Hinteres Alpjoch circular loop

Drive to Hoch-Imst. You’ll find a large free car park there. From there, you can reach the start of the hike via two consecutive cable cars. See the practical information section for fares.
Take the first cable car: the Untermarkter Alm Bahn, then the second one, which departs right next to the arrival point of the first: the Alpjoch Bahn. In about fifteen minutes, you’ll reach the start of the hike, at an altitude of 2,020 metres.

(S/E) As you exit the cable car, follow the path on your right. A sign points towards the Muttekopfhütte, a 45-minute walk away. Go down the few steps and follow the path as it gradually curves to the left. You’ll reach a designated viewpoint, then pass through the turnstile and set off along the cliff face. The path is then fitted with a handrail for a few hundred metres, and some sections are quite vertiginous. Once you’ve passed these tricky sections, cross the Malbach via wooden bridges and admire the waterfall above. You’ll then reach the Muttekopfhütte.

(1) Take the path furthest to the left, which climbs gradually as it follows the valley. Continue until you reach a flat area.

(2) Turn left and wade across the stream. From here, look out for the red and white markings on the rocks and the cairns. Follow the path, which isn’t always very well marked amongst the scree of varying sizes, and which becomes increasingly steep. Make your way up a few switchbacks between the overhanging rocks and reach the ridge. Apart from one section where you’ll need to use your hands, this stretch – although impressive when viewed from below – is far less vertiginous than at the start of the route.

(3) Turn right and follow the path through the mountain pastures. Reach the summit, the Hinteres Alpjoch (2,425 m), a few hundred metres further on.

(4) Turn back and stay on the path that descends through the mountain pastures towards the cable car visible below, and return to the previous junction.

(3) Carry on straight ahead, leaving the path you took on the way up to your left. At the next junction, turn left. Finally, take a slight detour to the left to reach the Vorderes Alpjoch (2,121 m). Follow the few fairly steep hairpin bends to reach the top station of the Alpjochbahn (S/E).

Cable car fares are available via the following link
For timetables
You’ll need to buy a return ticket for sections 1 and 2.

In wet weather, certain sections of this walk can be very slippery, particularly at the start, but also on the descent. This can make the walk extremely difficult. In snowy conditions, it is impassable without specialist equipment and sufficient experience.

In any case, good walking boots and plenty of water are essential. This is a fairly exposed, almost high-mountain route, and weather conditions can change rapidly. However, it is manageable with older children (we completed it with a 9-year-old).

You can get something to eat and find shelter at the Muttekopfhütte. More information at

Fun fact: on the way down, you can take the summer toboggan run instead of section 1 of the cable car. It’s 3.5 km long. There’s no extra charge. Leave your rucksack at the midway station; the staff will take it down for you, as you can’t take it with you on the toboggan run. Please note, however, that the wait can be long, so remember to take a numbered ticket from the information point next to the toboggan run’s starting point to avoid waiting unnecessarily in the queue.