Jagdhausalmen Alpine Pastures, Defereggen, East Tirol, Austria, Europe

1. Petersköpfl Peak

Zillertal Alps Nature Park

An army of rock cairns form an otherworldly setting in this rock garden at craggy 2,672-meter Petersköpfl Peak. Usually used to mark the way, the rock cairns give off a warm glow, especially at sunrise and sunset — when photographers of all talents are compelled to snap away in hopes of translating this strange beauty of Zillertal Alps Nature Park through the lens.

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An army of rock cairns form an otherworldly setting at craggy Petersköpfl. Photo Credit: Tirol Werbung

2. Jagdhausalmen Alpine Pastures

Hohe Tauern National Park

Wrapped along the glorious mountain scenery of Hohe Tauern National Park at an elevation of 2,000 meters above sea level you’ll find the oldest mountain settlement in Austria: Dubbed “Little Tibet”, this remote high-mountain ensemble in East Tirol’s Defereggental Valley consists of 15 archaic stone houses. Here, you’ll access a pristine area with few visitor footprints, where ancient masonry and emerald carpets draped over rolling ridges make the perfect foreground. It’s best to point your camera to this pure, unaltered and classic Alpine landscape in the morning (before 10:00am).

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“Little Tibet”: Jagdhausalmen Alpine Pastures in East Tirol’s Defereggental Valley, closely resembling Tibet in appearance. Photo Credit: Kurzthaler

3. Hafelekar

Karwendel Nature Park

Looking down from the 2,256-meter summit of Hafelekar offers a snapshot of what makes Innsbruck such a special place. Urban meets outdoors in Tirol’s capital, where Hungerburg funicular and Nordkette gondolas speed you from the historic city center up to Nordkette mountains — skyscrapers of a different sort — cut through the sky, reminding residents of the playground that awaits when they leave the office. Up there, jaw-dropping views over Innsbruck and into Karwendel Nature Park await. Frau Hitt, the stony landmark of Tirol’s capital that calls to mind the image of a mighty giant queen on her horse, adds the final touch to this amazing scene. This place is breathtaking to shoot anytime, during any season.

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View from the top of Hafelekarspitze. Photo Credit: TVB Innsbruck/Helga Andreatta

4. “Gacher Blick”

Kaunergrat Nature Park

Some of the wildest photographs can be taken at Kaunergrat Nature Park: The spectacular “Gacher Blick” viewing platform is a primo spot to capture the wildlife and plant life of the Alps—and provides a superb viewpoint that drops steeply over the rocks and the valleys of this westernmost area of Tirol. For the best light, you’ll want to shoot morning and early-afternoon here. At Kaunergrat Nature Park, a backdrop of rugged and jagged summits and peaks, glistening white glaciers and the dazzling Kaunertal Glacier Road means you’ll easily spend hours capturing all the different photo-worthy possibilities.

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Panoramic view from “Gacher Blick” viewing platform. Photo Credit: Naturpark Kaunergrat/Chris Walch

5. Piburger See Lake

Ötztal Nature Park

Suspended in Tirol’s oldest nature reserve high above Oetz in Ötztal Valley, Piburgersee Lake is an aquatic jewel. At sunrise, the lake’s waters mirror the light show displayed on the snow-capped mountains behind it. Situated at an elevation of 900 meters and bordered by pine tree-covered hills, the idyllic display lures photographers humbled by the panorama to fully capture the lake’s crystalline qualities. The beautiful reed-fringed shore lands play host to a varied community of specialized plants and wildlife. This is where you will even find fragrant water lily in the summer.

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Piburger See Lake. Photo Credit: Tirol Werbung