Hike on the Karwendel High Trail

The picturesque village of Scharnitz is located in the heart of the Tyrolean Alps, not far from Mittelwald, and offers breathtaking natural beauty as well as a wealth of activities for outdoor enthusiasts. For example, the hike along the Karwendel High Trail. The Karwendel Höhenweg is a truly fascinating hiking trail between Innsbruck and Garmisch-Partenkirchen—and indeed, one of the most fascinating in the Alps. This high-altitude trail winds through the Alps’ most important nature reserves and nature parks, east of the plateau near Seefeld. It passes through the “Wildnis Karwendel” Nature Park via Mittenwald to its source on the Isar River near Scharnitz. Along the route, impressive natural experiences alternate with scenic highlights and idyllic huts where you can spend the night. The best time to hike this trail in the Karwendel Mountains is from July through September, and especially in late summer, when stable weather conditions and excellent views are ideal for hiking the high-altitude trail. The trail can be completed in several stages over several days. More tips from our blog.

First Day of the Hike – via the Schartlehnerhaus to the Nördlinger Hütte

The hiking week on the Höhenweg trail in the Karwendel Mountains begins after a quick gear check at the Reith train station near Seefeld. First, the hike follows the Panoramaweg trail across the Seefeld Plateau. This is followed by a varied ascent to the Schartlehnerhaus (1,856 m). The route follows the “Schoaßgrat” to the Nördlinger Hütte (2,238 m), where we’ll spend our first night. More tips from our blog.

Day 2 of the Hike – Over the Eppzirler Scharte to the Solsteinhaus

On the second day, the hike continues toward the Eppzirler Scharte (2109m). The trail winds through an inhospitable karst landscape. Overnight accommodations on the second day are at the Solsteinhaus (1806m).

Day 3 of the Hike – From the Solsteinhaus to the Pfeishütte

On the third day, the trail winds past rugged rock formations toward the Frau Hitt Saddle. After a while, you’ll reach the Seegrube Restaurant (1,905 m), which also serves as today’s rest stop. From there, the trail continues along the Goetheweg to today’s destination, the Pfeishütte (1,922 m), where you’ll spend the night. Read more about it here.

By Michael, 2015 – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=108529194

Day 4 of the hike – via the Wilde-Bande-Steig to the Bettelwurfhütte

First, you’ll follow a narrow trail up to the Stempeljoch. Then we’ll follow the Wilde-Band-Steig trail (which was built 150 years ago by a mountaineering club from Innsbruck). This trail leads to the Bettelwurfhütte (2,077 m), which we’ll reach in the afternoon. We’ll also spend the night there.

By Haneburger – Own work, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=7817604

Day 5 of the Hike – Over the Lafatscher Joch to the Hallangerhaus

On the fifth day, we’ll set out toward the Lafatscher Joch. From there, we’ll continue along the Adlerweg until we finally reach the Hallangerhaus (1,768 m). We’ll spend the night there on the fifth day.

Day 6 of the stage – past the source of the Isar to Scharnitz

On the last day, the route begins with a descent. On the last day, the hike begins heading toward the source of the Isar. From there, you’ll follow the Isar downstream. After that, the terrain opens up more and more as you make your way toward Zivilstation. From Scharnitz, you can arrange your return trip either by bus or train, or even by car.

From Scharnitz, the Karwendel is also accessible via three long valleys: the Karwendeltal, Hinterautal, and Gleirschtal offer a beautiful network of trails and a wealth of hiking routes.

Vomper Loch & Much More

Another must-see attraction in the Karwendel is the Vomper Loch. The Vomper Loch, a side valley of the Inn Valley, is considered one of the most remote and peaceful valleys in the Karwendel Mountains. It branches off above Vomp near Schwaz and captivates visitors with its imposing cliffs and turquoise-blue waters—a true natural wonder! You can find more information here.

Another must-see is the Nature Park Center in Hinterriß. The Nature Park Center in Hinterriß is a true highlight in the breathtaking mountain landscape of the Karwendel Nature Park. Since its opening in 2009, it has been a fascinating museum that inspires wonder and amazement with its innovative design. It is one of the many gems that showcase the beauty of the region.

If you’d prefer not to stay in Scharnitz, you’ll find the Karwendelhaus and the Hotel Karwendel in the heart of Pertisau, not far from Lake Achensee. Lake Achensee captivates visitors with its blue color and is also the largest lake in Tyrol.

Activities in the Karwendel Mountains

The northern range of the Karwendel is an adventure playground for active travelers: climbing, paragliding, skiing, freeriding, and so much more—the Karwendel via ferrata also offers pure adrenaline. The Karwendel via ferrata begins at the “Passamani” viewpoint at an elevation of approximately 2,285 meters. Compared to the Mittenwald via ferrata, this section is shorter but significantly more challenging. Experienced via ferrata enthusiasts will enjoy the steep rock faces, exposed traverses, and challenging terrain. Appropriate gear—including a climbing harness, helmet, and via ferrata set—is essential for this route.

The Ödkarspitzen are a group of three mountain peaks in the Karwendel range in Tyrol. They are part of the Hinterautal-Vomper Range and lie between the Birkkarspitze to the east and the Marxenkarspitze to the west. The highest peak is the Mittlere Ödkarspitze, which reaches an elevation of 2,745 meters above sea level. The Westliche Ödkarspitze is 2,712 meters high, while the Östliche Ödkarspitze has an elevation of 2,738 meters.

As you can see, the Karwendel Mountains offer a wide variety of natural wonders and are perfect for hiking and climbing enthusiasts!

By Kogo – photo taken by Kogo, GFDL, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=771587