Hiking in the Brixen Valley in Austria – wild nature, rustic inns & 5 summits

The tour on the Floch is not for the faint of heart. You can only reach the 2,053 meter high summit via a narrow path - a head for heights and surefootedness are therefore an absolute must. The summit storm also goes hand in hand with a few magnificent views. But first things first.You start your tour with a leisurely gondola ride up to the mountain station of the Alpenrosenbahn in Westendorf. You have enough time to warm up: The tour starts - up to the Kreuzjöchlsee - is relatively flat and without major climbs. Once you have reached the reservoir (one of the largest in Tyrol, by the way) and have enjoyed the view enough, it’s over with the cosiness. It goes up steeply towards the summit.First you have to hike over the Brechhorn, then a narrow path that drops steeply on both sides leads you up to the Floch. Up here you can enjoy an amazing view and - depending on whether your stomach is already growling - maybe also your snack you brought with you. Otherwise you start to descend via the Miesfankalm, the Brandeggalm and the Schledernalm and hike back towards the starting point. You will inevitably come to the popular Brechhornhaus, where you can treat yourself to a hearty refreshment. Pound your belly really full - it's not far from here and relatively flat to the mountain station. And the gondola will take you down to the valley anyway.Tip: If a summit is not enough, you can make a detour to the Gassnerkogel with its beautiful summit cross, overgrown with mountain pine.

The Gamsbeil is certainly one of the most underrated peaks in the Brixental. Good luck for you - because that doesn't mean the summit is too well hiked. You may even be able to spot one or the other chamois.Your tour starts right outside the Gamskogelhütte. A stop at the rustic inn is always worthwhile - but most of all after the tour, as it is known that it is not so easy to hike on a full stomach. The first section winds through the picturesque pasture area of the Tagweidalm, is accompanied time and again by the pleasant splashing of the Miesenbach and finally turns into a densely vegetated forest path. From time to time you can enjoy magnificent views and just above the tree line you will find yourself at the Miesenbachalm, a place where time seems to have stopped.Further - always along the mountain stream and past the Neualm - you finally begin to climb towards the summit. On the way you will meet some ruins of former alpine buildings. Do not marvel at them too closely, because now you have to concentrate on the narrow path.Once at the top of the Gamsbeil, you have wonderful views. The mountain doesn't get its name by chance, so be sure to look out for chamois crawling over the rocks. Because the path guarantees magnificent views from the opposite perspective, you finally hike back down to the valley in the same way.

Yes, we also have a lot to tell you about this tour. But because pictures say more than 1,000 words, here is a video to "warm up" for the tour: Seen enough? Well, then you can start now. You start at the parking lot at the Oberlandhütte in Spertental near Aschau. From there you hike steadily over the Klooalm and the Stadlbergalm through wonderful forests and idyllic pastures. As you hike along the following straight stretch, you can consider whether you would like to take a short detour: To the blue paints, a magical little mountain lake whose name makes perfect sense, as beautiful as the sky is reflected in the calm water.But you haven't quite reached your goal yet. A bit of the paint goes back, then uphill. A section that definitely requires alpine experience. Then you stand at the top of the Little Rettenstein, which - along with its big brother - is the only striking stone mountain in the area. His name also has a background. "Ret", which means "red" in the old dialect, stands for the color of the light in which the summit is still dipped at sunset.Back to your starting point and thus back to the Oberlandhütte and past the Klooalm you finally reach the same way. Since these are the only two stops on the tour, you should divide your hunger well or, if necessary, have a “summit roll” with you.

What makes you most keen on a hike? Of course, a few moving pictures that were captured there on a beautiful sunny day: But we also want to describe the wonderful tour to the Schwarzkogel in our words. Because it is and remains one of the most beautiful peaks in the area. It starts in the tranquil Aschau at the parking lot at the Gredwirt. Because we Tyroleans do not like to talk about the hot porridge, you start the climb immediately. You march across a pasture through the forest, then past two alpine pastures, the Seewald and the Kleinmoosalm. From here, a red hiking trail leads you across open alpine pastures up to the Schwarzkogel.Contrary to what you might have expected, the Schwarzkogel is not a rugged rock. On the contrary: the proud summit cross sits enthroned on a grassy hill. But don't let that fool you. After all, you're standing at over 2,000 meters. A height from which the valley can be admired particularly well. Here you can also unpack and enjoy the snacks you brought with you. Of course, you packed one - because there is no place to stop for refreshments on the way. If you have enough of the summit flair, the same path will take you back to the valley.

Not only the summit panorama is a wonderful experience on the hike to the Steinbergstein. The trip to the starting point of the tour will also take your breath away: You can make your way to the rear Windau, one of the most beautiful side valleys in Tyrol, via an idyllic toll road (costs: manageable 3 euros per vehicle).When you arrive at the car park at the Ahornau Alm, you start to walk actively. After just a few meters you cross the peacefully babbling Windauer Ache and hike across the pasture and pasture area of the picturesque Ahornau Alm. Shortly afterwards you dive into a magical coniferous forest.Leaving the forest and passing the rustic Lagfeldalm, the climb towards the summit begins. It gets rockier, but you still have the cozy view of the gentle grass mountains of the Kitzbüheler Alpen until the end. And then you are already on one of its highest peaks. Although he required a bit of fitness and alpine experience from you, the view and the calm up here were always worth it.But this summit doesn't have to be everything. If you like and are one of the more experienced mountain fexes, you can hike along the ridge to the Lodron from here. Then the path leads you over the Lärchenbergalm and through wonderful nature back to your starting point.Tip: In order to enjoy nature, the views and the tour properly, you should plan a whole day for it. In any case, pack enough provisions and water in your backpack - there are no refreshments on the way. Only pure nature.