Along the River Inn between Imst and Innsbruck, there are numerous sun-drenched rock faces which offer excellent conditions for climbing, even in winter.
Here we’d like to introduce you to some of the winter-suitable crags, which are characterised by short access, their south-facing aspect and beautiful, varied routes.
On the south-facing Rote Wand, you’ll find mainly vertical to overhanging climbing routes on compact rock. Climbing is possible here almost all year round. Due to the scree above, it is recommended that you wear a helmet when climbing.
How to get there: Leave the Inntal motorway A12 at the Imst exit, then take the B171 towards Karres.
The small, sunny Silz Rock Climbing Area, situated above the Inntal motorway, is easily accessible – climbing is possible here almost all year round.
If you’ve tackled them all and fancy a ‘fun Via Ferrata/Iron Way’, you can try the Crazy Eddy Via Ferrata/Iron Way: it’s situated about 300 metres west of the Silz Rock Climbing Area and is a 20-minute walk from the car park. Both can be easily combined into a family day out – and, thanks to their low-lying location, are ideal even in unsettled weather conditions.
Climbing above the water: The Stams Rock Climbing Area is situated right on the River Inn – during high water, the start of the route is submerged.
Caution: slippery! The boulders at the base of the wall can be quite slippery. Keep an eye on children to ensure they do not fall into the water and get swept away by the River Inn!
A few metres downstream, you can take a detour to a waterfall, or follow a path up to the Mieming Plateau (Locherboden).
The Telfs Hex climbing area consists of eight sectors, most of which were established by Bernhard Hangl and Arthur Wutscher. The rocks are predominantly south-facing; the sectors ‘Le Figaro’, ‘Pepato’ and ‘Antares’ offer overhanging climbs on compact limestone.
The Arzbergklamm climbing area comprises nine very different sectors – from well-bolted slab routes to sections of rock that are partly overhanging, it offers almost everything.
In the depths of winter, however, the gorge only gets a brief spell of sunshine.
The Brunntalweg Rock Face is a south-east-facing Rock Face that can be climbed almost all year round. It runs along a gully that stretches from the lower to the upper Brunntalstraße.
On the wall next to the Kaiser-Max-Grotte is a very beautiful, south-facing Rock Climbing Area with 16 rewarding routes in the medium difficulty range (5c to 6c+, route lengths 15 to 22 m).
The 17 routes at the Kaiser-Max-Grotte are all in the highest Levels of Difficulty (7b+ to 8c, route lengths 15 to 35 m). The Grotte, situated in the heart of the Martinswand, is easily accessible via a well-secured path; the rock face consists of excellent, compact rock, and the routes are very well secured.
Location: east of Zirl, above the ‘Dschungelbuch’, on the left-hand side of the Martinswand.
The Rock Climbing Area Galerie, situated high above the Inn Valley, directly above the railway tunnel, enjoys a very sunny location. The face offers excellent rock and consistently rewarding, very well-secured routes.
After a 30-minute uphill access, you’ll be rewarded not only with fantastic climbing but also with a magnificent view over the Inn Valley.
Tips & Safety
Would you like to know more about climbing safety? Click here for our safety tips.
