What to do in the Stubai Valley?
It’s a well known fact that the Stubai valleys offers an incredible range of walking routes for both walkers and hikers – an almighty 850km of marked trails to be precise. Within this blog I will take you through the 4 main lift systems within the Stubai valley and explain some of my favourite walks that should not be missed during your time here in Neustift.
Stubai Glacier
One of the many draws to Neustift is their glacier situated 19km up the valley, around 30 minutes by bus. The stubai glacier is in fact the largest glacier skiing area in Austria and is 100% snow guaranteed from October to June. The walking trails off the middle station will lead you to the Grawa waterfall, Mutterberger See or even a hike up to the next gondola station (Bergstation Eisgrat). From the summit platform, Top of Tyrol, only 10 minutes walk from the top of the Schaufeljoch station, you can enjoy magnificent panoramic views of 3000m peaks and the telescopes provide additional information.
Neustift – Elfer
Directly in the village of Neustift, the 11er (Elfer) gondola will whisk you up to 1790m in a matter of minutes, very popular for both walkers and mountain bikers. Once you reach the top of the gondola, to your left you will find the Kugelsonnenhuhr which is the largest sundial in the Tyrol and has a walk around platform to take in the magnificent views of the whole Stubai valley. To the right and up in the distance, you will see the Elferhutte, a mountain hut perched on the edge at 2080m. Once here there a number of walks including the ‘Panoramaweg’ which twist and turns it’s way around and down the mountain taking in the Karalm and the Pinnisalm, and following the river all the way back to Neustift – One of my favourite walks in the whole of the Stubai valley.
Fulpmes – Schlick 2000
Fulpmes, located 6km down the valley from Neustift, lies the Schlick 2000 gondola. The Schlick 2000 consists of 2 gondolas each with extensive walking routes both up and down the mountain. My favourite walk off the top station ( Kreuzjoch) has to be the alpine flower education trail which works its way down the valley, along the ‘Naturlehweg’ and on past the Schlickeralm mountain hut – taking around 2 hours. Along this trail you will find an extensive array of flower varieties with education boards dotted around to show more information. The incredible viewing platforms named the ‘Stubaiblick’ can be reached in 15 minutes from the mountain station via a flat panoramic path and boasts 3 footbridges which point out striking mountains, each of which tells a mystic legend.
Mieders – Serlesbahn
The small village of Mieders provides us with the lowest of the lift systems in the Stubai valley but is still packed with stunning walks and breathtaking scenery. One of the main attractions from the top of the Serles gondola is the Maria Waldrest monastery which is the highest active monastery in Europe. Not only does Mieders attract the walkers but it also have an outstanding reputation with mountain bikers due to the vast array of cycle tracks both at the foot of the gondola and at the top.
The thrill seekers among us can take a ride down the steepest Alpine Coaster in the Alps – where speeds of 42kph can be reached over the 2.8km track. The coaster will whizz you down incorporating 40 hairpin turns through the valley surrounded by the stunning scenery of the Serles peak. This is truly a unique attraction.
Stubai Super Card
Are you wondering how you’ll cover the costs of all these amazing sights? Not to worry. All of your hotels will provide you with a Stubai Super Card (for free I might add) which I like to call your golden ticket. These cards allows you to use all of the 4 gondola’s mentioned once per day, 1 ride on the summer toboggan ride per holiday and unlimited use of the busses in the Stubai valley.
So what are you waiting for, come out to Neustift and see for yourself what we have to offer in the superb natural area that is, the Stubai Valley!
Words by Jessica Strudwick, Resort Representative in Neustift.