7 of the Best Hikes in Tyrol to To Try the Next Time You’re Walking in Austria

For those of you who like your walks with a side of jaw-dropping views and some hearty mountain lunches (and that smug sense of accomplishment that only comes after a good climb) then Tyrol is basically your dream destination. 

This part of Austria is literally made for hiking, and if you’re planning a broader alpine adventure, this complete guide to hiking in Austria is a helpful place to start.

So if you’re already picturing yourself standing at a summit with the wind in your hair and a sandwich in hand, keep reading!

Zirbenweg Trail (Best Half Day Hike in Tyrol)

For those of you who want big alpine views without a big alpine effort, the Zirbenweg Trail is an absolute winner. 

Sitting just above Innsbruck in the Tux Alps, this hike delivers sweeping panoramas over the Inn Valley, a peaceful forest of ancient stone pine trees (zirben, if you want to sound local), and more than a few benches that practically beg for a snack break. It’s like the kind of trail that feels wildly remote, but thanks to a couple of well-placed cable cars, it’s entirely doable in a relaxed half day. 

It’s also perfect for a morning outing before hitting a lakeside lunch, or, let’s be honest, before doing absolutely nothing the rest of the day.

One of the best parts? You can start and end with a lift ride, making it friendly for beginners, families, or those of you who prefer your elevation gain delivered by gondola.

• Average Time: 2.5 to 3 hours
• Distance: 7 km / 4.3 miles
• Trail Type: Point-to-point (with cable car connections at both ends)
• Starting Point: Patscherkofel Cable Car (Igls)
• Ending Point: Glungezerbahn (Tulfes)
• Bonus Tip: Grab a pine schnapps at one of the huts along the way, it’s basically forest therapy in a glass.

“First time on the trail? Hiking for Beginners has your back.”

Schleierwasserfall Trail (Best Quick Walk in Tyrol)

For those of you who love a walk with a bit of drama (the good kind), the Schleierwasserfall Trail serves up a perfect blend of forest path, limestone cliffs, and one seriously impressive waterfall. 

Tucked away near St. Johann in the Wilder Kaiser region, this short hike is more of a scenic stroll, but one that ends with a splash! The waterfall itself tumbles dramatically over a sheer rock face, and if you’re lucky, you might catch local climbers scaling the vertical wall right beside it.

This is one of those hikes that punches well above its weight. It’s quick, easy to reach, and it also offers just enough uphill to make you feel like you earned that coffee and cake afterward. For families, casual walkers, or for anyone trying to squeeze in a bit of nature between bigger plans, it’s a no-brainer.

• Average Time: 1 to 1.5 hours
• Distance: 3 km / 1.9 miles
• Trail Type: Out and back
• Starting Point: Going, near the Wochenbrunner Alm
• Bonus Tip: Stop at the Wochenbrunner Alm before or after for homemade pastries and a knockout view of the Wilder Kaiser.

Olpererhütte Trail (Best Mountain Hike in Tyrol)

For those of you who want the alpine photo (yes, the one with the suspension bridge and the glacier-fed lake below) then this is your trail. The Olpererhütte hike in the Zillertal Alps is one of Tyrol’s most iconic routes, and for good reason. 

Starting from the Schlegeis reservoir, the trail winds its way up through rocky terrain, wildflower meadows, and sweeping views until you reach the legendary bridge near the Olpererhütte. 

Spoiler: it looks like you’re floating above the world!

This one’s definitely more on the “mountain hike” end of the spectrum, but it’s totally doable for anyone with a decent level of fitness and a willingness to take their time on the ascent. Plus, the hut at the top serves warm food and a front-row seat to some of the most jaw-dropping scenery in Austria. If alpine hiking is your thing, you may also love exploring more routes in the Austrian Alps.

• Average Time: 3 to 4 hours (round trip)
• Distance: 7 km / 4.3 miles
• Trail Type: Out and back
• Starting Point: Schlegeis Stausee (Schlegeis reservoir) car park
• Bonus Tip: Get there early this trail is popular, and the bridge doesn’t photograph nearly as well with 40 people on it.

Rofanspitze via Erfurter Hütte (Best Full Day Hike in Tyrol)

For those of you who like your hikes long, scenic, and just challenging enough to justify a strudel and a nap afterward, you will be super glad to hear that the route to Rofanspitze absolutely delivers. 

Starting from the shores of Lake Achensee, this hike kicks off with a cable car ride (you’re welcome) and then weaves through rocky alpine landscapes, wildflower-strewn meadows, and sweeping views across the Karwendel and Zillertal Alps. The summit of Rofanspitze offers a panoramic reward that’s hard to beat; think jagged peaks on one side and then deep blue lakes on the other.

This is one of those “best of both worlds” kind of hikes. It’s long enough to feel like a proper mountain day, but with well-marked trails and a few gentle plateaus along the way, it never feels like a suffer-fest. 

Bonus: the Erfurter Hütte near the start is a great spot to fuel up before or wind down after the loop.

• Average Time: 6 to 7 hours
• Distance: 13 km / 8 miles
• Trail Type: Loop
• Starting Point: Top station of the Rofan cable car (Maurach)
• Bonus Tip: If you’ve still got energy on the descent, detour to the nearby Gschöllkopf summit; it’s a short extra climb with even more jaw-dropping views.

Leutaschklamm Ghost Gorge Trail (Best Day Hike for Families)

For those of you hiking with kids (or just young-at-heart walkers who love a good story) the Leutaschklamm (Leutasch Gorge), which is also known as the Ghost Gorge, is a definite must. 

This fun and fantastically scenic trail blends natural beauty with a bit of local legend, winding along metal walkways high above a roaring turquoise river, through narrow cliff faces, waterfalls, and a gorge that’s steeped in fairy tale vibes. 

And yes, there’s an actual “ghost” of the gorge with storyboards and whimsical signs along the way, which makes it feel more like an adventure than a standard day hike.

It’s ideal for families, thanks to the safe and sturdy paths, interactive elements, and plenty of places to stop for snacks, photos, or enthusiastic ghost-spotting. The walk never feels too steep, but it definitely feels exciting, and especially when you look down into the rushing water from the bridges and catwalks.

• Average Time: 2.5 to 3 hours
• Distance: 5 km / 3.1 miles
• Trail Type: Loop (with optional extensions)
• Starting Point: Leutaschklamm Parkplatz near Mittenwald or Leutasch
• Bonus Tip: Bring a euro or two since there’s a small fee to access one of the bridges, but it’s absolutely worth it for the views (and the ghost story payoff).

🗒️ Free Checklist: “Pack light, pack right — download The Ultimate Hiking Packing List.”

Innsbruck City to Nordkette (Best Urban Hiking Inside Tyrol)

For those of you who like your hikes with a side of espresso and cobblestones and a cable car shortcut, this urban-to-alpine route is a unique gem. 

Starting right in the heart of Innsbruck, this route is ideal if you also want to explore more hiking in and around Innsbruck during your trip. You can walk from the city’s colorful Old Town up through leafy neighborhoods and into the forested foot of the Nordkette mountains. 

It’s a rare mix of culture and climb, and one where medieval streets slowly give way to pine-scented switchbacks and, eventually, some serious altitude.

If you’re feeling ambitious, you can hike all the way to Hungerburg and connect to the Nordkette cable car, which whisks you up to Hafelekar, nearly 2,300 meters (7,500 feet) above sea level. From there, it’s just a short walk to panoramic ridgelines that look out over both the city and the Karwendel Mountains. 

It really is urban hiking at its finest, and with the kind of views that make Innsbruck feel like the coolest mountain town in Europe.

• Average Time: 3 to 4.5 hours (longer if hiking to Hafelekar, shorter with cable assist)
• Distance: Approx. 6–10 km / 3.7–6.2 miles, depending on your route
• Trail Type: One-way or round-trip options (combine walking and cable car)
• Starting Point: Innsbruck Old Town (Maria-Theresien-Straße or Hofgarten area)
• Bonus Tip: Stop at Alpenzoo along the way if you’re into wildlife; you’ll get mountain goats and city views all in one stop.

Berliner Höhenweg (Best Overnight Hike in Tyrol)

For those of you who hear “multi-day trek” and immediately think of mountain huts with glacier views and the glorious soreness of day-two legs, then the Berliner Höhenweg is calling your name most likely. 

This is one of Tyrol’s most legendary hut-to-hut hikes; it’s a high-alpine loop through the Zillertal Alps that feels like a greatest hits album of everything Austrian hiking does best. If hut-to-hut hiking has caught your attention, here are some of Europe’s best destinations for this style of adventure.

We’re talking hanging valleys, glacial rivers, dramatic ridgelines, and cozy mountain huts where the soup is hot, the beer is cold, and the views are outrageous. For more ambitious long-distance routes, these Austrian trekking adventures are worth adding to your list.

You can tackle the full route over 7 to 8 days, but for a shorter adventure, plenty of hikers opt for a 2- or 3-day stretch between huts like Greizer Hütte, Berliner Hütte, and Kasseler Hütte. It’s not for the faint of heart since there’s some serious elevation, exposed sections, and long daily distances, but it rewards every step with scenery that feels almost too perfect.

• Average Time: 2 to 8 days depending on section
• Distance: Full route approx. 85 km / 52.8 miles
• Trail Type: Loop or section hikes, hut-to-hut
• Starting Point: Mayrhofen (base for access to multiple entry points)
• Bonus Tip: Book huts early in peak summer months, and bring a sleeping bag liner; it’s required in most Austrian huts and adds a touch of comfort to your alpine nights.

Conclusion

For those planning a walking holiday in Tyrol, you may also want to explore broader walking holiday options across Austria.