When I reached the summit of the Vorderer Tajakopf, the culmination of the Tajakante Klettersteig, I said to my boyfriend, “This is the most beautiful via ferrata I have ever done!” This says a lot about this route, given that I have completed dozens of others in 3 different countries. If you are an experienced scrambler, you will love the Tajakante Klettersteig.
Total round-trip distance
16.6 kilometres/ 10.3 miles
Elevation gain
1550 meters / 5090 feet
Difficulty
Advanced (D)
Time required
8-10 hours
Overview of the via ferrata Tajakante
The Tajakante via ferrata (in German: Klettersteig) is located in the Mieminger mountain range, near the town of Ehrwald in Austria’s Tyrol State. The highlights of this route are the two turquoise alpine lakes: Seebensee and Drachensee, which you will see from high above while climbing. The route leads to the summit of Vorderer Tajakopf from where you get expansive views of the Mieminger & Wetterstein Mountain ranges, as well as Zugspitze – Germany’s tallest mountain, which borders Austria.
Before you think about adding the Tajakante via ferrata to your scrambling bucket list, make sure to first tackle some easier via ferrata routes in the Dolomites or Austrian Alps. This is an advanced route, with sections going up to difficulty level D. Together with the approach route, you are also looking at over 1500 meters (over 5000 feet) in elevation gain, so good stamina, or an overnight stay in an alpine hut, is required.
The map & elevation profile
Important info about the via ferrata
When to go: July-September
Exposition: West
Map required: Kompass Mieminger Kette
Highest point: Vorderer Tajakopf 2450 meters / 8038 feet
Parking: Ehrwalder Gondola bottom station
Trailhead: 47.38635, 10.93933
Trail numbers: 812, 34
Nearest town: Ehrwald
Getting there
The trailhead for the approach route lies 2.3 kilometres from the centre of Ehrwald and can be reached either by public transport or by car.
By bus
The nearest bus stop to the trailhead is Ehrwalder Almbahn, right next to the gondola station. It is the end station. Buses no. 1, 2, 3, and 4 operate on this route. It only takes 5 minutes by bus from Ehrwald to get here. You can check for connections on Google Maps or the VVT (Verkehrsverbund Tirol) app/
By car
You can reach the trailhead in a few minutes when travelling by car from Ehrwald. There is a paid parking lot near the bottom of the gondola station.
Stages of the via ferrata Tajakante
Approach to Coburger Hut:
- Distance: 5.4 kilometres (3.4 miles)
- Elevation gain: 850 meters (2790 feet)
- Time required: 2-2.5 hours
The approach follows trail no. 814 up a steep scree slope from the parking lot to the Seebensee lake. This is a tough hike rated T4 (black trail), requiring good balance and a lack of fear of heights. Cables have been placed in the most difficult sections, and it might be a good idea to put on your via ferrata gear to tackle those. From the lake, the trails become significantly easier. First, it follows a flat path around the lake, then it climbs in zigzags until the Coburger Hut.
Via Ferrata Tajakante (from Coburger hut):
- Distance: 5 kilometres (3.1 miles)
- Elevation gain/loss: 630 meters (2070 feet)
- Time required: 4-5 hours
From the hut, follow the signs for the Tajakante Klettersteig. You should reach the first cables after a 30-minute traverse underneath the Tajakopf summits. The entire route is marked with paint and is very well equipped with cables; there are a few short sections where the cables disappear, and you must walk on narrow ledges. The route is a circuit. Once you reach the summit, descend back to the Coburger hut, which follows a steep scree path on the South side of the mountain, first to the saddle, then down to Drachensee Lake.
Descend to Ehrwalder Alm:
- Distance: 6.2 kilometres (3.9 miles)
- Elevation loss: 470 metres (1540 feet)
- Time required: 2-2.5 hours
If you don’t want to return to the parking lot using the steep approach route, you can descend to the Seebensee lake, then veer onto path no. 34 first to Seeben Alm and then towards the Ehrwalder Alm and the top of the Ehrwald gondola station. Take the gondola down to the parking lot. This route is slightly longer but much easier.
Overnight stay & dining possibilities on the Tajakante klettersteig
Tackling the Tajakante Klettersteig in just one day is no easy feat and should only be attempted by those who are super fit. Since I prefer to take things easy, I decided to stay in the Coburger hut the night before and split the excursion into two days. Since the route follows a circuit, starting and ending at the hut, I was able to go really lightweight, leaving most of my stuff at the hut and picking it up after I completed the via ferrata.
Coburger hut is located just above the Drachensee lake and has some of the best hut views in Tyrol. The refuge is usually open from the first week of June until the end of September. This is a busy hut, so don’t wait with your reservation. Summer weekends usually book out in January. To book, you can fill out the form on their website under the ‘Reservierung’ tab.
During descent, you will also come across the Seeben Alm restaurant (marked on the map). This is a very busy place, though, and I am not a fan. Additionally, there is a restaurant at the top of the Ehrwald gondola station, at the end of the descent route.
Where to stay nearby
The nearest town to the Via Ferrata Tajakante is Ehrwald. It is a small Tyrolean village, close to the Austro-German border and built at the foot of Zugspitze, Germany’s highest peak.
Best Value
Der Grüne Baum Mountain Boutique Hotel
I am a big fan of small boutique hotels where the staff is more personable. Der Grüne Baum is in the centre of Ehrwald and is praised for its great views and very good breakfast buffet. Wellness & Spa is an added bonus!
Top Rated
This hostel is only a few years old, but it has already garnered a huge amount of positive reviews. Located within a short walk of the train station, the hostel is highly praised for its good vibes. Not a fan of dorms? They also have private rooms.
Other activities nearby
Hikes
- Mount Daniel Summit
- Schönjochl
- Seebensee and Drachensee
Via ferrata
- Seeben
- Wankspitze
- Adler Klettersteig (Mieming)
- Panorama (Seefeld)
- Leite Klettersteig
- Imster Klettersteig
Marta! Following up on my comment here: https://inafarawayland.com/stubai-high-trail-guide/
Just got back from a trip in Tyrol! We did the Nordkette and Tajakante via ferratas! We spent the night at Coburger hut and tackled Tajakante Klettersteig the next day as you suggested. It was the most epic via ferrata we’ve ever done. It’s hard to imagine having more fun on a via ferrata than we did on this one! That said, I’d definitely double down on your suggestion that people get comfortable with other via ferratas first. Met some people along the way who were really struggling and were quite scared. We have rock climbing experience but we were surprised to see how technical some of the moves were! We were planning to do Wankspitze Klettersteig too from Obsteig but weather turned. Ended up spending two nights relaxing at Der Stern and also got to do a 40-mile e-mountain bike loop around Imst and Otztal, through farmlands, quaint towns and churches. Thank you so much for publishing these guides. I now also want to live in Tyrol, haha!
Hi Emilio. Thanks so much for taking the time to provide feedback. Just over a couple of weeks ago, an accident happened on Tajakante when an older guy decided to climb this via ferrata without any gear. He fell, and of course the fall was fatal. I am glad you approached the route with caution and didn’t underestimate it. I love this via ferrata too, especially for its amazing views, but it is definitely for people who already have quite a few routes under their belt or, at the very least, have climbing experience. I am so glad to hear you had an awesome time in Tirol. The e-bike ride sounds like a lot of fun too! I have been e-biking a lot myself these days. Living in Tirol is not so bad 😉