There aren’t many via ferrata routes that lead to seven different summits in just a few kilometres. That’s what makes the Innsbrucker Klettersteig so unique. The route follows a ridgeline almost 2000 vertical meters above the city of Innsbruck and guarantees a memorable experience for experienced via ferrata goers.
Total round-trip distance
7.8 kilometres/ 4.8 miles
Elevation gain
520 meters / 1710 feet
Difficulty
Intermediate (C/D)
Time required
5.5-6 hours
Overview of the Innsbrucker Klettersteig
The Nordkette bahn, which whisks people up to just below the summit of Hafelekarspitze, is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Innsbruck. Only a small percentage of people venture beyond the beaten path onto the Innsbrucker Klettersteig.
The route traverses a ridgeline and climbs up and down to seven different summits. Contrary to what you may think, the elevation changes between the summits are quite small. The whole route consists of two parts. The first one stretches between the Seegruben Spitze and the Langer Sattel (long saddle); the second follows the Langer Sattel and ends at the Frau Hitt Saddle. The first part of the via ferrata, though longer, is easier, with most passages being of A, B and sometimes C difficulty. The second part is slightly harder, particularly the very last section, which involves downclimbing metal steps obscured by a slight overhang (rated C/D). Those who found the first part hard enough can take an early exit from Langer Saddle back to the Seegrube Cable Car.
The Innsbrucker Klettersteig is aimed at intermediate via ferrata goers who are steady on their feet and don’t mind the high exposure. The reward is a 360-degree view of the Karwendel Nature Park to the north and Innsbruck, the Stubai and Zillertaler Alps to the South. If you are lucky, like we were, you might even run into some wildlife, in our case, a chamois.
TIP: If you don’t have enough experience, you can also tackle this via ferrata with a professional mountain guide.
The map & elevation profile
Important info about the Innsbruck via ferrata
Due to the quite high exposure on this via ferrata, you should be absolutely confident and only tackle it when the forecast is good for an entire day.
When to go: June to October
Via ferrata exposition: Mostly South
Trail numbers:
Map required: Kompass Karwendel Mountains
Highest point: Kemacher 2480 meters / 8136 feet
Parking: Nordkettenbahn underground parking
Trailhead: Top of Hafelekar Cable Car
Nearest towns: Innsbruck
Getting there
To get to the trailhead of the Innsbrucker Klettersteig, you will have to take the Nordkettenbahn, which consists of three sections: the Hungerburg Alpine Train that starts near the Congress Centre, the Seegrube Cable Car and the Hafelerkar Cable Car. If you are staying in the centre of Innsbruck, you can simply walk to the station.
TIP: The Innsbrucker Klettersteig is a busy route. I recommend getting to the trailhead early. Just don’t fall into the same trap I did. The Hungeburg train runs much earlier than the Hafelekar cable car, which doesn’t start until 9 AM.
By bus
The nearest bus stops to the Congress Hungerburg railway station are Innsbruck Congress/Hofburg and Innsbruck Haus der Begegnung. You can look for bus connections on Google Maps or the VVT app (Verkehrsverbund Tirol)
By car
If you are coming to Innsbruck by car, you can park in the underground parking lot close to the Congress Hungeburg Railway Station. Daily fees apply.
Stages of the Innsbrucker Klettersteig
Approach:
- Distance: ca. 500 meters (0.3 mile)
- Elevation gain: ca. 50 meters (160 feet)
- Time required: 15 minutes
From the top of the Hafelekar Cable Car station, follow the sign for Klettersteig/fixed rope route (see photo above). You will hike past the Geierwally hut and the beginner-friendly and short Geierwally via ferrata route, often used for practising. You should reach the first cables within 15 minutes. There is some space here to put on your via ferrata gear.
Via Ferrata:
- Distance: 4.3 kilometres (2.7 miles)
- Elevation gain: 470 meters (1540 feet)
- Time required: 4-4.5 hours
The Innsbrucker Klettersteig consists of two sections. The first one tackles the Seegruben Spitze (2350 m), East Kamin Spitze (2435 m) and Kemacher. Around halfway through the first part, there is a small suspension bridge that is quite the highlight. Most of the scrambling along this part of the via ferrata is of A and B difficulty, with a few short C sections.
Being popular, the route is extremely well-equipped and never poses any challenges, but you should definitely be free of vertigo, as the ridgeline rises almost 2,000 vertical meters above the Inn valley.
Once you reach the Langer Sattel (Long saddle), which is around 2/3 of the via ferrata, you can decide whether you call it a day and take the early exit route back to the Seegrube Cable Car station or tackle the next, slightly harder section of the Innsbrucker Klettersteig.
From Langer Sattel, the route continues along a hiking path to the Eastern Sattelspitze, then via ferrata to the Western Sattelspitze, and downclimbs to the Frau Hitt Saddle. The last few meters are the hardest, because you can’t really see the ladder steps due to the slight overhang (see photo above). Just take your time to feel the next step with your feet.
Descent:
- Distance: 3 kilometres (1.7 miles)
- Elevation loss: 350 meters (1150 feet)
- Time required: 1.5 hours
Once you reach the Frau Hitt Saddle, follow the Schmidhubersteig hiking route back to the Seegrube restaurant. The hike itself is also not for the light-hearted. The first few hundred meters are marked as T4 (black trail), which means it is steep and exposed, with loose gravel and a high risk of slipping. Some people may actually find it more difficult than the via ferrata, because there are no more cables to clip into. Make sure to take extra care on the descent. After a few hundred meters, you will enter an easy trail all the way back to the gondola.
Overnight stay & dining possibilities along the Innsbrucker Klettersteig
There is a restaurant at the Seegrube Cable Car station and another one at the top of the Hafelekar station. Apart from that, there is no other alpine hut en route. You should bring enough food and water to last you for the entire excursion.
Where to stay nearby
Innsbruck is known as Austria’s outdoor capital. Locals walking through the city with skis or climbing ropes attached to their backpacks are a common sight, and it is what brought me to this area a few years back. It’s a perfect base for exploring the nearby valleys and plateaus. Below are a couple of my recommendations for hotels in Innsbruck.
Please avoid Airbnb or renting rooms from private hosts. It contributes to the already huge shortage of long-term rental properties in Innsbruck. As a local who struggles with rental prices, I try to advocate for sustainable tourism.
Best Value
Situated in the heart of Innsbruck and very close to the river. The Hungeburg station is only a 10-minute walk away.
Top Rated
A very modern hotel right in the city centre. The Hungeburg station is within walking distance
Other activities nearby
Hikes
- Karwendel High Trail (5 days)
- Mutterberg Lake
- Axamer Kogele
- Zirbenweg
Via ferrata
- Seefelder Panorama
- Absamer Klettesteig
- Bettelwurf Traverse
- Glungezer Klettersteig
- Panorama Klettersteig (Kühtai)
