The best walks & hikes aroung Lake Achensee
Exploring Lake Achensee by foot
The Posthotel Achenkirch is the perfect starting point for relaxed strolls around Lake Achensee and leisurely walks in the Rofan and Karwendel Mountains. In total, there are 500 kilometers of walking trails, giving the option of both longer and shorter routes. We have selected a few route suggestions and walks to perfectly complement your stay at the Posthotel, offering relaxation in the midst of nature.
The best walks & hikes around Lake Achensee
Walk to the Zöhreralm hut (1,334 m) & to Adlerhorst (1,230 m)
- Walking time: approx. 2.5 hours
- Route length: approx. 7.3 km
- Difficulty: light / hiking trail
- Terrain: gravel and forest paths
From the Sonnberg parking lot, walk along a path to the Adlerhorst. From here a beautiful path leads up to the Posthotel’s Zöhreralm. A way back home leads back over the forest road on serpentines back to the Posthotel.
The Zöhreralm serves refreshments and is open every day except Thursdays from 10 a.m. till 4 p.m. between 1, May and 1, Novemver. There is also a self-service bar in the well with a cash box for honest, thirsty hikers who pass by the hut outside of its opening hours.
Alternative route to the Zöhreralm hut or return journey
- Walking time: approx. 1.5 hours
- Route length: approx. 5.1 km
- Difficulty: light / hiking trail
- Terrain: asphalt, gravel and forest paths
Exit left from the Posthotel and head towards the yellow building (Österreichische Bundesforste) on the left-hand side of the village road, behind the bakery. After the yellow building, take a small road left underneath the main road until you reach the car park of the old Sonnberg lift.
Here you will find a sign on the left for the trail towards the Zöhreralm hut. Alternatively, you can walk 200 meters of the forest path then take the steep path towards the Zöhreralm hut.
To complete the circular walk, you can descend via Adlerhorst.
From Posthotel Achenkirch to lake via the Karwendelweg path
- Walking time: approx. 1 hour
- Route length: approx. 4.5 km
- Difficulty: easy
- Terrain: asphalt, gravel and forest paths
From the Posthotel, turn left and follow the road towards Annakircherl. Just before reaching the Annakircherl church, turn left down the narrow path. This path partly leads through the forest and, after around 30 minutes, you will reach the “Christlum” ski resort. From there, turn right along the village road towards Lake Achensee. There you will find several shops as well as a snack kiosk.
Karwendel Panorama Trail Lake Achensee
- Walking time: approx. 4.5 hours
- Route length: approx. 11.1 km
- Difficulty: medium
- Terrain: asphalt, gravel and forest paths
Leave the Posthotel on the left side. After the bakery, you will see a yellow building (Österreichische Bundesforste) on the left-hand side of the village road. After this building, turn left along the small road which takes you underneath the main road. You will reach the car park for the old Sonnberg lift. Here you will find a sign directing you to the Panorama Trail (Panoramaweg). After a short ascent, you can follow the path straight to Lake Achensee.
From there, head through the village towards the car park at the Christlum lifts (Hochalmlifte Christlum). From here, walk to the entrance of the Unterautal valley and then head north for around 100 metres until you reach the start of the Karwendelweg path. This path takes you across a high plateau to the golf course that crosses over Blasenbach and finally leads to the Falkenmoos forest path.
Follow this path down towards the village. Pass the Kalvarienkirche church and you will reach the bus stop “Achenkirch Abzweigung Steinberg”. From there, take the underpass and walk left along the asphalt road towards “Alter Steinbergweg” and then back towards the Posthotel.
Lake Achensee circular walk
- Walking time: approx. 5.5 hours
- Route length: approx. 21.8 km
- Difficulty: medium
- Terrain: asphalt, gravel and forest paths
Start your circular lake walk from Achenkirch heading towards Buchau. Anyone wanting to linger a while will find a beach bar and Buchau beach. The walk then continues in the direction of Maurach. The path here is all tarmacked or paved. Then, continue around the lake towards Pertisau. This is where the more demanding part of the circular walk begins. The asphalt path ends as you embark on a forest trail with steep slopes. Gaisalmsteig and Mariensteig are situated right in the rocks. After tackling a short climb you will be rewarded with a fantastic view of the lake before taking the path right back to Achenkirch.
If you would prefer to tackle the more demanding sections first, you can of course take the circular route in the direction of Pertisau, via Maurach towards Buchau and then back to Achenkirch.
Walk to the Gufferthütte hut (1,465 m)
- Walking time: approx. 2 hours
- Route length: 10.4 km
- Difficulty: medium / red mountain trail
- Terrain: gravel and forest paths
By car, or on the Achensee Regiobus, travel towards Steinberg. After around 7 km you will find a car park on the right-hand side at Kögelboden. Turn left and you will reach a gentle sloping path along the Ampelsbach stream. This path takes you through Zweisel straight to the Gufferthütte.
It is well worth walking on further to Tyrol’s earliest Etruscan inscriptions, situated in a partially-open cave at the foot of the Schneidjoch Mountain – walking time approx. 1 hour after the Gufferthütte.
From the same starting point, you can also take the path from the Kögelboden car park through Upper Ampelsbach/Filzmoosbach Gorge. The exciting history of the Alps can be discovered on 11 boards along this so-called geopath. The walk to the Gufferthütte via this path is 6.9 km and takes around 3 hours.
The Gufferthütte serves refreshments from mid-May to the end of October.
Walk to the Seekarspitze mountain (2,016 m)
- Walking time: approx. 4 hours
- Route length: 6.8 km
- Difficulty: difficult / black mountain trails
- Terrain: asphalt, gravel and forest paths
Starting from the Sixenhof Local Heritage Museum, this path gently winds its way along the Seebauer Hinterwinkel to the Koglalm mountain hut, and then on to the Seekaralm mountain hut. From there, the path has steep ascent to the ridge of the Seekarspitze at an altitude of over 2,000 meters.
For an alternative return route, you can take the path via the Pasillalm (1,557 m) and Seekaralm (1,500 m). The crossing from the Seekarspitze (2,053 m) to the Seebergspitze (2,085 m) across the Pasillsattel is only recommended for those with experience.
Walk from Köglalm to Schönjochalm (1,287 m)
- Walking time: approx. 3.5 hours
- Route length: 7.1 km
- Difficulty: medium / red mountain trail
- Terrain: gravel and forest paths
Achenkirch, takes you to Kaiser-Maximilian Rast. The path continues on to the Köglalm where it is highly recommended to stop for a rest. You will then reach Kögljochsattel followed by an ascent that takes you to Schönjochalm. After around an hour’s walking, you will reach the town of Steinberg am Rofan.
Walk to Blaubergalm hut (1,540 m)
- Walking time: approx. 3.5 hours
- Route length: 9.3 km
- Difficulty: medium / red mountain trail
- Terrain: gravel and forest paths
The starting point for this walk is the former fire station in Achenwald. From here, a forest path takes you to the Klammbachalm mountain hut. A beautiful forest path then takes you further to the Blaubergalm at 1,540 meters.
Walk to the Hochplatte (1,589 m)
- Walking time: approx. 3.5 hours
- Route length: 5.8 km
- Difficulty: medium / red mountain trail
- Terrain: asphalt, gravel and forest paths
This walking route starts from the car park at the Christlum lifts. From here, walks to the entrance of the Unterautal valley, cross the bridge and then continue towards the intersection on the forest border. There is an initial steep ascent here, and then a wide path takes you past the Bründlalm and Jochalm huts towards the Seewaldhütte. From here, you can ascend to your destination, the Hochplatt
Walk to the entrance of the Unterautal valley
- Walking time: approx. 0.5 hours
- Route length: 1.9 km
- Difficulty: light / hiking trail
- Terrain: asphalt, gravel and forest paths
The path starts from the church in Achenkirch and bears left past the Annakircherl church. From here, you will need to walk along the upper Fiechtersiedlung road and then take the Karwendelweg path towards Achensee. After around 40 minutes you will see the entrance to the Unterautal valley on the left.
Juifen ascent (1,946 m)
- Walking time: approx. 4 hours
- Route length: 10.5 km
- Difficulty: medium / red mountain trail
- Terrain: gravel and forest paths
From the car park at the Tirolerland restaurant heading towards Achenkirch, a wide path takes you through shaded forest towards the alpine pastures. The first stop is the Falkenmoosalm hut at 1,328 m. From here, continue to the Groß-Zemm-Alm at 1,566 m and then head north to Juifen.
You can also climb Juifen from Achenwald (Hagen church) via the Rotwandalm (1,528 m).
Looking for more hiking tips?
The team at Posthotel Achenkirch am Achensee will gladly help you plan your stay and will be happy to offer tips for walks and hikes in the area.
You can have an interactive look for walks and hikes on maps.achensee.com.
Here you will find even more tips for excursions around Lake Achensee and the surrounding Tyrol region.
