The Absamer Klettersteig is a unique via ferrata in the Tuxer Alps, close to the city of Innsbruck. The route has enough fun features to keep you or your kids entertained, including four sections, each with a unique name from an old local fable about a king, his daughters, and a revenge-seeking giant who called these mountains home.
Total round-trip distance
7.2 kilometres/ 4.5 miles
Elevation gain
560 meters / 1840 feet
Difficulty
Beginner/Intermediate (B/C)
Time required
3.5-4 hours
Overview of the Glungezer Klettersteig
The Glungezer Via Ferrata is located in the Tuxer Alps, within the small Glungezer Ski Area. It is a great half-day outing easily reached from Innsbruck.
There are four sections along the Glungezer Klettersteig, each divided into even smaller subsections. In the first one, you will find the King’s balcony and the Valley of the Enchanted Ptarmigan. In the second section, the passages are titled Snakeskin, The Mountain Man’s Hideout, and Princess Crown. In the third section, you will find the Giant’s tooth, Labyrinth and the Giant’s Hammer. In the last, “the Magic Wall” awaits. All names refer to the Tyrolean fable about a mountain Giant, who fell in love with the king’s daughters and asked to marry one of them. After facing rejection from the daughters, he planned revenge and killed the entire royal family. Later, he was filled with deep remorse, but his cries would not bring the daughters back. His regret turned him into an Ice-gray mountain man.
The Glungezer via ferrata has been recently renovated and is very well equipped to make scrambling as easy as possible. I really enjoyed this via ferrata, having to scramble through narrow passages was a new experience for me. Another highlight was the Nepalese suspension bridge, located around halfway along the route and adorned with prayer flags.
The summit of Sonnenspitze is an optional addition to the Glungezer via ferrata, but since it is only another 20 minutes from the end of the route, it would be a shame to skip it. From the top you will have beautiful views of the Stubai Valley, Tuxer Alps and the Nordkette Mountain Range.
The map & elevation profile
Important info about the Glungezer Klettersteig
Because of the North-exposition of the Glungezer Klettersteig, you can expect some remaining snow early in the season, and icing in early autumn. Majority of the route is of A and B difficulty, with only a few short B/C passages, which makes it a great beginner route.
When to go: June to October
Via ferrata exposition: North
Trail numbers:
Map required: Kompass Innsbruck and surroundings
Highest point: Sonnenspitze 2639 meters / 8658 feet
Parking: Glungezerbahn bottom station
Trailhead: Glungezerbahn 2 top station
Nearest towns/cities: Tulfes, Hall in Tirol, Innsbruck
Getting there
To reach the trailhead for the Glungezer Klettersteig, you will have to take the two-tier Glungezer gondola first. During summer and autumn, the gondola runs from the first week of June until the end of October. To reach the gondola station, you can either drive or take public transport.
By bus
Bus number 540 travels at 30-minute intervals from Innsbruck Central Station to Tulfes Glungezerbahn Talstation via Hall in Tirol. The journey from Innsbruck takes 28 minutes, and from Hall in Tirol only 15 minutes. Look for connections on Google Maps or the local VVT app.
By car
It takes 25 minutes to reach the Glungezerbahn gondola station when driving from Innsbruck and 10 minutes when coming from Hall in Tirol. There is a big parking area at the bottom, where you can park your car for a fee.
TIP: If you received an Innsbruck Welcome Card from your accommodation, you can use the Public Transport free of charge.
Stages of the Glungezer Klettersteig
Approach from the top of the Glungezerbahn 2 gondola station to the start of the cables:
- Distance 1 km (0.6 mi)
- Elevation gain: 170 m (560 ft)
- Time required: 30 minutes
The 30-minute approach to the first cables follows a hiking path through a ski run, then passes by the Zirben lake. There are signs pointing in the direction of the via ferrata, and the route is marked with white and blue paint marks.
Glungezer Via Ferrata to the summit of Sonnenspitze:
- Distance: 1.9 km (1.2 mi)
- Elevation gain: 360 m (1180 ft)
- Time required: 1.5 – 2 hours
The via ferrata is broken down into scrambling sections and short hikes in between them. Pay attention to the markings and arrows, particularly when you have to descend into a narrow tunnel in the “Mountain-Man-Hideout” (Das Versteck des Bergmännleins) section. The via ferrata ends 10 minutes before the Glungezer hut. The rest of the route to the Sonnenspitze summit follows a hiking path.
Descent from Sonnenspitze back to the gondola station via Glungezer hut:
- Distance: 4.3 km
- Elevation loss: 560 m (1840 ft)
- Time required: 1.5 hours
Overnight stay & dining possibilities
Approximately halfway through the adventure and just below the Sonnenspitze summit, you will come across the Glungezer Alpine Hut. The current hut wardens are from Nepal, so Nepalese cuisine dominates the menu. To me, it is always a lovely alternative to the repetitive menu normally available in Tyrolean Alpine huts. It is possible to stay in the hut overnight, but a prior reservation is essential.
While the gondola runs from the start of June until the end of October, the Glungezer hut is only open from mid-June until the first week of October. If you are doing the tour outside those dates, make sure to bring lunch.
If Tyrolean cuisine is what you are after, then you can also have lunch at the Tulfeinalm, which is a 15-minute walk from the upper gondola terminal, next to the Zirben lake.
Where to stay nearby
Tulfes is the closest town to the Glungezer Via Ferrata, but there isn’t much to do around here. Instead, I recommend that you base yourself in Innsbruck, the nearest city, which is only 20 kilometres from Tulfes. If you are not into cities, then the next best choice is the historic town Hall in Tirol, which is only 7 kilometres away. Below are a couple of my recommendations for hotel stays in Innsbruck.
Best Value
This is a vibrant, locally run hostel set in a charming, renovated 17th-century building. It is centrally located near the old town. With a lively bar, communal kitchens, and a welcoming, social atmosphere, it’s an ideal choice if you want to meet others while enjoying Innsbruck’s alpine lifestyle.
Top Rated
Sweet Cherry Boutique & Guesthouse
A charming, family-run retreat perched above the city, combining cosy alpine design with warm, personal hospitality. Set in a peaceful natural setting just minutes from the centre. It’s an ideal summer base with hiking trails, mountain bike routes, and the Nordkette cable car right on your doorstep.
Other activities around Innsbruck
Hikes
- Axamer Kogele
- Mutterberg Lake
- Berlin High Trail (7 days)
- Stubai High Trail (7 days)
- Karwendel High Trail (5-6 days)
- Zirbenweg
Via ferrata
- Innsbrucker Klettersteig
- Absamer Klettersteig
- Bettelwurf Traverse
- Panorama Klettersteig (Seefeld)
- Panorama Klettersteig (Kühtai)
