Gschnitztal hut tour self-guided

The program at a glance

Day 1: Individual travel to Tyrol
Travel by train to Innsbruck (easily accessible via long-distance trains). From there, or from Brenner, take the free S-Bahn service to Steinach in Tyrol using the Wipptal Card. You can find information about public transportation online at www.vvt.at
Overnight stay at a 3-star hotel in Steinach.

Day 2: Steinach to the Trunahütte
Walking time: approx. 4 hours, Distance: 11.5 km, Elevation gain: 885 m, Elevation loss: 225 m
From the hotel in Steinach, walk toward the Bergeralm cable car valley station, located below the highway bridge in Steinach. You can start the hike either by taking the cable car up (opening hours: www.bergeralm.net / closed on Mondays in summer 2026!) to the middle station and hike to the Gerichtsherrnalm (Trail No. 43), or from the Bergeralm valley station via the farm road (No. 45) to the Gerichtsherrnalm. Enjoy the first stunning views of the surrounding mountains along the way. From the alpine pasture, continue hiking along forest trails (No. 78, 44) until you reach a junction with the forest road (No. 125). You will now descend a short distance to the Trunahütte.
À la carte dinner (not included in the package price) and overnight stay in a dormitory.

Descent Trunahütte in case of bad weather or physical problems:
From the Trunahütte you descend to Trins via trail no. 125 and walk from the lift station in Trins out of the valley to the village center of Trins on the southern slope.

Connection by public transportation:
Bus route 4146 to Steinach, get off at the Gemeindeamt bus stop
Timetables on www.vvt.at

Day 3: Truna hut to the Gschnitzer Tribulaun hut
Walking time: 5 - 6 hours, distance: 10.5 km, 1,055 m difference in altitude ↑, 730 m difference in altitude ↓
After a hearty breakfast, follow the goods road from the Trunahütte and then the trail (no. 125) to the Trunajoch(tip: take the time to make a short detour from here to the beautiful Lichtsee lake). Now hike along the ridge (trail no. 94) above the Bergmähder and along the Tiroler Höhenweg (trail no. 38) up to the Gstreinjöchl (2,540 m). You are now surrounded by the high walls of the Tribulaun massif. Enjoy the fantastic view over the Obernberg and rear Gschnitztal valleys. You can already see the Tribulaunhütte, your destination for today, from the pass. Now descend approx. 500 m into the valley and head directly to the Tribulaunhütte.
Dinner and overnight stay in the camp.

Descent Tribulaunhütte in case of bad weather or physical problems:
From the Tribulaun hut, descend to Gschnitz via the Sandestal valley on trail no. 127 or on road no. 59.

Connection by public transportation:
Bus line 4146 to Steinach, get off at the bus stop GH Feuerstein in Gschnitz
Timetables on www.vvt.at

Day 4: Gschnitzer Tribulaun hut to the Bremer hut
Walking time: 6 - 7 hours, distance: 10 km, 1,055 m difference in altitude ↑, 730 m difference in altitude ↓
From the Tribulaun hut, hike south (trail no. 59). Since summer 2023, there has been an alternative route for mountaineers in the event of residual snow fields below the Gschnitzer Tribulaun (appropriate signposting available, snow fields recognizable at an early stage). Then follow the Dolomieu trail (no. 63) and the Jubiläumssteig trail (no. 130) to the Bremer Hütte. The trail leads you through impressive stony terrain, surrounded by the rocks of the Gschnitzer Tribulaun and Pflerscher Pinggl. Around the Sandesjöchl you can often see ibex at close range. Follow the Jubiläumssteig trail to the far end of the Gschnitztal valley. There are no junctions there, so you won't find any yellow hiking trail signs, just red-white-red ground markings. After the swampy area on the Kuhberg, you reach a ladder with a rope passage and then master the final ascent to your destination for today, the Bremer Hütte (2,411 m). The high valleys in the former glacier area of the Gschnitztal valley with small rivers, lakes and lush meadows are like a glimpse of paradise. After about two thirds of the ascent, you will come to the hiking trail to the Bremer Hütte, which leads up from the valley. Surrounded by imposing rock faces, you finally reach your hut.
Dinner and overnight stay in the camp.

Descent Bremer Hütte in case of bad weather or physical problems:
From the Bremer Hütte, descend on trail no. 102 to the Laponesalm and from there on trail no. 02 to Gasthof Feuerstein in Gschnitz.

Connection by public transportation:
Bus line 4146 to Steinach, get off at the bus stop GH Feuerstein in Gschnitz
Timetables on www.vvt.at

Day 5: Bremer Hütte to the Innsbrucker Hütte
Walking time: 7 - 8 hours, distance: 10 km, 965 m altitude difference ↑, 1,005 m altitude difference ↓

Route description from the Bremer Hütte to the Innsbrucker Hütte (variant A):
From the Bremer Hütte, first take the path you came along the day before. After a few minutes, branch off onto trail no. 24 towards Simmingsee and ascend again on the other side of the valley. You then hike along the Stubai High Trail (no. 124) through quite exposed, steep grassy slopes in wide basins and through rocky terrain. There are a few rope-insured passages and a ladder to negotiate. With a bit of luck, you can observe chamois, ibex and marmots at close range. At the end of the day's stage, you will reach the pass above the Innsbrucker Hütte, which lies at 2,370 m at the foot of the imposing Habicht. From the yoke, you have a beautiful view of the Alfaier lake, which lies a little lower down, and of the hut.
Dinner and overnight stay in the camp.

If you choose the more adventurous variant B of the route, take the climb over the Lauter See lake, starting behind the hut, where you have to complete a short section of via ferrata A/B. You need to be absolutely sure-footed and have a head for heights, but the climbing section is doable without a via ferrata set. Ask the hut warden about the trail conditions. Once you have left the via ferrata behind you, hike uphill on an exposed path to the Lauter See lake, from which a waterfall plunges into the valley. Now follow the path westwards until it rejoins the "normal path" from the Bremer Hütte and continues as the Stubaier Höhenweg (no. 124) towards the Innsbrucker Hütte.

Descent Innsbrucker Hütte in case of bad weather or physical problems:
Descend from the Innsbrucker Hütte on trail no. 60 to Gasthof Feuerstein in Gschnitz.

Connection by public transportation:
Bus line 4146 to Steinach, get off at the bus stop GH Feuerstein in Gschnitz
Timetables on www.vvt.at

Day 6 - Innsbrucker Hütte to the Padasterjochhaus
Total walking time: approx. 7 -8 hours, distance: 14 km, 1,175 m ascent ↑, 1,315 m ascent ↓ Both variants are similar in terms of walking time and altitude, but differ in technical difficulty

A challenging stage awaits you on this day, one of the most scenic of the entire hut tour. After a hearty breakfast, you descend via trail no. 123 into the Pinnistal valley, which is part of the Stubai Valley. From the Karalm, follow the forest path towards the Issenangeralm. Now you have two alternatives:
Option A (less demanding): Approx. 300 meters before the Issenangeralm, the new "Rohrauersteig" (no. 122) branches off to the right. The path is well laid out with many hairpin bends, the middle section is equipped with steps and rope protection to make the exposed sections a little easier. The black-marked trail leads you through the "Widdersgrube" up to the Hammerscharte at 2,529 m, which marks the transition back into the Gschnitztal valley. The view from there of the Stubai and Zillertal Alps, the Dolomites and the Wipptal valley is simply stunning! If you still have some energy left, you can climb the last 100 meters to the Hammerspitze. Now you've almost made it, there are still 300 meters to go down to the Padasterhochhaus at 2,232 m.

Variant B (very demanding): Past the Karalm and halfway to the Pinnisalm, you climb right on the other side of the stream via the Jubiläumssteig up almost 1,200 m to the Silbersattel at 2,750 m, below the Kirchdachspitze. Caution: You need to be absolutely sure-footed and have a head for heights here, as the terrain is very exposed and steep! The view from the Silbersattel is simply magnificent! If you still have the strength, you can leave your rucksack behind and climb the last 90 meters up to the summit cross of the Kirchdachspitze (2,840 m). From the Silbersattel, follow trail no. 7 eastwards over stony terrain and steep meadow slopes for another 500 meters down to the Padasterjochhaus (2,232 m).
The Padasterjochhaus is the first Naturfreundehaus in Austria and is still in its original condition. Dinner and overnight stay in the camp.

Descent Padasterjochhaus in case of bad weather or physical problems:
From the Padasterjochhaus, descend via trail no. 122 (road or path) to Trins.

Connection by public transportation:
Bus line 4146 to Steinach, get off at the bus stop Gemeindeamt Trins
Timetables on www.vvt.at

Day 7 - Padasterjochhaus back to Steinach
Option A (summit happiness around the Padasterjochhaus and leisurely descent into the valley)
Walking time: 2.5 - 3 hours, distance: 6 km, ascent depending on the summit, 1,000 m ↓ ascent
Enjoy your breakfast at the hut against a fantastic mountain backdrop.
Summit happiness: if you want to get active before descending into the valley, the Padasterkogel (approx. 1 hour there and back) and the Foppmandl (approx. 1.5 hours there and back) would be ideal. Depending on which route you took the day before, you could choose between the Hammerspitze (approx. 2.5 hours there and back, black mountain trail) or the Kirchdachspitze (approx. 3.5 hours there and back, black mountain trail), two other absolutely worthwhile peaks.
From the Padasterjochhaus, you then descend via the Herrensteig trail (no. 122) or via the road to Trins. The path winds its way down into the valley in numerous hairpin bends, past imposing rock faces, beautiful mountain meadows and finally through the forest. At the upper edge of Trins, you hike along the road down to the village and take the bus back to Steinach (alternatively, you can also take a leisurely stroll along the Gschnitzbach stream back to Steinach, making the tour a total of 4.5 hours, 11.5 km and 1,185 m difference in altitude).
Overnight stay in your ***hotel in Steinach.

Option B (last stage of the Gschnitztal hut tour and descent into the valley via the Blaserhütte hut)
Walking time: 7 hours, distance: 14.5 km, 835 m ascent ↑, 2,000 m ascent ↓
Some well-trodden paths begin behind the Padasterjochhaus. Follow the marked trail no. 7 to the Wasenwand and Roter Kopf. Continue along trail no. 8 to the Kesselspitze. Once there, you can enjoy an unforgettable panoramic view before descending to the Kalbenjoch, always following the signposts to the Peilspitze (no. 13). To get to the Peilspitze, you have to tackle another section secured by ropes. Review this wonderful tour at the summit cross before descending to the Blaserhütte (2,180 m). From here, first follow the forest path (no. 13 - shortcut of the hairpin bends possible via a path) until path no. 13 branches off to Steinach/Wipptaler Hof just before the tree line. This leads you across beautiful flower meadows (Pflutschwiesen) and finally crosses the road at the Pirchet district above Steinach. Continue under the highway bridge to the main road to Trins, cross it and follow the path to the Bergeralm valley station. From the valley station, hike another 10 minutes along the road to your hotel in Steinach.
Overnight stay in your ***hotel in Steinach.

Day 8: Individual departure
Breakfast and farewell to Tyrol.
From the hotel you walk 10 minutes to the train station in Steinach. Public departure by train (S-Bahn) to Innsbruck or Brenner included in the guest card. Information on the S-Bahn timetables can be found on the Internet at www.vvt.at