Author tips: Autumn hikes around Innsbruck

Innsbruck is beautiful in autumn.

You could say that about any city where the trees, meadows and green house walls change colour – but Innsbruck is even more beautiful. Why is that? Quite simple: because you see so much nature here, as hardly in any other city. You can always see one of Innsbruck’s local mountains behind a house wall. And the forests on the Nordkette, the Patscherkofel and the more distant mountains in the surrounding area offer huge colorful canvases for nature spectacles during autumn hikes.

My 7 favourite hikes in autumn:

Walk along the Inn

Not a hike, right. But the perfect walk along the Inn. If you’re lucky, the sun is shining, the leaves cover the asphalt and the Inn shines turquoise-blue-grey. If you spot a fish, you get an ice cream! The last of the season.

Route: My favorite round starts at the market place, from here to the Hans Psenner Steg, cross there and on the other side to the Sieglanger Steg (big round) and back.

Autumn at the Innradweg.

In the evening the snow-covered Bettelwurf shines out.

Höttinger Alm

Ideal for mountain bikers, but also a worthwhile hike for pedestrians, because the Höttinger Alm is uniquely situated. From here you have a view over the city, to the mountains and all this in a charming ambience on a small platform framed with trees. Be sure to say hello to the highland cattle!

Directions: comfortable via the forest path or up the steep cable car gully from Hungerburg. Walking time: 1,5-2h

The cattle with the best view over Innsbruck!

Rauschbrunnen

Coffee break with the best view. From here you can watch the hustle and bustle at Innsbruck Airport and with a bit of luck a glider will fly by very close. Open Tues-Sun. Tip: better than a coffee: order the hot chocolate & plum poppy seed doughnuts right away – delicious!

Directions: e.g. from the Buzihütte approx. 45min or from the Höttinger Bild approx. 1h ascent.
Hut open Tue-Sun until Christmas

Snacks at the Rauschbrunnen.

With a bit of luck a glider will fly by.

Lanser round

Take the 3 tram to the Pradler cemetery. From here walk along the road past Ambras Castle and on to the Forstmeile (trim trail). Continue to the golf course and once around the Lanser Lake, the Lanser heads and the prettiest bird house far and wide at the water lily pond. Walking time approx. 2h.

Autumn in Innsbruck, the camera must not be missing.

Breakfast walk in Kematen

Get a fresh pastry with filling of your choice at Bäcker Ruetz Backhaus in Kematen. Here you can park for free and take a nice walk in the plain along the Melach. At the per capita field next door you can see how much one person eats per year – a cool stop for adults and children. By the way, the view of the Rosskopf is particularly beautiful from here!

To the burning larches on the sunny plateau Mieming

“Is it that time already?” If you want to know exactly when the colourful larches can be seen in autumn, it’s best to call Tanja at the Mieming Tourist Office (+43 5264 5274). Because only for a short time you can marvel at the spectacular natural spectacle here.

Hiking in Lüsens & Praxmar

Lüsens and Praxmar are about half an hour away by car. Once for easy hiking in the valley (Lüsens) and once for steep mountain climbing to my new favorite mountain lake, the Bergersee (from Praxmar about 1.5h ascent, 1h descent via the unmanaged Kogeleralm)

Hiking in Praxmar

Hiking tips for autumn:

• If you don’t start until the afternoon, pack an extra warm layer to put on…
• …and maybe a headlamp!
• Observe the current snow line and trail times
• Avoid too high targets without appropriate equipment (snow, ice & danger of slipping)
• A tea from the thermos flask tastes delicious even at the sunny wooden bench
• Don’t forget your camera!
• You can find all hiking trails here!

All photos unless otherwise noted: Lea Hajner