My 5 favourite hikes in the Karwendel Mountains – Northern Limestone Alps

This unique limestone mountain range, with its rocky flanks, is an exceptionally beautiful area, the likes of which I have rarely experienced in other countries.

The Karwendel Mountains, the largest mountain range of the Northern Limestone Alps, won the title of Nature Park of the Year in 2020. With 125 peaks over 2,000 metres (6,561 feet), it's the largest protected area in the region of Tyrol and Austria’s biggest nature park. The Karwendel are home to diverse natural habitats such as wild rivers and primeval forests, as well as important plant and animal species like the wild orchid, centuries-old maple trees, and the golden eagle.

With this Collection, I would like to introduce you to five of my favourite hikes in the Karwendel. These walks enraptured me the first time I did them and have not let me go since.

Each hike can be walked in a day and includes an alpine hut where you can enjoy a hearty snack. If you fancy a sporting challenge, one of the Tours, from the Achensee to the Dalfaz Alm, is also suitable as a quick after-work round. Others are a little longer and ideal for an extended day trip. The area is very popular for multi-day Tours, with 25 mountain huts for overnight stays.

As a photographer, the region is an Eldorado to me. I always need much longer than the normal walking times because I am constantly taking photographs. The motifs here are simply spectacular. Climbing to a summit in the dark with my headlamp at sunrise or watching the blue hour at sunset is always a special experience for me.

This breathtaking landscape is always worth a visit: In spring, crocuses bloom and yellow troll flowers blanket fragrant alpine meadows, whilst autumn is a burst of colour and the winter landscape is wonderful too. I’m drawn back year after year. Every time, I discover something new and let the magnificent surroundings work their magic by pausing and slowing down.

Thanks to the train stations in Tegernsee and Jenbach and local bus connections, the starting points of the individual hikes are easily accessible by public transport. Travelling by car takes about two hours from Munich, which is also where I am based. From Innsbruck, it's a stone's throw by train or car with a journey time of less than an hour. From Vienna, it takes about six hours.

Have fun in the spectacular Karwendels amongst the rocky giants!