Summer in the Tirol

8th May 2021

Last modified on May 13th, 2021

More walking routes and terrain for mountain bikers, a wider selection of hotels, villas and campsites. There’s a lot that’s new for summer 2021 in the Austrian Tirol.

After the oddest of winters, one of our favourite regions for skiing is gearing up for the summer season.

We look at some of the new things on offer to lure the tourists back to the mountains and pastures of the Tirol.

NEW ACTIVITIES

Long-distance Family Hiking Path, Kitzbühel

The KAT Family Walk, in the Kitzbühel Alps, is the first long-distance hiking route in Tirol designed with families in mind.

The 76km trail winds through the mountains and has been divided into five stages.

Along the way there is a petting zoo, you can swim in an old quarry or challenge yourself to a spot of climbing.

Walking distances can be made shorter by taking the bus or cable car so younger children can take part and luggage is transported to and from your accommodation along on the route.

KAT Family Walk, Tirol – photo KAM

www.kitzbueheler-alpen.com/de/kat-walk/family/ueberblick.html

Amusement Park, Wildschönau

A new outdoor adventure park where a 10-metre dragon guards the entrance.

Children (and big kids) can go rafting on the natural lake, test their balance and dexterity on the skills course or board a single-seat rollercoaster which twists and turns into the valley.

There are also plans to introduce mountain bike trails for children, a go-karting track and a diving tower, where daredevils can leap onto a giant airbag.

A single ride on the rollercoaster costs from €5 per child (up to age eight), €7 per youth (up to age 15) and €9 per adult.

www.wildschoenau.com/de/aktuelles/freizeitpark

Smuggling Trail, Kaiserwinkl

The Klobenstein gorge in the Kaiserwinkl region is considered a legendary gateway to the Alps which, centuries ago, was used as a smuggling trail.

Now this cross-border canyon, which connects Tirol and Bavaria, is accessible to families by an 8km-long interactive hiking trail from Kössen to Ettenhausen, via Klobenstein.

Numerous themed stations invite kids and parents to follow in the footsteps of smugglers using a mobile phone app.

The goal is to collect enough points to smuggle your goods across the border without being caught.

https://www.kaiserwinkl.com/en/hiking-tyrol/smugglers-trail.html

NEW HIKING & ROCK-CLIMBING ROUTES

Interactive Castle Trail, TirolWest

This 50km trail Castle Trail in the TirolWest holiday region, with a digital guide, crosses the landscape between five fortresses – Landeck Castle, the Kronburg and Schrofenstein ruins, Wiesberg Castle and Biedenegg Castle.

Schloss Landeck, Tirol – photo Roman Huber

The Farms Trail, East Tirol

The 30 km Farms Trail goes through the Gailtal Valley and the Lesachtal Valley. The path – connecting the region’s farmsteads – always stays close to the valley floor, crossing meadows and larch forests.

Walkers can visit local farmers to learn about sustainable farming and staying in harmony with nature.

Rock Climbing with a View, Seefeld

In mid-June 2021, a new panoramic via ferrata climbing route will open on the Seefelder Spitze mountain in Seefeld.

Reaching 260 metres in height, and measuring just under 500 metres from start to finish, it is rated C/D (difficult) and is a challenge for advanced and experienced climbers.

Klettern auf die Seefelder Spitze – photo Johannes Mair, Alpsolut Pictures

NEW CYCLING & MOUNTAIN BIKING TRAILS

Attractions for Bikers and Foodies, PillerseeTal

Fieberbrunn and PillerseeTal are expanding their biking with the Bike Area Streuböden and new paths for e-bikers.

Between the middle and valley stations of the Streuböden gondola, there is a new, 4km-long Schweinestberg Trail.

Beginners can check out the Easy Park Obingleiten, with two lines and a pump track where they can perfect their bike-handling skills on the numerous hairpin bends.

Foodies will enjoy the culinary e-bike ride. Every Tuesday, a guide takes cyclists on a tour of the best KochArt restaurants in the region.

Each ride visits two restaurants – one for the starter and the main course, and the second one for the dessert.

Bike Park on the Katzenkopf Mountain, Leutasch

On the Katzenkopf mountain in Leutasch there is a new, family-friendly bike park with three different single track trails, an uphill trail, a pump track, and large practice area.

The park, which will open in time for the 2021 summer season, will also feature a bike school, a bike rental shop, a bike workshop and a bike wash.