Run 30k Patscherkofel Mountain Trail along 1000-Y-Old Pine Trees

Zirbe, the Tyrolean national shrine in the alpine forest, has stone pine trees that shame human life expectancy with their impressive 1000-year-long run. You can face them on this 31-kilometer Patscherkofel hiking route, which is moderately challenging, and more accessible than it may sound at first. Grab your hiking and photography equipment and explore this part of the Austrian Alps with Mountain Moments.

Its aromatic smelling wood is often used for furniture, the cones and seeds were used for centuries for food production, and in former times they were a source of food in years of famine, today they are increasingly processed as stone pine schnapps. 

The trail run leads through the old remaining Swiss stone pine forest between Glungezer and Patscherkofel and bypasses the Swiss stone pine path, which is highly frequented by hikers. Passing a few mountain huts, the trail leads once just above the 2000 mark. Here, a little below the Patscherkofel, it is best to enjoy the view for a short while and then fearlessly plunge back along the hiking trails towards the valley. On a large part of the flowing route, fluid running is well possible for fit runners. Easily passable forest floor and gravel sections lead through less frequented alpine paths and pleasantly alternate on the approximately 30 kilometers distance.

Tip: Shorter alternative routes can be combined in many ways on Patscherkofel Alpine hike

Route description! This is how your Patscherkofel Alpine adventure looks like on a map

Start in Tulfes at the Glungezerbahn stop (valley station). The trail leads in a westerly direction over some hilly forest paths to Rinn. From Rinn follow the signs to the Rinner Alm (flatter on the road or steeper on the hiking trail). The trail continues slightly uphill to the Aldranser Alm and with some ups and downs to the Sistranser Alm. From the Sistranser Alm a little steeper now follow the signs to the Issboden. After a short breather on the alpine meadow, the final ascent takes you to the Zirbenweg. Here, on the ridge, keep to the right in the direction of Patscherkofel/Boscheben and stay flat until Boscheben on the Zirbenweg. 

At the Boscheben hut turn left and go downhill to the Meissner Haus. From here the “Almenweg (Almen path) 1600” leads first along the Mühlbach slightly downhill and finally longer, but not too steep, uphill again. You now circle the Patscherkofel on its southern side. Here you can stop again at the Patscher Alm (Patscher hut) before you finally follow one of the paths always downhill to the valley station of the Patscherkofel cable car along the hiking trail or the road.

If you are still fit enough, instead of taking the J bus, you can also take a tangle of hiking trails and forest roads via Igls – Lansersee – Lanser Kopf – and the Tante Gert run (streetcar stop) and past the Bretterkeller back to downtown Innsbruck. At the latest here the use of a GPS track is recommended.

The route offers a choice in some places: either take the gravel road with less incline/decline or steeper hiking trails on forest soil. It tends to be enough to follow the signs. For a circular route, you can choose the Patscherkofel cable car valley station (Bus J) as the starting and finishing point and steer along the Patscherkofel cycle path via Sistrans first to the Aldranser Alm

Photo tips that will make your Instagram pop – the view along the Zirbenweg to Boscheben

If you have time and leisure for pictures, you will especially enjoy the view along the Zirbenweg (Zirben way) to Boscheben. Most of the time the path leads along in the relatively dense forest. Especially at the alpine huts, however, a view of the Inntal, Wipptal and Stubaital should be good. Combining photography and running – serves the running morale? That is a question that can certainly only be answered individually.

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 Trail run adventure near Innsbruck

Arrival: 

How to get there by public transport: by bus 4134 from Innsbruck main station to Tulfes valley station Glungezer.

Hike difficulty level: medium-difficult

Duration/distance: 5h/ 31km   

Ascent/descent: 1470m/1820m   

Highest/lowest point: 2050m/590m  

Refreshment stops: Rinner Alm, Aldranser Alm, Sistranser Alm, Boscheben, Meißner Haus, Patscher Alm, Igls

Start/finish: Tulfes, stop Glungezerbahn valley station (coordinates: geogr. 47.256544,11.535387)  

Best time: May-Oct.

Tips: On hot days, it is recommended to carry enough liquid for the longer south-facing circumnavigation of the Patscherkofel or to refuel at an alpine pasture. Shorter alternative routes can be combined in many ways.

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?