The Only Legal Innsbruck Mountainbike Trail – Explore Arzler Alm Trail

The Arzler hut trail is the only legally rideable trail around Innsbruck. Find out where it is, how difficult it is and what to consider riding it.

In the unique vastness that Innsbruck, the capital of Tyrol (Austria), provides outdoor activity-wise, mountain biking seems to be a bit neglected. Seemingly so many opportunities for MTB enthusiasts, and yet the reality for Innsbruck bikers and visitors is different. The Arzler hut trail is the only legally rideable trail around Innsbruck outside of a bike park until 2020 inclusive, so riders need to take what they can legally get. Before things change, something is better than nothing, so take your two-wheel friend and join Mountain Moment on this fast nature adventure. Map and photography tips and tricks await you below.

The unfavorable legal situation and the refusal of many natives to positively face new things, but do not detract from the quality of the trail. The still quite young trail finds great resonance in the school, student, and after-work biker scene. It was built by Innsbruckers for Innsbruckers. 

The Arzler hut trail is therefore definitely not one of the easy marble run trails that you often find legally near the city. The available terrain is quite cramped and also partly very steep, some exposed areas and narrow turns as well as funny waves make the trail so special. 

There is no boredom here, rather the opposite! Only after repeated driving do you know the special corners and edges and can feel your way forward as an advanced and very good biker. 

The after-trail ice cream or cold drink belongs to the new Innsbruck not-winter-but-summer-mountain-sport way of life like the cheese in the traditional Kaspressknödel

Directions! This is how your Arzler Alm Singletrail adventure looks like on a map

The starting point is at the Hungerburg or for sporty bikers the Innsbruck city center. From Hungerburg follow the well signposted road to Arzler hut. About 300 meters before or east of the Arzler hut, where the forest road branches off in the direction of Mühlauer Quelle, is the well-marked entrance to the trail. The course is very well marked and can not be missed.

The first section up to the Lawinendamm is like a marble run and rather easy in terms of riding technique, but offers some exciting steep turns and jumps (with chicken ways).

The second section leads from the Avalanche Dam directly down into town. Here the terrain is a bit more varied: long steep turns, tight switchbacks, confusing hilltops, small canyons, and rock sections alternate. 

The trail ends with a flowy last section directly in the Innsbruck district of Mühlau. From here, cross the road and continue along the Inntal cycle path to the city center.

Alternative: An entry without uphill and with an easier trail structure starts a bit to the east almost directly from the Hungerburg station

Photo tips for Arzler Alm mountainbike trail that will make your Instagram pop

The trail runs almost entirely in the forest. Good action pictures can rarely be taken in sunshine due to the high contrasts, but rather in flat light, clouds, or fog. Getting close – and even closer – is the order of the day for action shots.

At the trailhead, depending on previous avalanche activity, a good low-level view of the city is sometimes possible

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 MTB trip in Innsbruck

How to get there by public transport: From Innsbruck Marktplatz with bus J to Hungerburg or Hungerburgbahn from station Congress. 

Difficulty: medium

Duration: 1.5h/ 7.5km 

Ascent/descent: 255hm/540hm 

Highest/lowest point: 1080m/575m 

Refreshment stop: Hungerburg, Arzler Alm, Innsbruck center

Start/finish: Hungerburg (coordinates: geogr. 47.285827,11.398948)  

Best time: Mar-Dec

Tips: Bikewash at the Hungerburg parking lot and the Löwenhaus station. 

The Nordkette single trail is equally legal and also rideable. However, since it can only be used by very good bikers with a penchant for masochism – and also causes more frustration than pleasure for locals – we do not consider it a sensible legal option. In addition, the trail lacks legal, easy alternatives for the difficult zones.

The best Summer Adventures in and around Innsbruck – Hiking, Mountainbiking, Trekking, Climbing and more

Fancy more Summer Adventures in Tyrol and around Innsbruck? We got you covered! The best outdoor sports activities for Summer Enthusiasts as eBook: Innsbruck Summer 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 travel guide ebook here – why not share it with your adventure partner?