Grinzens – Adolf-Pichler-Hütte

This hike leads through the Kalkkögel, a collection of craggy mountains known as the "Dolomites of North Tirol", located in the Stubai Alps near Innsbruck. Long before sport climbing became as popular as it is today, the Adolf-Pichler-Hütte hut was a popular basecamp used by early alpine pioneers such as Hermann Buhl to complete first ascents of these imposing rock faces. This hike begins in Grinzens (945 metres) near Innsbruck and leads to the Adolf-Pichler-Hütte hut (1,977 metres).
Opposite the bus stop, follow the trail to “Kemater Alm” and “Adolf-Pichler-Hütte” and walk around 200 metres uphill along the tarmac road. The road flattens and turns onto a forest road (toll road) that runs into the Senderstal Valley, straight as an arrow and gently uphill through meadows and pastures. The toll road ends at the Kemater Alm hut. Here, hikers leave the Senderstal Valley along the dirt road that runs above the alpine hut and follow the sign for “Adolf-Pichler-Hütte”. Continue on this dirt road, which runs parallel to the Griesbach stream and gradually climbs up to the Adolf-Pichler-Hütte hut (the last section via a series of switchbacks). The hut is located opposite the peaks of the Kalkkögel. There is also the option of continuing the hike up to the top of the Sonntagsköpfl mountain (2,096 metres). The way back to Grinzens is along the same route.