While the golden eagle is the king of the skies, the Eagle Walk is the king of the long-distance hikes in Tirol. The hike takes its name from the fact that, when seen from above, the 420km route traces the outlines of a golden eagle in flight. The Eagle Walk begins in St. Johann in the Kitzbühel Alps and finishes in St. Christoph am Arlberg. There is also a special version of the Eagle Walk in East Tirol, which starts in Ströden and finishes at the Stüdlhütte hut on the Großglockner mountain, the highest peak in Austria. Put together, these two hikes comprise 33 stages with no less than 31,000 vertical metres of uphill. Little wonder, then, that this is a long-term project which needs time but rewards hikers with some of the most spectacular views in Tirol. The highlight of the hike is the Goetheweg Trail in the Karwendel Mountains overlooking Innsbruck. The contrast between the remote mountain world and the urban setting of the regional capital is unique. The Eagle Walk is ideal not only for hardcore hikers wishing to complete the whole route but also for those who want to explore certain areas of Tirol one by one. The hike can be broken down into sections of one or several days. Experience hiking in high alpine terrain, sure-footedness and a head for heights are, however, required on many of the stages.
Tip! There are Black Diamond Service Stations at the Gaudeamushütte (Kaiser Mountains), the Karwendelhaus (Karwendel Mountains) and the Württembergerhaus (Lechtal Alps). Hikers who have broken a walking pole or lost a glove can get a free replacement at these stations.
Tip! There are Black Diamond Service Stations at the Gaudeamushütte (Kaiser Mountains), the Karwendelhaus (Karwendel Mountains) and the…
