Exploring the Wildschönau on Foot and on Bike

Walkers can kick off their stay with a cable-car trip to the top of the Markbachjoch. From there, an easy four-hour hike around the Rosskopf offers a great introduction to the area, with awe-inspiring views over the Wildschönau valley. Make sure to stop off at the Holzalm along the way –  it’s a must-visit for cheese lovers, offering guided tours alongside a great selection of local homemade cheeses. 

Down in the valley, the walk to Filzmoos Moor will keep the whole family happy. The three-hour hike takes you from the centre of Niederau to Filzmoos, a wetland situated on a plateau 1,000 metres above sea level. The plateau is rich with alpine flora and fauna, so keep an eye out for frogs, dragonflies, butterflies and song birds as you walk. Better still, take off your shoes and walk barefoot over the soft grass to get a real feel for the incredible nature of this beautiful and unique mountain environment. 

Start in Niederau at the Pension Klausenhof and take route 284 and a steep climb to the Markbachjoch Mountain. Enjoy a stop at the Markbachjoch Hut and continue on along the ridge over the high pastures toward the tiny Horler Stiege Chapel via the Holzalm Hut. Take the steep road with its serpentine bends back to Oberau and on the main road back to Niederau.

If you want to save yourself the hard climb and enjoy some easy riding at altitude, the Markbachjoch gondola transports bikes free with the Wildschönau Card.

On bike, Stage 13 of the Tirol Mountain Bike Safari, part of a 670 kilometres cycle route zigzagging the whole of Tirol, is the perfect way to acquaint yourself with the region. It’s an especially stunning section of the journey, offering grand panoramas of the Wilder Kaiser mountains and glimpses of the Kitzbühel Alps as it crosses over the mountains between the postcard-ready villages of Alpbach and Niederau. The 33.7 kilometres stage mixes challenging climbs, winding paved roads and twisting singletrack pathways over alpine pastures and mountain plateaus. The descent down to the Inneralpbach, in particular, will test your mettle, featuring steep pitches and a series of S-Bends that require full commitment.