Hundskopf (2243 m) is a peak in the Karwendel Mountains, near Hall in Tirol and Innsbruck, in Tyrol, Austria.
It’s the easternmost rocky summit in the Gleirsch-Halltal Chain.
The hike to Hundskopf starts at Hinterhornalm (1522 m), accessible by car only via a toll road.
To reach the Hundskopf summit, you have two options. You can either ascend the Felix-Kuen-Steig (Grade A/B), a short and easy via ferrata (Klettersteig in German). Or, you can ascend the eastern ridge to the summit, which is an airy, partially-secured path.
Ideally, hikers ascend the Felix-Kuen-Steig and then descend the eastern ridge in one circuit. However, the via ferrata is optional.
Though the via ferrata itself is short and easy, the hike is quite strenuous. It’s a tough 2-hour ascent to reach the base of the Felix-Kuen-Steig.
At the end of the tour, we recommend detouring to Walderalm mountain pasture for delicious Tyrolean Knödel (dumplings).
- Trailhead: Hinterhornalm Car Park, Gnadenwald | Google Maps
- Distance: 6.9 km lollipop-circuit
- Time Needed: 4 hours
- Elevation Gain/Loss: 764 meters
- Hike Difficulty: Difficult
- Via Ferrata Difficulty: Easy – Grade A/B
- Minimum Elevation: 1476 meters
- Maximum Elevation: 2240 meters
- Where to Stay in Hall in Tirol: kontor Boutiquehotel (luxury), or Parkhotel Hall in Tirol (luxury)
- Where to Stay in Innsbruck: Motel One Innsbruck (budget-midrange), NALA individuellhotel (midrange), Altstadthotel Weisses Kreuz (luxury), or Weisses Rössl (luxury)
Hundskopf Hiking Map
Do You Need a Via Ferrata Kit?
We recommend bringing a via ferrata kit. Depending on your level of experience, you may not need it. However, I always say, “it’s better to be safe than dead.”
A via ferrata kit consists of a climbing helmet, climbing harness, and a via ferrata lanyard with carabiners. Climbing gloves like Black Diamond half finger gloves are also very useful.
Climbing Helmet
Women’s Climbing Helmet: Black Diamond women’s climbing helmet
Men’s Climbing Helmet: Black Diamond men’s climbing helmet
Climbing Harness
Women’s Climbing Harness: Petzl CORAX LT Women’s Harness
Women’s Climbing Harness: Black Diamond Women’s Momentum Harness
Men’s Climbing Harness: PETZL Corax Climbing Harness
Men’s Climbing Harness: Black Diamond Men’s Momentum Rock Climbing Harness
Lanyard
Unisex Lanyard with Carabiners: PETZL Scorpio Vertigo via ferrata Lanyard
Unisex Lanyard with Carabiners: Salewa Ergo Core, Unisex Adult
Where to Start the Hundskopf and Felix-Kuen-Steig / Hundskopf Hike
Hinterhornalm
Hinterhornalm is located at the top of the Hinterhornalm toll road in Gnadenwald, Tyrol.
To drive up to Hinterhornalm, you must pay a 5 EUR toll. Payment is accepted in cash only: EUR Coins and 5, 10, 20 EUR bills.
The toll road entrance is “unmanned” and marked with various signs that read:
Mautstrasse gebührenpflichtig: toll road chargeable
Ticket beim Kassenautomat lösen: Buy a ticket at the ticket machine
Kassenautomat. Bei nichtbeachtung erfolgt Besitzstörungsklage: automatic pay station. Failure to comply will result in a lawsuit against trespassers
After purchasing your ticket, drive the winding mountain road up to the Hinterhornalm car park.
Display the ticket on your windshield.
Hinterhornalm – Hundskopf – Walderalm Trail Description
Approach | Hinterhornalm – Felix-Kuen-Steig (2 hours)
From the Hinterhornalm car park, follow the hiking trail that leads north in the direction of “Klettersteig Hundskopf.” Don’t follow the gravel road leading to Walderalm.
The path crosses a grassy slope to a line of spruce.
With views of the Inntal and Hinterhornalm, the trail ascends the forest.
Increasingly steeper and more rugged, the path twists up a belt of dwarf pine. After crossing a scree slope, the trail zigzags up the rocky mountainside.
Scramble up the crags, following the red-painted waymarks to the east flank of the mountain. You will see Walderalm below.
After about an hour from the start, the trail crests the eastern spine of the Gleirsch-Halltal Chain, a wide, dwarf-pine-carpeted slope.
Views open up to the Hinterautal-Vomper-Kette, the Karwendel chain that flanks the other side of the Vomper Loch valley.
The path continues west across the slope and then along a balcony, overlooking the Inntal, to the base of a fixed cable. Scramble up the short secured section.
Continue the steep, craggy ascent to another short secured section.
Soon, you’ll reach the ridge. A large cairn marks the start of the Hundskopf summit circuit trail.
This is the best place to gear up (helmet, harness, lanyard). Note: you’ll return to this exact spot, after descending along the eastern ridge.
Head right first.
Follow the fixed cable along the northern ledge.
This airy, partially-secured trail crosses the northern flank of Hundskopf to reach a wide saddle.
You can see the summit of the thumb-shaped Hundskopf directly ahead.
The saddle marks the beginning of the Felix-Kuen-Steig via ferrata (Grade A/B).
Via Ferrata | Felix-Kuen-Steig to Hundskopf (15 minutes)
From the saddle, make a sharp left and climb up the northwestern flank of Hundskopf, using the various aids: rungs and cables.
There are two vertical steps to tackle.
It takes no more than 15 minutes to scramble up to the Hundskopf summit.
Descent | Hundskopf Peak – Walderalm – Hinterhornalm (2 hours)
From the cross-bearing summit, the trail continues along the eastern ridge.
This narrow, ridge-hugging path is the highlight of the tour, as it affords sweeping views of the Inntal Valley and the Karwendel Mountains.
The exposed sections of the ridge are secured.
Drop down the last vertiginous crag, using the fixed aids, to complete the circuit.
From the cairn, descend along the familiar path.
We thought the descend was more difficult, given then gradient and terrain. We highly recommend using hiking poles like these Unisex Black Diamond Hiking Poles.
After completing about 70% of the descent, you’ll arrive at a junction. Unfortunately, the junction isn’t well signed. There’s only a “Klettersteig” sign here.
But, if you cross the meadow in an easterly direction, the path to Walderalm is very obvious and well-marked.
Follow the forest trail to the mountain pastures of Walderalm. There are several cattle barns and an Almhütte, which serves warm and cold meals during the day.
Walderalm is open Tuesdays-Sundays from 10 am until 6 pm. The kitchen closes at 5 pm.
They’re famous for their Kaspressknödel (cheese dumplings), which they serve in soups, salads, and alongside sauerkraut.
Bring cash.
From Walderalm, follow the gravel road for 20 minutes back to Hinterhornalm.
Where to Stay near Hundskopf
The closest accommodation to the trailhead is Alpenhotel Speckbacher Hof in Gnadenwald. This traditional hotel has an on-site restaurant and wellness area. Reviews are mixed.
You can also check out Gasthof Ebner (budget-midrange) and Landgasthof Bogner in Absam, the settlement north of Hall in Tirol, only 10 km away from Hinterhornalm.
Hall in Tirol
Hall in Tirol is a town in the Inn Valley, just east of Innsbruck. Its historic center has been beautifully restored, making it a delight to explore on foot. Hall rose to prominence in the 13th century, because of the salt industry.
It was actually the most important commercial center in North Tirol. This is a great base for exploring the Karwendel Mountains and Innsbruck’s surroundings.
Top-Choice Luxury | Hotel Kontor is a boutique hotel in Hall in Tirol with airy, minimalist rooms featuring hardwood floors, billowy linen, and tea and coffee makers. Breakfast is included. On-site parking is available.
Luxury | Parkhotel Hall in Tirol is a modern, dog-friendly hotel with soundproof rooms, an on-site restaurant, and a 580 m2 spa area, walking distance to the historic Altstadt (Old Town). Parking is available (extra charge). A rich breakfast is included.
Look for accommodation in Hall in Tirol.
Innsbruck
Budget-Midrange | Motel One Innsbruck is located near the Innsbruck Train Station, a mere 10-minute walk into the Innenstadt (Inner City of Innsbruck). This modern 3-star hotel offers snug rooms with views overlooking the city and mountains. Don’t miss the top floor bar. Perks: luggage storage and 24/7 reception. Breakfast and underground parking are both available for an extra charge.
Midrange | NALA individuellhotel is a quirky hotel with uniquely-designed rooms, a sun terrace, fitness room, breakfast (extra fee), and nearby parking (extra fee).
Midrange-Luxury | Faktorei is a boutique hotel housed in a 15th century town house with 12 sun-drenched minimalist rooms, a garden, terrace, and bar. Private garage parking is available, but must be reserved in advance (extra fee). Breakfast is served in the hotel’s adjacent café (extra fee).
Top Choice – Luxury | Altstadthotel Weisses Kreuz is a contemporary hotel with an atmospheric bar in Innsbruck’s pedestrian zone. Stay here for the delicious breakfast, stylish design, professional staff, and location. No on-site parking.
Top Choice – Luxury | Set in a historic building in the center of Innsbruck, the exceptional Weisses Rössl is a boutique hotel with a 600-year-old Tyrolean restaurant. Expect a delicious breakfast. Paid public parking is located nearby.
More Innsbruck Accommodations: Montagu Hostel (budget), Hotel Innsbruck (luxury), or Hotel Zach (luxury)
Look for accommodation in Innsbruck.
Austria Trip Planning Essentials
Use our Austria Travel Guide and Austria blog archive to plan a unique and memorable trip to Austria.
When to Visit Austria
Summer and early Fall are our favorite seasons in Austria.
Getting around Austria
Austria has an excellent public transit system. We’ve used it extensively to travel throughout the country. We highly recommend using transit if you’re visiting cities (Vienna, Salzburg, Innsbruck, Graz, etc…), and/or doing hut-to-hut hikes.
Some areas like Mayrhofen, Schladming and Lech am Arlberg have wonderful seasonal transit systems in place (e.g. summer hiking buses). However, if you’re not visiting during the high season, bus frequencies are significantly reduced and it’s far easier to get around with your own vehicle.
If you’re planning on visiting multiple destinations across Austria, we recommend renting a car.
Use these road trip itineraries for trip planning inspiration:
- 2 Week Austria Road Trip – starting in Vienna
- 1 Week Austria Road Trip – starting in Salzburg, or Munich
- 10-Day Bavarian Alps & Tyrolean Alps Road Trip – starting in Munich
Car Rental
We recommend using the Discovercars.com car rental reservation platform to search for and book car rentals. This easy-to-use booking platform compares car rental deals from 500+ trusted providers, so that you can choose the best option for your trip.
If you’re driving into Austria from a neighboring country, don’t forget to purchase a vignette at/near the border.
Hiking in Austria
Where to Hike in Austria
Read Austrian Alps Hiking Destinations for an overview of where to hike in Austria, with tips on specific trails and where to stay. Also check out Best Day Hikes in Austria and these region-specific hiking guides:
- Salzburg Hiking Guide
- Filzmoos, Salzburg Hiking Guide
- Schladming, Styria Hiking Guide
- Lech am Arlberg, Vorarlberg Hiking Guide
- Vorarlberg Hiking Guide
- Vienna Mountains Hiking Guide
- Innsbruck Hiking Guide
Hut to Hut Hiking in Austria
Austria is a premier hut-to-hut and long-distance hiking destination. The quality of the mountain huts are superb. We particularly love the high-alpine trails, which are called Höhenwege in German. We’ve summarized our favorite multi-day hikes in Trekking Austria. If you’re new to hut hiking, read this in-depth guide to Hut to Hut Hiking in Austria.
Hiking Essentials
- Day Pack: Osprey Tempest 30 Women’s Backpack / Osprey Talon 33 Men’s Backpack
- Grade B/C high-cut hiking boots: Meindl Schuhe Island Lady (Kati’s Boots), Women’s Hanwag Tatra II GTX (Sabrina’s Boots), Men’s Hanwag Tatra II GTX (men’s equivalent)
- CAT 4 Sunglasses: Julbo Shield Mountain Sunglasses
- Hiking Poles: Black Diamond Trail Trekking Poles
- Backpack Camera Clip: Peak Design Camera Clip
What to See & Do in Austria
- Visit a gorge like the Liechtenstein Gorge in Salzburg.
- Bathe in the thermal pools of an Austrian Therme like Aqua Dome in Tirol.
- Stay in a thermal spa hotel like Rogner Bad Blumau in Styria, EurothermenResort Bad Ischl in Upper Austria, or the Aqua Dome Hotel in Tirol.
- Hike to a mountain lake like Lake Tappenkarsee in Salzburg or Lake Drachensee in Tirol.
- Go Wine Tasting in South Styria.
- Marvel at the culture, music, and architecture of Vienna.
- Eat heartwarming mountain food in an Almhütte at Grosser Ahornboden in Tirol or Ursprungalm in Styria.
- Drive the Grossglockner High Alpine Road in Hohe Tauern National Park.
- Visit the castles, monasteries, and wine taverns of the Wachau Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Austrian Hotels
- Best Hotels in the Austrian Alps
- Best Hotels in Lech am Arlberg, Vorarlberg
- Wellness Hotel Theresa, Zillertal, Tirol
- Hotel Eder in Maria Alm, Salzburg
Discover More of Tyrol and Beyond
Innsbruck:
Karwendel Mountains:
Via Ferratas in the Alps:
- Alpspitze (Grade A/B) in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Bavaria, Germany
- Oskar Schuster Via Ferrata (Grade B/C) near Val Gardena, South Tyrol, Italy
- Gran Cir (Grade A) in Alta Badia, South Tyrol, Italy
- Mount Triglav (Grade A/B) in Julian Alps, Slovenia – 2 days needed
