Technical difficulty: 1/10
Fitness: 2/10
Objective danger: 1/10
Landscape: 3/10
Busy: 2/10 (6 on the weekends)

A loop exploring the area in the south side of Innsbruck, on the north face side between the summits of Patscherkofel and Glungetzer. It is connecting three huts - Lanser Alm, Sistranser Alm and Aldranser Alm.

Starting point: Sistrans
Ending point: Sistrans
Length: 12.5km
Vertical: 900m
Speed: nice flowy trail and forest roads

Route:

If you're looking for an area in Innsbruck that offers an abundance of trails and forest roads to explore, the hillside on the south side of the city is an excellent choice. Nestled between the peaks of Patscherkofel and Glungezer, this location is a trail runner's paradise, where you can easily lose track of time amidst its extensive network of paths.

Today, I will share an example of a route I've taken in this area, one that connects three alpine huts and allows you to experience the diverse trails that this location offers. We'll start and finish this journey in the village of Sistrans. You can conveniently reach this location by public transport from Innsbruck, or if you're driving, there's plenty of parking space at the MPREIS supermarket.

Kick off your run by heading southwest through the village. First you need to get out of the populated area and get into the surrounding forest. Your first objective is to climb up to the Lanser Alm, the first hut along the way. To get there, you have a couple of options here: you can follow the steep trail indicated in the GPS, or you can opt for a more relaxed ascent by choosing one of the forest roads. Whichever way you choose, be prepared for an 800-vertical-meter climb.

Upon reaching Lanser Alm, you might want to take a break and refresh yourself before proceeding. Your next destination is the Sistranser Alm, the second hut along the way. You will reach this by traversing down a forest road, which will eventually lead you further east.

From here, you can indulge in a pleasant, rolling trail until you reach the Aldranser Alm, the final hut on our route. This stretch offers a nice reprieve after the initial climbing and is a great way to experience the picturesque landscape of this part of Innsbruck.

Finally, your route back to Sistrans is quite similar to the way up. Depending on how much you still have left in your legs, you can choose a path that suits your desired level of steepness. Have fun!

Pro tip: there is a ton of water along the way, so you can go light!

Photos by @the.running.nomad