Best Freeride Runs in Axamer Lizum: The Pearl of Innsbruck’s Local Resorts a Bus Ride Away

Looking for the best freeride runs near Innsbruck? Look no further. Innsbrucks’ local mountain ski area Axamer Lizum offers a variety of great freeride runs. Locals top three runs including all informations and map here in this blog.

Nothing is super-easy about Innsbruck’s popular skiing destination called Axamer Lizum, but this pearl of Innsbruck’s local resorts does not require a professional level, either. On a 40-minute bus ride from the city’s center, you can try to learn how to pronounce its tongue-twister of a name, but once you are there, the skiing and photography fun starts. Rely on Mountain Moments to prepare you for this adventure in all the important ways.

Within 40 minutes by bus, you are in a skiing area, which admittedly does not win any size records in the Alps. The Axamer Lizum ski area is surrounded by so many large resorts that it is regularly underestimated. In an international comparison, however, this versatile area is in no way inferior to the big names.

The special thing: You probably won’t find so much variety and options in a small area anywhere else so close to town as in this town. Whether classic piste skiing, a quick powder round, exciting free ride tours or even steep wall descents make the “Lizn“, as the young people of Innsbruck say, a special outdoor playground for the young at heart and city dwellers who regularly need their outdoor and powder dose. 

If the variants near the pistes are worn out, one still joins a downhill run to the Kemater Alm or climbs up to the Hochtennboden. If the conditions are particularly favorable, the Nockspitze attracts with its sometimes extremely (!) steep downhill variants and deep views into the city. What you see in this photo is Nockspitze

Photo tips Skiing at Axamer Lizum that will make your Instagram pop – Kalkkögel rocks and Hochtennboden

The photographic highlights in the Axamer Lizum are the pointed Kalkkögel rocks. They determine the picture and make everyone who gets off at Hoadl for the first time pull out the camera.

 In the Hochtennboden variant, particularly impressive freeride pictures can be taken.

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.

Hochtennboden – Dolomitic gully spectacle

The scenically extremely impressive small mountain range of the Kalkkögel is not only visually reminiscent of the famous Dolomites but also with its descents through steep gullies amidst imposing rock formations. 

While Ampferstein and Widdersberg are virtually overrun by tourists, free riders make a pilgrimage from the ski area towards Hochtennboden. The connection with the neighboring Schlick ski area also opens up many options.

Directions! This is how your skiing adventure looks like on a map

First, you descend from the mountain station at Hoadl (2340m) a few meters in altitude on the ladies’ slope to the Hoadlsattel (2264m). There you finally climb on foot to the southeast along the ridge. After a short steeper and partly rocky section, you descend a few meters in altitude before reaching a small high plateau after another short climb.

Descent 1

Cross the high plateau pushing until you reach an open south-facing slope. The slope is not too steep and not particularly large, but often blown in. Before descending, you can get a good overview of the opposite gullies and the rest of the circuit.

Ascent 2

Arrived in the basin of the Hochtennboden, the skins are put on and you start the actual ascent towards the south. In principle, there are three adjacent gullies to choose from; the narrower ones to the left and right are often much stonier and more challenging. 

The snow here usually remains powdery for quite a long time but is often affected by wind, especially in the upper area. The ascent involves numerous hairpin turns but is usually completed quickly.

Downhill 2 

The descent initially follows the ascent route of ascent 2, keeping slightly to the right in the hollow and continuing towards the reservoir. 

For safety reasons, it is recommended to descend skiers right of the avalanche barriers between them and the lake and to accept a few meters of flat terrain.

 Finally, traverse comfortably back to the ladies’ slope and follow it to the valley station of the Axamer Lizum.

More information about Axamer Lizum freeride skiing

How to get there by public transport: By bus L1 or L2 from Innsbruck center to Axamer Lizum ski area. 

Difficulty level: medium

Duration/distance: 2.5h/ 5km 

Ascent/descent: 370hm/1125hm 

Highest/lowest point: 2450m/1575m 

Refreshment stop: Hoadl, Dohlennest, Axamer Lizum

Start/finish: Axamer Lizum mountain station – Hoadl (coordinates: geogr. 47.182742,11.281672)

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 in crime?

Kemater Alm / Senderstal

The quiet Plaisir loop

The quiet Plaisirrunde is the rewarding and less traveled variant with greater logistical effort, which is a real pleasure tour with sufficient snow down to the valley near Grinzens.

An overall beautiful descent into a quiet valley. The way back, however, drags on a bit, depending on the bus schedule. It is a good idea to join a ski tour after the descent or to enjoy the peace and sun on the Kemater Alm/hut.

Directions Freeride Kemtar Alm

From Hoadl along the slope to the Hoadlsattel. Here – you can traverse or ascend to the left or right for a while as you wish – descend to the west on the moderately steep slope towards Kemater Alm/hut.

The terrain is wide and offers many possibilities. Some variants, however, end in very steep and dense forests or scrub. Therefore, it is better to follow the obvious gullies to the visible Kemater Hut.

Once at the bottom of the valley, follow the toboggan run that leads from the Kemater Hut to Grinzens in a northerly direction.

In Grinzens you continue to follow the road and, if the snow conditions are good, you can ski almost to the bus stop, from where you can take the bus to Axams and from there the bus to Axamer Lizum.

Information Freeride Kemater Alm Lizum

How to get there by public transport: By bus L1 or L2 from Innsbruck center to Axamer Lizum ski area.

Difficulty level: easy-medium

Duration/distance: 2,5h, 9km

Ascent/descent: 20hm/1460hm

Highest/lowest point: 2340m/960m

Refreshment stop: Hoadl, Kemater Alm

Start/finish: Axamer Lizum mountain station – Hoadl (coordinates: geogr. 47.182742,11.281672)

Best time: Jan-Feb.

Nockspitze (Saile) Northeast

Steep slope with town view

Nockspitze or Saile – the naming is sometimes hotly debated and various arguments are put forward – the striking mountain in the southwest of Innsbruck is one of the most panoramic mountains near Innsbruck.

The climb is not only worthwhile because of the tremendous view, but the descents are also quite impressive! The summit is therefore also well visited. However, most tourists come from the valley, while the free rider covers half of the ascent by lift.

The not easy ascent via the Maier chute is only the first hurdle for this steep face descent. Very good conditions and sufficient snow, as well as good timing, are necessary.

Route description Freeride Nockspitze

Ascent

The ascent to the Nockspitze begins at the top station of the Birgitzköpfl chairlift (2035m). Directly from the lift, you cross a little to the north to reach the popular, wide gully (“Maierrinne”).

Now ascend here with many hairpin bends to the southwest. At the end of the gully, follow the wide ridge to the summit of the Nockspitze (2404m) uphill without difficulty.

Tip: Here it is often icy, crampons are useful.

Alternative ascent: From the Birgitzköpfl lift follow the summer path in the direction of the Nockspitze(Saile), for this purpose go around the Nockspitze(Saile) a little way uphill and after the avalanche obstructions climb north to the summit.

The snow here is often strongly influenced by the wind. In suitable conditions, the ascent via the Maierrinne is recommended.

Descent

From the summit cross, slide/descend the ridge to the north and onto the preceding summit cross (2379m) and downtown. In the saddle cross into the north slope, a few meters, and finally ski down one of the northeast side gullies (short spots up to 50°).

After the gullies immediately after skiers left cross to the saddle at about 2200m Here now find a suitable entry for the large pleasure steep slope (about 40 °).

At the end of the slope in the light forest, tend to keep skiers left and follow at the latest the second forest road to the left.

After a few sticks, you reach the toboggan run of the ski area Mutterer Hut. Follow this to the ski slope and this again to the valley station of the mountain railroads. Return by bus or after about 400m walk from Mutters by streetcar to Innsbruck center.

Variants

If the conditions in the northeast descent are not ideal, there are other options: Back via the Maierrinne or as a spring classic via the Leintuch towards the east.

Information Freeride Nockspitze

How to get there by public transport: By bus L1 or L2 from Innsbruck center to Axamer Lizum ski area.

Difficulty level: difficult

Duration/distance: 3.5h/ 7km

Ascent/descent: 400hm/1500hm

Highest/lowest point: 2404m/945m

Refreshment stop: Hoadl, Birkitzköpfl hut, Mutterer Alm, Mutters

Start/finish: Birgitzköpfllift mountain station (coordinates: geogr. 47.194685,11.316540)

Tips: Crampons recommended for the ascent via the Maierrinne.

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 in crime?