Attractions

The most beautiful sights of Tyrolean nature

Why do you like coming to Tirol so much? "Because of the beautiful nature!" - say most people. And of course also because of us nice people. Thank you for that! But let's focus on nature now, because it inspires us anew every day - even if it's right on our doorstep. In this list, we show you where it's most beautiful outdoors here in Tirol.

1. Our most beautiful group of trees: Großer Ahornboden

Is there a more beautiful place in the Austrian Alps than the Großer Ahornboden? Certainly not many. On an oversized meadow stage, framed by steep rock faces, around 2,000 centuries-old, gnarled sycamores share the spotlight.

Our three tips for the Ahornboden:

  • The panoramic trail to the Binsalm hut offers different perspectives of the Ahornboden basin.
  • After an overnight stay in a hut on the Engalm, you have the Ahornboden almost to yourself in the early morning and late evening hours.
  • In autumn, the Eng valley becomes a fashion show for the maple trees, when they bring out their most colourful clothes.

2. Our most striking mountains

Some people say: a mountain is just a mountain. We in Tirol say: every mountain has its own character - and its own style. These mountains are particularly worth getting to know better.

Our tips for the most beautiful mountains in Tirol:

  • Hike around the Grossglockner on the multi-day Glockner Crown.
  • Admire the Serles from the Eulenwiesen in autumn.
  • Sonnenspitze: compare our would-be Matterhorn with the original.

3. Our favourite water fountains: Stuibenfall & Grawa waterfall

The waterfalls in Tirol are like multifunctional shower heads - they dispense water in the most diverse variations: as a delicate veil, wild and pulsating, compressed as high-pressure steel, splashing shyly, spraying like rain, spurting across the full width. Two of our favourite settings: "Stuiben" in the Ötztal Valley and "Grawa" in the Stubai Valley.

Our three tips for Stuibenfall and Grawa waterfalls:

  • The Grawa waterfall is part of the Wild Water Trail, which follows the water from the glacier to the bottom of the Stubai Valley.
  • An exciting via ferrata with guaranteed refreshment leads along the Stuibenfall waterfall.
  • In winter, the partially frozen Stuibenfall waterfall is also worth a visit and are illuminated on selected evenings.

  • Grawa waterfall

    Difficulty: medium
    Length: 4.3 km Duration: 2:30 h Elevation uphill: 676 m
    See trail: Grawa waterfall

  • Stuiben Falls

    Opening hours: open
    Difficulty: easy
    Length: 9.2 km Duration: 4:00 h Elevation uphill: 608 m
    See trail: Stuiben Falls

4. Our wild companion: Lech

The last of its kind - at least in the Northern Alps. There is no other wild river in the region that still forms its riverbed using natural dynamics. And watching the Lech do so is spectacular. The flora and fauna of its surroundings are extraordinary and are under special protection by the Tiroler Lech Nature Park.

Our three tips for the Tiroler Lech Nature Park:

  • The course of the Lech river can be explored extensively on the Lech Trail and the Lech Valley Cycle Path.
  • In the Nature Park Centre and in the Klimmbrücke Nature Park House in Elmen, you can learn interesting facts about the Lech.

  • A rare phenomenon for botany fans between mid-May and mid-June is the appearance of the rare lady's slipper plant blooms in Martinau.

     

5. Our most beautiful park: Hohe Tauern National Park

In the largest national park in Central Europe, the alpine vegetation is particularly lush and the alpine animals are particularly protected. The mountain world remains largely untouched. This makes the Hohe Tauern National Park one of the most beautiful high mountain landscapes in the world.

Our three tips for the Hohe Tauern National Park:

  • The East Tirol Eagle Trail leads through the core zone of the national park over several days.
  • Regional, close to nature and including guided hikes, the national park partner businesses are the perfect base camp for discovering the national park.
  • First the theory, then the practice! At the National Park House in Matrei you can learn everything you need to know for adventures in the great outdoors.

  • Nationalpark Hohe Tauern

    A fascinating primeval Alpine landscape, much wider than the eye can see: with an area of 1,856 square kilometres, the Hohe Tauern National Park is the largest nature reserve in the entire Alpine region.

    More Information: Nationalpark Hohe Tauern

6. Our crystal-clear beauties: Isar & Isel

Watching the two young rivers Isar and Isel grow is one of the most beautiful experiences in Tirolean nature. The Isar rises from several springs in one of the most remote corners of the Karwendel Mountains and makes its way through the Karwendel Nature Park to Scharnitz. The Isel is born on the Umbalkees glacuer in the Hohe Tauern National Park and then plunges over the Umbalfälle waterfall into its wild river life.

Our tips for the Isel & Isar:

  • From Scharnitz you can cycle to the source of the Isar on a pleasant forest track.
  • The Isel Trail is a family-friendly long-distance hiking trail that follows the Isel from its confluence with the Drau to the glacier.
  • If that's too far for you, you can explore perhaps the most spectacular part of the Isel on the Umbalfälle Nature Trail.

  • Iseltrail

    Difficulty: medium
    Length: 75.3 km Duration: 24:30 h Elevation uphill: 2,348 m
    See trail: Iseltrail

  • Umbal waterfalls nature force trail

    Difficulty: easy
    Length: 5.8 km Duration: 2:30 h Elevation uphill: 250 m
    See trail: Umbal waterfalls nature force trail

7. Our frozen beauties

Even our coldest side is beautiful. Glaciers with their jagged icefalls, deep crevasse systems and imposing glacier gates are a fascinating sight.

Our tips for glacier impressions:

  • The Pitztal Glacier Trail on the Wildspitze mountain offers rare impressions of the high alpine glacier world.
  • The Wild Water Trail leads through a landscape characterised by glaciers to the foot of the Sulzenauferner and Fernerstube.
  • In the Nature Ice Palace on the Hintertux Glacier you can explore this fascinating world of eternal ice by going inside the glacier.

8. Our most beautiful fjords: Achensee and Plansee

Winding, framed by high mountains and shimmering in turquoise-blue - a bit like Norway. But we don't have to decide which of our two large lakes is more beautiful. Instead, we recommend both - for swimming and numerous other activities.

Our tips for Achensee & Plansee

  • Don't miss a single view on the panoramic trail around the Plansee lake.
  • Take the steam cog railway up to Lake Achensee and continue by boat - not every lake offers an adventure like this!
  • The Schönjochl on the Plansee, the Bärenkopf on the Achensee: deluxe viewpoints.

  • Achensee

    Place: Maurach am Achensee
    : handicap-accessible
    Place for swimming: Achensee

9. Our Grand Canyons

Gorges are our joker when it's too hot for strenuous mountain hikes in summer. Here, water bubbles, splashes and gurgles in all the colours that water can do, resulting in all the shapes that rock can take. Fascinating, and not just for children.

Our tips for our gorges & ravines:

  • For daredevils: The Galitzenklamm gorge in East Tirol has been made accessible by several via ferratas.
  • Three gorges in one day? Kaiserklamm, Tiefenbachklamm and Kundlerkamm provide refreshment in three acts.
  • And at the end of the gorge is a monastery: the Wolfsklamm gorge offers an extraordinary combination.

  • Kaiser Gorge - loop trail

    Opening hours: closed
    Difficulty: easy
    Length: 4.2 km Duration: 1:00 h Elevation uphill: 198 m
    See trail: Kaiser Gorge - loop trail

  • Discovering the Tiefenbach Gorge Hike

    Opening hours: closed
    Difficulty: medium
    Length: 5.7 km Duration: 3:30 h Elevation uphill: 669 m
    See trail: Discovering the Tiefenbach Gorge Hike

  • Kundler Klamm

    Opening hours: closed
    Difficulty: easy
    Length: 6.4 km Duration: 2:00 h Elevation uphill: 116 m
    See trail: Kundler Klamm

10. Our most beautiful valley head: Gschlösstal Valley in East Tirol

A listed rock chapel, two picturesque mountain pasture settlements, the icy glaciers of the Großvenediger Massif, the "Eye of God" lake, circling bearded vultures in the sky. The Gschlösstal Valley in East Tirol really is a must-see for nature lovers!

Our tips for the Gschlösstal Valley:

  • The easy hike to Innergschlöss is already possible in early summer.
  • The Innergschlöss Glacier Trail leads very close to the Schlatenkees glacier and past the “Eye of God” lake.
  • From Messeling you can look out over the entire Gschlösstal Valley.

11. Our sharpest mirror images

We Tiroleans love mountain lakes. They simply make everything twice as beautiful.

Our tips for the most beautiful lakes:

  • The reflection of the Kalkkögel Mountains in the Salfainssee lake belongs in every serious photo calendar.
  • The Freispitze, one of the most exciting peaks in Tirol, can be seen twice when reflected in the Seewisee lake.
  • That colour! And that mountain in the background! Don't be put off by the name of the Totenkarsee, which translates as “Dead Ridge Lake”.

12. Our Big Five

Africa has elephant, rhino, buffalo, lion and leopard - we have chamois, ibex, bearded vulture, golden eagle and marmot. And, of course, plenty of motivated national park and nature park rangers who will show you these animals in their natural environment.

Our tips for the Big Five:

  • Join a guided tour at the five nature parks and the Hohe Tauern National Park.
  • On the hike to the Sudetendeutsche Hütte in East Tirol, we have seen all five in one day.
  • There are a few peaks in Tirol where you are (almost) guaranteed to see an ibex: Sonnjoch, Mondscheinspitze, Gargglerin.

The Big 5 of the Alps

In many protected areas in Tirol you can see the Big Five of the Alps in the wild. But it's also worth tracking them down in everyday life.

  • Big 5 of the Alps

    Man shapes nature, but nature also shapes man. In Tyrol, this interplay can be observed particularly well: with the help of five animals that are almost as important to the Tyrolean soul as the mountains in which they live. Ibex, golden eagle, bearded vulture, chamois and marmot: in many protected areas in Tyrol, you can see the Big Five of the Alps in the wild. But it's also worth tracking them down in everyday life.

    More Information: Big 5 of the Alps
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