With its quiet side valleys and wide range of different altitudes, the Wipptal Valley is ideal for cross-country skiing enthusiasts.
This valley running north-south and connecting the regional capital Innsbruck with the Austrian/Italian border on the Brenner pass is home to over 80 kilometres of well-maintained trails catering for beginner and intermediate skiers. One of the most popular destinations is the Gschnitztal Valley. Flanked on both sides by towering mountains, it has a flat 18km trail along the valley floor popular with beginners and experts alike. The trail is for Classic cross-country skiing, though there is also a Skating trail in the nearby village of Trins. Skiers pass through the traditional villages of Gschnitz and Trins, each home to several cosy inns and guesthouses, as they make their way through the valley in the shadow of the mighty Stubai Alps. The Gasthof Feuerstein (Gschnitz) and the Liftstüberl (Trins) have storage lockers and toilets.
Those in search of snowsure conditions throughout the season are well advised to head for the high-altitude trails at Bergeralm and Maria Waldrast. The latter is a circular trail reaching as high as 1,770 metres above sea level and offering majestic views of the Wipptal Valley, Stubaital Valley and the regional capital Innsbruck. Further popular trails can be found in Schmirn as well as three more side valleys: the Valsertal, Navistal and Obernbergtal. The majority of the cross-country skiing trails can be used free of charge.
