Goetheweg Trail, Karwendel Nature Park, © Tirol Werbung / Sebastian Schels
Goetheweg Trail, Karwendel Nature Park, © Tirol Werbung / Sebastian Schels

Karwendel Nature Park

The Karwendel Nature Park covers almost the entire Karwendel Mountains. At 727 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 727 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.

Highlights in the Nature Park

Großer Ahornboden in the Karwendel Nature Park, © Silberregion Karwendel

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Großer Ahornboden

Großer Ahornboden

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.

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View from the Hafelekar to Karwendel, © Alpenpark Karwendel

2
Hafelekar

Innsbruck Hafelekar

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.

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Mondscheinspitze in the Karwendel Mountains, © Naturpark Karwendel

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Mondscheinspitze

Pertisau Mondscheinspitze

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.

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Halltal Valley in the Karwendel Nature Park, © Alpenpark Karwendel/G. Haselwanter

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Halltal Valley

Hall in Tirol Halltal Valley

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.

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A Museum with a Twist

Hinterriss Nature Park House at Karwendel Silver Region, © Nationalpark Karwendel
Nature Park Haus Hinterriss

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…

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Guided Walks & Hikes
A list of all guided hikes in the Karwendel Nature Park.

Further Activities in the Karwendel Nature Park

© Silberregion Karwendel
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on mapEng-Alm mit Schaukäserei

Alpine hikes

Starting point: Car park, Alpengasthof Eng
Length: 2km
Elevation uphill: 40m
Approximate hiking time: 1h
Difficulty rating: easy (hiking trails)

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Karwendel Gorge, © Tirol Werbung/Bert Heinzlmeier
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Show
on mapKarwendel Gorge, Scharnitz

Mountain hikes

Starting point: Länd car park, tourist information office in Scharnitz
Length: 9km
Elevation uphill: 216m
Approximate hiking time: 3h
Difficulty rating: intermediate (red mountain trails)

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Pfeishütte hut on the Karwendel High Trail, © Kirchmayer
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Show
on mapKarwendel High Trail

Long Distance Path

Starting point: Reith bei Seefeld
Length: 63km
Elevation uphill: 3,700m
Duration: 6 day(s)
Difficulty rating: difficult (black trails)

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Museum Holzerhütte, © Olympiaregion Seefeld
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on mapMuseum Holzerhütte Scharnitz

Scharnitz

What was everyday life like in centuries past for those who worked the forests of Tirol? What is a 'natural' forest? The Museum Holzerhütte…

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Possible in rainy weather
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Walderalm in Karwendel, © Irene Prugger
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Show
on mapWalderalm

Alpine hikes

Starting point: Gnadenwald, district of St. Michael
Length: 13km
Elevation uphill: 740m
Approximate hiking time: 5h
Difficulty rating: easy (hiking trails)

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The Wolfsklamm gorge
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Show
on mapWolfsklamm

Mountain hikes

Starting point: Stans
Length: 7km
Elevation uphill: 370m
Approximate hiking time: 2 h 30 min
Difficulty rating: intermediate (red mountain trails)

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Top Ten Attractions in the Karwendel Nature Park

Nature Park Villages in the Karwendel

Absam in winter, © Hall-Wattens/Wirtenberger
Absam

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…

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Achenkirch in winter, © Achensee Tourismus
Achenkirch

Modern yet traditional, the village of Achenkirch is located at the northern end of Lake Achensee, between the Karwendel and Rofan Mountains.

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© Hall-Wattens
Gnadenwald

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.

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Innsbruck in winter, © Innsbruck Tourismus
Innsbruck

Innsbruck has everything a lively, vibrant city needs, and yet it is just a ten-minute journey into the high mountains which dominate the skyline.

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© TVB Silberregion Karwendel Speichern Abbrechen
Jenbach

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…

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Maurach in winter, © Achensee Tourismus
Maurach

Maurach and neighbouring Pertisau belong to the municipality of Eben, the main tourist centre on the southern shore of Lake Achensee.

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Pertisau in winter, © Achensee Tourismus
Pertisau

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…

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© Olympiaregion Seefeld
Reith bei Seefeld

Reith bei Seefeld lies at the southern edge of the Seefeld Plateau. It is home to 1,300 inhabitants and offer fabulous views of the Inntal Valley.

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© Stalzer
Rum

Located on the southern slopes of the mighty Nordkette Mountains, Rum is a municipality to the north of Innsbruck with a population of 9,000.

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© Olympiaregion Seefeld
Scharnitz

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…

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© Olympiaregion Seefeld
Seefeld

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.

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© TVB Silberregion Karwendel
Stans

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.

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© TVB Silberregion Karwendel
Terfens

Terfens is a pretty village at the foot of the Karwendel Mountains on the sunny side of the Inn river. It has a population of just over 2,100.

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Thaur in winter, © Hall-Wattens
Thaur

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…

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Vomp in winter, © Silberregion Karwendel
Vomp

Vomp is a market municipality around 30 kilometres east of Innsbruck, located at the foot of the majestic Karwendel Mountains.

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Zirl in winter, © Innsbruck Tourismus/Stögerer
Zirl

Located 10km west of Innsbruck, Zirl is a municipality with almost 8,000 residents and often referred to as a "suburb" of the nearby regional capital.

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