Amazing Skitour above Innsbruck: Panoramic Nockspitze (Saile)

Enjoy the great panoramic Skitour above Innsbruck: Nockspitze is a locals favourite ski tour with a great 360°-view to the Tyrolean mountains and the city likewise. Get all infos for this winter ski adventure including a proper map and different downhill options.

To a photographer, grading the photos in an already hand-picked portfolio can be like proclaiming which child is their favorite. It’s hard, as every image is their own creation, from the effort of getting to a location and using their knowledge and experience to take a picture, to a post-production/editing process where the image is taking its final shape. We have a Top-10 list for you from our own portfolio, from Nockspitze tour in Innsbruck, but in no particular order.

Which one is first and which is tenth, we will let you decide. We also invite you to see the tour map, in case you want to join Mountain Moments on our next adventure.

The Nockspitze/Saile is one of the panoramic mountains near Innsbruck. The naming of this mountain is controversial in local expert circles. However, this does not detract from the views: they are tremendous! Not only the view, however, but also the demanding ascent and also the descents are quite respectable. The summit is therefore also well visited. Most of the tourists, come from the valley, while the free riders cover half of the ascent with the lift.

The ski tour from the Birgitzer Alm to the Nockspitze is a popular tour. In the lower part it is also a good choice for beginners. From the Birgitzköpflhaus onwards, it becomes steeper. Those who climb the steep “Maierrinne” have mastered a not easy Innsbruck ski touring classic.

Route description Nockspitze Skitour

Ascent

This popular ski tour without the use of lifts starts at the Birgitzer Alm stop (1380m). Via the Birgitzer Alm (1820m) you walk here without difficulty along a path/ toboggan run to the Birgitzköpflhaus (2035m).

Alternatively, you can also start at the Birgitzköpflhaus after the lift ride from the Axamer Lizum.

The steep ascent to the Nockspitze starts at the top station of the Birgitzköpfl chairlift. From here, you can either ascend through the wide gully (“Maierrinne”) to the southwest and then follow the wide ridge to the summit. Or you can go around the mountain a bit, first in a southerly direction, and then climb north to the summit after the avalanche obstructions. The snow here is often strongly influenced by the wind. In suitable conditions, the ascent via the Maierrinne is recommended.

Descent 

There are several options for the descent. The easiest and shortest leads from the summit a short distance to the southwest and through the gully already described as an ascent variant back to the Birgitzköpflhaus and further along the ascent route. 

For fans of steep faces, the northeast slope with descent to the Mutterer Alm is ideal. For this steep face descent, one traverses slightly losing altitude from the main summit very steeply north to the pre-peak and into the extremely steep east slope. Descend this 45°+ slope for about 100 vertical meters and after a constriction skiers left to a prominent saddle traverse. Now descend into the steep gully to the north with a view of Innsbruck. In the sparse forest keep left and along a forest road and later toboggan run to the Mutterer Alm ski area. Via the ski slope to the valley station and by bus or streetcar back to Innsbruck. 

Alternatives

The descent can also be done via the ski slopes of the Götzner ski area to Götzens instead of via the mogul slope to the Axamer Lizum. Alternatively, you can ski from the summit to the southeast over the large, open slope (“Leintuch”) to the Sailennieder, from there south to the valley floor (Isse) and along the forest road to Gagers, a district of Telfes in the Stubaital. For those who shy away from the return journey by public transport, a very short additional ascent via the Halsl takes you back to the ski area. The Leintuch is especially recommended as a firn tour at the beginning of spring.

Photo gallery – our top-10 pic-picks (Mountain Moments photographs)

Mountain Moments Photo Workshops provide Photo Tours for everybody, Alpine Experience for beginners and intermediate-level photographers with 3 to 6-hour routes, as well as Summit Experience for more advanced photographers and hikers. We have private workshops and group classes.

More information about your skiing adventure in Innsbruck

How to get there by car: Via Kematen, Axams to the ski area parking lot Axamer Lizum. 

How to get there by public transport: From Innsbruck (main station, tax office) with bus line 4162 to Axams turn-off Birgitzer Alm.  

Difficulty level: medium 

Duration/distance: 3h/10km

Ascent/descent: 1040m and 400m/1040m respectively

Highest/lowest point: 2404m/1350m 

Refreshment stop: Birgitzer Alm, Birgitzköpflhaus 

Start/finish: Axams turn-off Birgitzer Alm (coordinates: geogr. UTM 32T 673731 5231933) 

Tips: The ski tour is also a good choice for beginners up to the Birgitzköpflhaus. Book tip: PowderGuide Tirol: The best freeride tours

Best season: Jan-Apr

Special dangers: Danger of falling on the steep face variant.

The best Winter Adventures in and around Innsbruck – Skiing, Freeride, Skitour and more

Fancy more Winter adventures in Tyrol and around Innsbruck? We got you covered! The best outdoor sports activities for Winter enthusiasts as eBook: Innsbruck Winter Outdoor Guide.

Here we have compiled the most beautiful locations and photo opportunities. 30 activities with numerous photo spots are selected and described in such a way that you can easily experience these wonderful adventures around Innsbruck for yourself – including track infos, and maps and all other information that you need.

You can take a closer look at the Innsbruck ebook here – why not share it with your adventure partner?