The Karwendel Nature Park covers almost the entire Karwendel Mountains. At 737 square kilometres in size it is Austria's largest nature park.
With their craggy peaks, extensive forests and lush meadows, the Karwendel Mountains are famous for their wild and untouched beauty. The Karwendel Nature Park been subject to a preservation order since 1928 and is one of Europe’s oldest nature reserves. Spread over 737 square kilometres, it comprises of eleven landscape conservation areas ranging from high mountain peaks to fenlands. The primordial vegetation has remained intact and many rare animal and plant species have found an alpine version of “Noah’s Ark” here. Golden eagles, ibex, sandpipers, the German tamarisk (lowland forest plant), as well as wild orchids and ancient sycamore maple trees still flourish abundantly in this region. The birdlife is equally fascinating. During guided hikes you will discover, for example, the three-toed woodpecker, owls and woodcock.
With their craggy peaks, extensive forests and lush meadows, the Karwendel Mountains are famous for their wild and untouched beauty. The Karwendel…
Every single tree here is quite remarkable - and there are over 2,000 examples of sycamore maples more than 100 years old. Just stop for a moment to admire the magnificence of nature, before paying a visit to the pretty alpine village of Eng.
Innsbruck’s Nordkettenbahnen cableways transport hikers on a scenic journey up to the Hafelekar, from where Innsbruck spreads out below. You can even nod a small greeting to the "Frau Hitt" stone landmark as alpine choughs swoop and play in the swirling thermal winds.
You have to be a keen hiker to climb the 2,106-metre-high Mondscheinspitze. The reward is a terrific view of the Karwendel, Rofan and Venediger Mountains, with the panorama even extending to the Zillertal Alps. If you are lucky you might even get the chance to see some wild ibex roaming past.
The Halltal Valley is located to the north of Hall in Tirol, a town which was a major hub of salt mining in the Middle Ages and still has many fine townhouses built during this period. In the valley itself there are still the old tunnels used to mine salt in the region. Keep your eyes peeled and you may get a glimpse of rare orchids growing by the trails.
Tucked away among glorious Karwendel Mountain Range, the Nature Park House in Hinterriss is an architectural highlight in its own right. Moreover, this eye-catching building houses a museum unlike any…
Starting point: Car park at bottom of toll road to Hinterhornalm, Gnadenwald
Length: 24km
Elevation uphill: 800m
Riding time: 3h
Difficulty rating: difficult
Starting point: Länd car park, tourist information office in Scharnitz
Length: 9km
Elevation uphill: 216m
Total hiking time: 3h
Difficulty rating: intermediate (red mountain trails)
Absam is a place of pilgrimage and one of the most attractive villages near Innsbruck. The municipality is home to around 6,800 inhabitants and lies on the edge of the Karwendel Mountains at 632m…
Gnadenwald lies at the foot of the Karwendel Alpine Nature Park and is popular with nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts alike thanks to its sunny location.
The town of Jenbach is located in the Lower Inntal Valley and forms part of the Karwendel Silver Region. It is home to almost 7,000 residents and is one of 20 settlements in Tirol to have been awarded…
The villages Pertisau and Maurach belong to the municipality of Eben and are the main tourism hubs on the shores of Lake Achensee. They are situated at start of several small valleys leading into the…
Hidden away between steep mountain slopes, Scharnitz lies on a narrow valley floor to the south of the Scharnitzpass connecting Tirol to Bavaria. From here, visitors can easily access the Karwendel…
A haven for cross-country skiers: Situated on a sunny plateau high above Innsbruck, the village of Seefeld is without a doubt one of, if not the, leading cross-country skiing centre in the world.
Located at the foot of the Karwendel Mountains, Stans is a village near the town of Schwaz. From here, visitors can walk into the Wolfsklamm, a spectacular mountain gorge with many waterfalls.
Thaur is a municipality at the foot of the Nordkette mountain chain, just a few kilometres from the regional capital Innsbruck. It is known as the "vegetable patch of Tirol" because of its many…
