Mountain hikes The Emperor Max Grotto trail (Kaiser Max-Grottensteig)

Zirl / Karwendel
Difficulty ratings: medium
Route length: 1.6 km
Duration: 1:20 h

Tour information

  • Requirement: medium
  • Length: 1.6 km
  • Duration: 1:20 h
  • Elevation uphill:214 hm
  • Elevation downhill:30 hm
Highest point778 m

Starting point

Parking lot P 8 at the Red Cross, Zirl East

Finishing point

Maximilian's Grotto (Maximiliansgrotte)

Best time of year

  • January
  • February
  • March
  • April
  • May
  • June
  • July
  • August
  • September
  • October
  • November
  • December

Trail condition

Forest road, trail

Equipment

good footwear
Source: Innsbruck Tourismus

Description

Arrival by car. Paid parking is available at the P 8 "Rettung" emergency services at Zirl Ost. Roughly 200 metres above the floor of the Inn Valley, in the middle of the Martinswand rock face, lies a natural cave known as Maximilian's Grotto (Maximiliansgrotte), which is 26 metres wide and 19 metres high. Legend has it that Emperor Maximilian sought refuge in the cave after getting lost while hunting chamois.

The Grottensteig trail on the Martinswand was reconstructed and has been open to hikers again since the beginning of April 2015. The route leads from the Brunntalweg trail, across the quarry and along the completely redeveloped old section of the grotto trail to the cave. Bridges, fences and handrails provide extra security along the route up to the spectacular viewpoint, which overlooks Zirl and the upper Inn Valley.

Hikers must be sure-footed and have a good head for heights!

Getting here

  • Parking

    By car, paid parking is available at the "Rettung" emergency services at Zirl Ost
    PARKING PLACES
    A car park usually serves as the starting point of a route.
    As these are sometimes chargeable, it is advisable to have coins ready,
    have coins at hand.

Weather

Today

light rain showers
10°C/2°C
70%2.9l5 km/h

Sun

light rain
14°C/2°C
80%7.3l10 km/h

Mon

mainly clear
13°C/4°C
15%0l5 km/h
Go to weather forecast

More tours in the surrounding area

Newsletter

The mountain is calling? So does our newsletter!

In our monthly newsletter we reveal the best holiday tips for Tyrol.