves change color and how long the fall atmosphere lasts. In some years, the maple trees reach their peak as early as the beginning of October; in other years, the coloring can last well into the second half of October.

The Großer Ahornboden is one of the most impressive places in Tyrol and is known above all for its unique landscape: More than 2,000 sycamore maples characterize the expansive plateau at the end of the Riß Valley in the Karwendel Nature Park. Many of the gnarled trees are several hundred years old and, together with the rugged limestone peaks of the Karwendel, form an extraordinary backdrop.

The maple trees stand on the grounds of the Engalm, one of the oldest and largest active alpine pastures in Tyrol. Alpine farming has been practiced here for centuries: In summer, cows graze on the expansive pastures, and the famous Enger Almkäse specialty is produced in the Engalm’s demonstration cheese dairy.

The trees’ distinctive shapes, the open meadows, and the surrounding rock faces make this place one of Tyrol’s most famous photo spots. In the fall, the Große Ahornboden reveals its most impressive side: When the leaves of the maple trees turn golden yellow, a unique atmosphere emerges between the colorful tree canopies and the high-Alpine mountain landscape. But even in summer, the area captivates visitors with its tranquility, the blooming alpine meadows, and the numerous opportunities for walks and hikes.