Hikes in Osttirol

The Hohe Tauern National Park is the largest national park in the Alps. The East Tyrolean part extends in the north of the region and covers around 600 square kilometres. Here the Alps around the Großvenediger and Großglockner are highly alpine and pristine. Kals am Großglockner is an ideal starting point for hikes and mountain tours in the face of the Tauern giants. The village, with just over 1000 inhabitants, is sun-drenched at 1300 metres above sea level and offers an excellent infrastructure for an active holiday. Popular hikes lead to the Ködnitz, Teschnitz and Dorfertal valleys. Numerous shelters offer themselves as destinations here: The Lucknerhütte and the Stüdlhütte are among the best known.

The municipality of Matrei is also located in the middle of the Hohe Tauern. With the Innergschlöß lies probably the most beautiful valley head of the Eastern Alps in the north of the municipal area. The view towards Großvenediger is particularly spectacular. In the valley, you can hike in a relaxed manner and learn exciting things along the glacier nature trail.

The summer mountain railways in Matrei allow you to start many hikes at altitude, such as the beautiful hike to the Kals-Matreier-Törl. Depending on your mood and fitness, there are numerous hikes up to alpine pastures or up to the peaks. There are also many beautiful summit destinations in the nearby Virgen Valley. So if you can't get enough of mountains and hiking, you're in good hands here.

The highest mountain in the Austrian Alps is a sought-after destination. However, the ascent to the summit cannot be called a hike. The terrain here above 3000 m above sea level is too alpine and the paths too demanding. For the ascent you naturally need alpine experience or the accompaniment of a mountain guide. If you are satisfied with the mere sight of this magnificent mountain, you will find many beautiful hikes around the King of the Eastern Alps. We recommend the hike from the Lucknerhaus via the Lucknerhütte to the Stöldenhütte.

Around St. Jakob in Defereggen valley, the East Tyrolean Alps show themselves from their most beautiful side. The valley, which is also located in the Hohe Tauern National Park, is blessed with an impressive natural landscape in which hiking is a pleasure. Whether in the valley through cultivated landscapes, a little higher up through fragrant pine forests or up to the high, rocky peaks – no wishes remain unfulfilled here and there is certainly something for everyone. A trip to the Staller Sattel, which marks the border to South Tyrol, is also worthwhile. Here you will find great summit tours as well as a leisurely hike around the Staller See lake.

With Lienz, East Tyrol has a capital that offers urban life and at the same time nature experiences for the whole family. With the cable car, hikes can be started one level up. You can choose between easy, enjoyable hiking trails and challenging mountain tours in the Lienz Dolomites.

From the Stern-Alm, which you can reach with the Hochstein lifts, you can enjoy easy hikes with a magnificent view. The tour to the Bösen Weibele, the popular lookout peak, is somewhat longer. On the way back down into the valley, a summer toboggan run on the „Osttirodler“ is a great option. On the other side of the valley, too, the gondola takes you up metres of altitude before you set off on tours around Zettersfeld.

In the south of Lienz rise the shapely Lienz Dolomites, where numerous challenging tours await. A visit to the spectacularly located Dolomite Hut can also be recommended to less experienced hikers.

You want to set out this summer to explore the East Tyrolean mountains on a multi-day tour? There are plenty of options, because East Tyrol is a paradise for long-distance hikers and offers routes for every level of fitness and every time budget. Take a look at our guide to the long-distance hiking trails in East Tyrol and be inspired by such dreamlike tours as the Venediger Höhenweg, the Osttiroler Adlerweg or the Osttirol 360° Skyline Trail.