Long-distance hike Eagle Walk Stage 14: Innsbruck - Solsteinhaus Lodge

Enough city air. We swap sneakers for mountain boots and the tinkling of the streetcar for the ringing of cowbells. The long-distance hiking bug has finally bitten us and we're looking forward to arriving at the Solsteinhaus in the early afternoon and getting back into our usual rhythm - and we haven't had dumplings for two evenings.

Description

Route description: Take the Mittenwaldbahn from Innsbruck to Hochzirl or walk west from the train station along Salurnerstraße to Triumphpforte - then turn left into Maria-Theresien-Straße until it leads straight ahead into the old town to the Golden Roof - turn right into Domgasse and continue to St. Jakob Cathedral. Follow the Jakobsweg through Innsbruck to Kranebitten, Völs, Kematen and then from Kematen take the hiking trail over the Inn bridge towards Zirl, then continue through the Ehnbachklamm gorge towards Plainer to Hochzirl station and follow the signs for "Solsteinhaus" directly from the station.

North of the tracks, follow a good path into the dense forest. After a short time, the path leads into a cart track, which you follow directly and quite steeply uphill. The path from Hochzirl hospital soon joins on the left, continuing uphill and steeply in a north-easterly direction through the forest. After crossing the small stream that runs down from the Brunnenschrofen, a short section is almost flat or only gently ascending. The route now almost resembles a road and soon climbs more steeply again.

At an altitude of around 1,350 meters, the route meets a wide forest path - continue upwards here. The route passes above a small gorge and after the stream follows a path in the thinning forest and through the mountain pines up to the open alpine pasture area at the lovely Solnalm. From the Solnalm you can see the Solsteinhaus for the first time. Pass the hut on the right and head north into the valley towards the Höllkar. This involves crossing one or two scree gullies. The trail then crosses the foothills of the Höllkar as well as the stream and finally makes its way comfortably up the slope in the mountain pines to the Erlsattel with the Solsteinhaus.