Route: Pinnisalm Valley
Area: Austria, Stubai Valley, Tyrol
Date of walk: 7th September 2023
Walkers: Andrew and Gilly
Distance: 6.0 miles
Ascent: none (descent 2,700 feet)
Weather: Sunny, cloudless and very hot
It’s been 8 years since our last walking holiday in Austria, and it was was wonderful to be back among its spectacular Alpine scenery. Our base for this holiday was the village of Milders in the Stubai Valley. Using our Stubai Super Card for the first time we caught the local bus to the nearby village of Neustift and from there (using the same travel card) we took the cable car to the top of the Elferbahn. Fifteen minutes later, with no effort on our part, we were at an altitude of 1,798 metres, nearly 6,000 feet. The views over the Stubai Valley from here were spectacular. This is a popular launching area for paragliders and we watched several of them leap into the void from here
The walk, which was entirely downhill, started from the nearby walk-in sundial, the largest in the Alps, and after walking around it we set off along a gravel track leading into the Pinnisalm Valley. Before long the path narrowed and became steeper and rockier. There were fixed ropes in a couple of places, perhaps useful in wet weather but we didn’t need to use them. The drops to the left were steep at times, but not so as to induce feelings of vertigo
Eventually we arrived at the far point of the walk, the Pinnisalm Hütte, set in a wonderful position with views of the dramatic peaks at the head of the valley. It was a scorching hot day, and an ice cold beer here went down a treat
Suitably refreshed we continued down an easy gravel track to Issenengeralm, where another alpine hütte is pleased to serve hungry or thirsty walkers. The walk may be ended here as it’s possible to call for a taxi back to the start. We decided to continue our descent down the gravel track and back into the village of Neder in the Stubai Valley. The six mile descent was quite a test for my new knee – it’s been six months since the replacement operation and this is the longest walk I’ve undertaken since then. I’m glad to say that it passed the test, though it was a relief when the end came in sight
Our Stubai Super Card proved its worth for the third time, as we used it to catch the bus back to Milders. It had been a great start to the holiday
Click on the icon below for the route map
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The start of the walk from the top of the Elferbahn cable car, and a wonderful view along the Stubai Valley as far as Innsbruck. This is a popular place for paragliders to launch off
We visit a large sundial, which is designed as an armillary sphere. It has a diameter of 8 metres
The time may be read off the metal band, add one hour to the time displayed in summer. The date is shown too, but only at midday
We set off into the Pinnisalm Valley, with Kirchdachspitze ahead (9,318 feet)
We passed by several alpine cattle. There were no calves around and they seemed perfectly relaxed so we had no fears
The track narrows as we descend further into the Pinnisalm Valley
Looking across the valley
Steep drops on our left, but it's a perfectly safe path...
The exciting path contours around the mountainside, descending all the while
Scree slopes on the far side of the valley
The jagged ridge of Ilmspitze (8,832 feet)...
A cooling stream on a roasting hot day
We reach the valley floor at Pinnisalm
Habicht (10,751 feet) at the head of the valley
The Pinnisalm Hütte, set in an idyllic location
Much needed refreshments at the half way point of the walk
A change of direction as we turn away from the valley head to descend along an easy gravel track
Looking back to Pinnisalm and mighty Habicht
We pass by the Gespaltener Stein or the Stone Giants. The boulder is a block of dolomite which crashed down from the mountains and split in two when it landed
These twig props raised a smile as we walked past the massive stone
We cross a footbridge over the Pinnisbach River
Further along the track
Views back to the head of Pinnisalm Valley...
Pinnisbach River, which is dry following a lack of recent rain
We pass by a small chapel at Issenengeralm
Issenengeralm Hütte. The walk may be ended here, either by calling for a taxi or by taking the Pinnis Shuttle, a scheduled service which only operates once a day, in the late afternoon
We opt to continue the walk and after a long descent down the gravel track, Neder finally comes into view. In retropect it would have been a better choice to have followed a path to the right of the track, a slightly longer but more interesting option
We arrive in Neder
We walk through Neder to the bus stop to end the walk - it had been a wonderful start to our walking holiday
