The easy/intermediate Zirbenweg Trail is a classic among the high-alpine hikes in Tirol. It provides a quick and simple route to amazing panoramas of the Inntal Valley below and offers great views of 400 craggy peaks in the Alps, including many within the Karwendel Massif. Rolling along high above Tirol’s capital Innsbruck and Hall in Tirol, this trail is lined by Europe’s largest and oldest stone pine populations (“Zirbe” in German, giving the trail its name). Some of the trees are several hundred years old. The Ampass Basin is home to what is considered the oldest tree anywhere in Tirol, a more than 700-year-old stone pine. Though much of the trail is under the old pine forest canopy, there are enough openings and clearings to keep the mountains and valleys frequently in view. From May onwards visitors can also look forward to seeing numerous alpine roses lining the trail. To get back down into the valley take the Glungezerbahn cable car and then the bus (540 or 530). Please note that there is a combined ticket available including use of the bus from Innsbruck (route J) as well as use of the cable car up and the cable car back down.
Themed Hike
Starting point
Igls
Finishing point
Tulfes
Mountain chain
Tux Alps
Length
7.6 km
Total hiking time
2 h 30 min
Features
- Wheelchair-accessible Hiking Route
- Circular hike
Difficulty rating
intermediate (red mountain trails)
Altitude
2,040m 1,950m
Elevation uphill 190m
Vertical metres downhill 90m
Fitness level
Technique
Best time of year
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
* These are approximate values and recommendations. Please take your personal fitness level, technical ability and the current weather conditions into account. Tirol Werbung cannot guarantee that the information provided is correct and accepts no liability.
Public transport
- Accessible using public transport
- Bus route J, get off at stop Igls Patscherkofel
- Innsbruck Welcome Card (for guests staying at least 2 nihgts) valid on all public transport in the area.
- Combined ticket available including use of J bus as well as the cable car up at Patscherkofel and the cable car back down at Glungezer.
Parking
Car park at the bottom of the Patscherkofelbahn cable car in Igls
Places serving food and drink
- Schutzhaus Patscherkofel (open almost all year round)
- Alpengasthof Boscheben (early June until mid-October)
- Tulfeinalm (late May until late October; December until Easter)
Downloads
Trail description
In Igls, take the Patscherkofelbahn cable car up to 1,964 metres above sea level. Follow the signs for "Zirbenweg" (trail 350) leading up above the mountain refuge along a wide path heading east to the somewhat hidden Boscheben Hütte hut at 2,035 metres. Most of the trail is flat and stays at around 2,000 metres above sea level. At the end of the hike, the route leads downhill to the Tulfeinalm hut, then up to the Halsmarterlift. The final downhill section is completed with the Glungezerbahn I+II cable car back down to Tulfes, where hikers can then take a bus back to Igls.
Tip! The Zirbenweg Trail can also be walked in the other direction. Take the Glungezerbahn cable car from Tulfes up onto the mountain and the Patscherkofelbahn cable car back down to Igls, where there is a bus taking hikers back to the starting point in Tulfes.
Information on place
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