Wipp Traverse – Crossing the Alps in the Wipptal Valley

The program at a glance

Day 1: Arrival in
Travel by train to Innsbruck (easily accessible via long-distance trains). From there, or from Brenner, take the free S-Bahn using the Wipptal Card, or drive to Matrei am Brenner. Welcome by your host Florian and dinner.

Day 2: A gentle start
You start your crossing in a relaxed manner with a 15-minute transfer from your hotel to Mieders in the Stubaital. From here, you follow an ancient pilgrimage route uphill. A total of 15 places of worship line the chapel trail and represent the mysteries of the rosary. You can choose whether to follow the chapel trail or occasionally take a more leisurely path and soon realize: almost all paths lead to your destination today, Maria Waldrast. The monastery is not only one of the most beautiful, but also one of the oldest and, at 1,638 m, highest places of pilgrimage in the Alps. Alpine hospitality meets breathtaking mountain and natural scenery here, right at the transition from the Stubaital to the Wipptal. After a lunch break on the sun terrace, you hike down to your hotel in Matrei.
Walking time: 4.5 hours, 12 kilometers, 745 m ascent, 700 m descent

Day 3: Crossing into the Gschnitztal valley
After a 10-minute transfer, you start your second stage at the Ochsenalm, just below Maria Waldrast. Follow the signs to the southwest in the direction of Blaser and turn right into the Lange Tal valley after a short section of forest. Your path initially runs gently along a meadow, using the new red markers for orientation. Now your path gains height very quickly as it first leads you straight and then in numerous hairpin bends through the mountain pines. In the upper section, a few hairpin bends require your full concentration once again (take poles if necessary) until the trail leads you over beautiful meadows in wide and much flatter serpentines up to the Blaserhütte. You have almost mastered your ascent, so treat yourself to a look back from time to time and enjoy the view of the Nordkette and the Maria Waldrast monastery deep below you. In a few minutes, you will reach the Blaser, the local mountain of the hut of the same name, via the grassy ridge.
Back at the Blaser hut, you have earned a rest before descending to Trins. Public transport will take you back to your hotel.
Walking time: 4 hours, 8 kilometers, 700 m ascent, 1000 m descent

Day 4: Perfect panoramic summit Eggerberg
Take public transport to Trins and continue yesterday's tour from there. Gentle paths take you through a beautiful, unspoilt high valley to the Trunahütte. From the hut, you hike further into the valley and then follow the mountain meadows up to the Eggerjoch. From the pass, you climb over the broad south-west ridge to the Eggerberg with its striking summit cross. Here you can look back on your first two stages and look ahead to your next tours. From the summit, follow the high trail to the Lichtsee lake. The lake lies in a wide hollow to the east of the Trunajoch at an altitude of 2,100 m. Let your gaze wander once again to the south to the Brenner mountains, the Tribulaunas and especially the Olperer before descending to Obernberg. Enjoy a short break in Obernberg before taking the bus and S-Bahn back to Matrei.
Walking time: 6.5 hours, 15 kilometers, 1175 m ascent, 1015 m descent

Day 5: Along the border between Italy and Austria to the magical mountain huts
The S-Bahn and bus will take you back to Obernberg. You’ll hike through the Fradertal valley, passing rustic alpine pastures, until you ascend to the Flachjoch at the end of the valley. From here, the Jubiläumsweg trail takes you along old border paths between North Tyrol and South Tyrol. After the Wechseljoch and the Kreuzjoch, the Sattelberg, at 2,115 m, is your final stop for the day. The summit of the Sattelberg lies exactly on the border between Austria and Italy. Before hiking down to the cozy Sattelbergalm, enjoy a wonderful view of the Zillertal and Stubai Alps; with a bit of luck, you might even spot one or two Dolomite peaks. From here, you can also look back on a beautiful week of hiking and see your first summit on the horizon—where you started four days earlier. You’ll celebrate the end of your week of hiking at the Sattelbergalm, where you’ll spend your last night.
Hiking time: 5 hours, 15 kilometers, 1,125 meters of elevation gain, 875 meters of elevation loss

Day 6: Return trip via Italy
After a hearty breakfast at the Sattelbergalm, you’ll hike toward the Steinalm before following a beautiful, somewhat steeper trail down to the Brenner Pass. Along the way, you can take a short detour to the Eisack Waterfall. Once you arrive at the Brenner Pass, you’ll find a wide selection of cafés where you can enjoy a cappuccino or, after a visit to the Brenner Outlet, a cold Italian beverage. You can then take the S-Bahn back to Matrei.
Departure or individual extension.
Walking time: 2 hours, 4.5 kilometers, 85 meters elevation gain, 345 meters elevation loss