Technical difficulty: 7/10
Fitness: 7/10
Objective danger: 8/10 (not very long though)
Landscape: 8/10
Busy: 3/10 (first part to Serles 7/10)

A varied route with opportunities for peak-bagging south of one of Innsbruck’s most famous viewpoint mountains.

Starting point: Parkplatz Maria Waldrast
Ending point: Trins
Length: 22km
Vertical: 2020m
Speed: Slow going on the first part of the ridge. Runnable on easier parts and on the long final downhill.

Route:

guest post by @bennibru

We begin our journey at the Maria Waldrast parking lot, accessible via a toll road. For those seeking an extra challenge, it’s also possible to approach from the valley, adding significant elevation gain. An alternative ascend route starts from Medraz in the Stubai Valley and leads to the Serlesjöchl. The trail branches off just behind the monastery, heading towards the Serles. Initially winding through dense forest, it then traverses beneath the steep eastern and southern cliffs of this iconic viewpoint. Upon reaching the Serlesjöchl, only a ladder and a short stretch of rocky but straightforward terrain separate us from the summit. The expansive summit plateau offers sweeping views of Innsbruck and the Nordkette to the north, while the southwest ridge stretching toward the Kesselspitze comes into view for the first time.

Descending back to the Serlesjöchl, we pass the impressive Rote Wand rock face on its left and start the ascent to the Lämpermahdspitze. This section involves light scrambling (UIAA I) through fascinating rock formations, following a route clearly marked with painted dots. At the Lämpermahdspitze summit, crowned by a striking iron cross, the ridge becomes more challenging as we continue to the summit “Ober der Mauer”. This stretch is the most demanding of the traverse, requiring careful navigation through steep, loose terrain on the west side of the Südliche Lämpermahdspitze. Every step must be deliberate here – slipping could have serious consequences given the topography.

After conquering this tricky section, the ridge becomes more forgiving, and the striking pyramid-shaped Kesselspitze draws closer. Sitting roughly halfway through our adventure, this is also the highest point of the day. From here, the terrain eases as we head toward the Wasenwand. Along the way, we bag the summit of Roter Kopf before ascending the grassy eastern flank to reach the Wasenwand summit, complete with a bench and stunning contrasts between the gentle grassy slopes to the east and sheer cliffs to the west.

A straightforward descent leads us to the Hammerscharte. From here, an optional extension to the Kirchdachspitze is possible, but we opt for the direct route up a gravel path to the Hammerspitze, our final summit of the day. After a well-deserved break at the Hammerspitze, we descend back to the Hammerscharte and follow a scenic trail to the Padasterjochhaus. This mountain hut offers the perfect opportunity to refuel and refresh before tackling the final stretch. The descent to Trins follows a mix of forest roads and marked trails through lush alpine meadows. Eventually, we reach the village of Trins, from where a second car or public transport takes us back to the Wipptal valley. This route offers everything from challenging ridges to breathtaking vistas, making it an unforgettable trailrunning experience in the Stubai Alps.

Photos by @bennibru