Three-Day Trek: Imst - Muttekopf - Nassereith

Stage 1: Imst – Hoch-Imst – Muttekopfhütte
Uphill/downhill: 1,248/95 vertical metres, walking time: 5.5 hours, distance: 9.5 kilometres, highest point: 1,930 metres, difficulty level: intermediate (red trails)

From the Johanneskirche church, follow signs for “Rosengartenschlucht, Hochimst”. Rosengarten, literally Rose Garden, is a narrow gorge cut into the rock by the cascading waters of the Schinderbach river. The scenic trail across the gorge is edged by the Schinderbach river’s frothing white torrents and takes you up to Hochimst (1,042m) via a delightful series of beautiful wooden boardwalks, suspension bridges, stone steps, fixed cables and a tunnel, alternately left and right of the river. From Hochimst, follow the forest road that gently zigzags up to Untermarkter Alm (1,491m) to the start of the Imst Alpine Coaster, the longest alpine coaster ride in the world. Follow the signs towards “Muttekopfhütte, Latschenhütte” and walk along Jägersteig trail to the Latschenhütte hut (1,623m). The last 300 metres of elevation gain are tackled along a forest road. At the bottom of the small cable car used to transport material up to the hut, take the footpath that winds its way up to the Muttekopfhütte hut (1,934m).

Stage 2: Muttekopfhütte – Hahntennjoch – Anhalter Hütte
Uphill/downhill: 845/744 vertical metres, walking time: 5 hours, distance: 7.7 kilometres, highest point: 2,441 metres, difficulty level: difficult (black trails)

From the Muttekopfhütte hut, it’s a 500-metre vertical gain up across the Scharnitzkar cirque and onto the 2,441m Scharnitzsattel ridge. The trail can be loamy and slippery after rainfall. Beyond the ridge, the route plunges into rugged terrain with various ropes and cables. It then continues to descend to the Hahntennjoch ridge (1,894m). Cross the road and continue on a well-maintained track up to the Steinjöchl ridge (2,198m) auf. All that then remains is a very short walk to the Anhalter Hütte hut (2,042m), your base for the night.

Stage 3: Anhalter Hütte – Tarrentonalm – Nassereith
Uphill/downhill: 287/1,490 vertical metres, walking time: 6 hours, distance: 17.4 kilometres, highest point: 2,210 metres, difficulty level: difficult (black trails)

Start off at the Anhalter Hütte hut along a track that gently ascends verdant meadows on its way up to the Kromsattel ridge (2,120m). From the ridge, traverse a cirque where snow may remain until summer (please proceed with caution). Beyond the cirque, make your way up to the Hinterbergjoch ridge (2,210m) across a steep tussock slope ("Schwarze Erde"). Now, in open terrain below the Heiterwand rock face, follow the leisurely descending singletrack trail until you reach the Schaferhütte hut and proceed to Hintere Tarrentonalm hut (1,519m). The last portion of the route follows a dirt road. At the Hintere Tarrentonalm hut, take the forest road that leads out of the Tegestal Valley. It gently climbs up onto the Schweinsteinjoch ridge (1,564m) in the beginning, before slightly descending high above the deeply incised Tegestal Valley. Having crossed a rock tunnel, the forest road plunges into the valley (alternately left and right of the Tegesbach river). Down in the valley, take train number one towards Nassereith and follow this for around three kilometres until you reach the village centre of Nassereith.