Pitztal - 40 kilometers of climbing

A summer vacation in the Pitztal means: climbing and bouldering rocks par excellence - spread over 40 kilometers of valley. On top of that, the Pitztal is one of the wildest and most beautiful side valleys in the Eastern Alps and scores points with its family atmosphere.

A climbing vacationin the Pitztal could go something like this: On cool days, get the gneiss glowing in the Hexenkessel, on hot days "dive" into the Unterwelt climbing garden. In almost any weather, redefine Grimm's fairy tale of "Hansel and Gretel" with the kids in the Mandlers Boden bouldering area or train flying maneuvers with the "Flying Eagle" in the XP Adventure Park in Jerzens. Well? Exactly! If you've "only" thought of ice climbing in winter and mountaineering in summer when you think of Pitztal, you're in for a treat: The side valley of the Inn Valley has much more to offer. It has a heart of rock and a heart for families.

The Pitztal is colorful: The beginning of the valley, better known as the "Outer Pitztal", is wide, with gently sloping slopes and equally gentle elevations. The villages of Arzl, Wald, Wenn and Jerzens create a picturesque low mountain landscape with their hilly terrain. The broad high plateau of the Pillerhöhe also enchants with its pretty landscape and is also the connection to the Kaunertal. If you drive further into the Pitztal valley, the mountains slowly come closer, the valley becomes narrower and closes into a striking "V". The peaks are close enough to touch and the views are spectacular. Welcome to the "Innerpitztal", with its famous Wildspitze, whose eternal ice sparkles in the sun.

The Pitztal Valley presents itself in different facets over 40 kilometers and the outdoor possibilities are correspondingly diverse: from leisurely hikes to alpine high-altitude tours, from waterfall trails to sunbathing, not to mention the many trail running routes including the Pitztal Glacier Trail Maniak (95 kilometers and around 6,500 meters in altitude!) - the Pitztal Valley has an almost inexhaustible sports portfolio. With its family atmosphere and the seclusion of its mountain world, it is considered one of the most beautiful and wildest side valleys in the Eastern Alps. The Pitztal is suitable for both ambitious climbing professionals and beginners to the sport of climbing.

Hexenkessel - devil's ride for ambitious gneiss climbing fans

The "Hexenkessel" climbing area is located in the hamlet of Plangeroß, where the mountains tower steeply to the right and left of the road and the water of the many waterfalls plunges thunderously into the depths. The gneiss massif is not a beginner's area, nor is it the ideal place to switch from the gym to the rock for the first time. However, it is a real fun park for experienced climbers who feel at home on routes from the seventh degree of difficulty upwards. Impressive lines such as "Wild Men Weekend" in the Platysma sector are great for warming up and getting used to the rock conditions. If you want to get off to a crisper start, because excellent routes in the ninth and tenth degree of difficulty await you, you will find a dream 6c route in the 3-star tour "Ezechiel": steep, powerful crack and intersection climbing.

The climbing garden with almost 90 routes (!) is located at an altitude of over 2,000 meters and faces south and west. This means that on hot summer days, it's better to use the cool morning hours and spread out your picnic blanket from the early afternoon, enjoy the feudal view towards the Pitztal Glacier and be "intoxicated" by the sound of the waterfall.

Dive into the Pitztal underworld on hot days

36 degrees and it's getting even hotter ...? Then it's time to dive into the "Unterwelt" climbing garden and make a pact with the "Mafia". That's the name of one of the climbing sectors ... The rocks are deep in the forest and the trees act as natural air conditioning. The orientation also fits: north-east. However, the "underworld" is also not for beginners, meaning that the routes, at least up to difficulty level 7a, are hard and require full attention and muscle work from the very first move. But apart from that, it is a top summer climbing area with over 50 routes that promise many fulfilling climbing days.

Bouldering at Mandlers Boden - rock fun for young and old

On vacation with kids and they prefer bouldering to swimming? Then head to the "Mandlers Boden" bouldering area. The boulders are scattered throughout the dense forest, alternating with pretty clearings that invite you to relax, take a nap or stimulate the kids' imaginations. Why? Because two easy boulders are named "Hansel" and "Gretel", for example. You can reinterpret Grimm's classic fairy tale for the kids. A total of 55 boulder blocks with over 170 "problems" in difficulty levels 3c to 8a are waiting to be conquered. And after bouldering, perhaps it's time for a swim or a campfire, as the area has designated barbecue areas. When the flames flicker into the evening sky, the logs crackle in the heat and the night birds sing their songs, it's definitely an experience for young and old that inspires your very own adventure stories.

Soft rock - written in capital letters in the Pitztal

The Pitztal not only offers first-class sport climbing areas for very experienced climbers, but also shows its "soft" side in the form of rewarding beginner and family-friendly climbing areas, such as the Jerzens-Hochzeiger climbing park or the "Gletscherstube". If you want to get up high and combine an overnight stay in a hut with climbing, you can hike up to the Kaunergrathütte at 2,817 meters above sea level. The ascent takes two and a half to three hours - once you reach the top, the hut climbing garden awaits you with tours up to 65 meters long. The difficulties range from easy to moderate. An adventure for the whole family.

An overview of all climbing opportunities in the Pitztal can be found here:
www.climbers-paradise.com/klettern-pitztal/

After-climb and culinary delights

The density of huts and alpine pastures in the Pitztal is enormous and so are the options for a fitting end to the day after climbing, bouldering or a via ferrata tour. A great option for a rest day: coffee at Café 3440 on the Pitztal Glacier. Refreshing temperatures and a view of over 50 three-thousand-metre peaks, plus coffee and cake - and because the panorama is so beautiful and life wants to be celebrated, a glass of white wine before heading back down into the valley. Those who like to cook for themselves on vacation will be delighted by the long list of direct marketers in the Pitztal. From organic eggs and potatoes to home-distilled Swiss stone pine schnapps. The gastronomy on offer is extensive.

And here is an overview of all the alpine pastures, huts and restaurants.

Everything except climbing

From easy hikes to high alpine mountain tours - everything is possible in the Pitztal. But also mountain biking, jogging and above all trail running! Water rats will also love the Pitztal, as there is the Wasserwelten Stillebach with its bathing pond and large sunbathing lawn with a view of the glacier. The Rifflsee entices visitors with a raft ride. Or how about a visit to the ibex center, a ride in the Zirben-Car or a bungee jump? The XP Adventure Park in Jerzens also offers extraordinary experiences for young and old, with a ride on the Flying Fox over a gorge at a height of approx. 50 meters in the high ropes course.

The Tiefentalalm in the "inner" Pitztal is a gem for animal lovers of all ages. From Piösmes (municipality of St. Leonhard), it takes one to one and a half hours to reach the alpine pasture via a shady forest path. The pretty little house is idyllically situated in a larch/pine forest with a babbling mountain stream right in front of the hut. Chattering ducks, curious goats, fluffy rabbits and magnificent Haflinger horses romp around up here in summer.