Hirschkopf

Hirschkopf (Schwaz)

The Hirschkopf towers high above Schwaz and offers a fabulous mountain panorama in combination with a partly technical trail descent.

Description

The tour begins in the hamlet of Fiecht between Vomp and Stans. At first, the route is relaxed on asphalt along the southern slopes and past the Eggen farm until you finally reach the hiking parking lot. Before doing so, you pass a memorial commemorating the fact that the last bear in North Tyrol was shot here. The question arises as to whether such events should be recorded.

From here, the route continues on gravel with a relatively steep incline to the Ochsenhag hunting lodge and a fountain, which is a good place to top up your drinking water reserves. The bike is then carried on the back and over the Vomper Joch, sometimes even pushed. The key sections of the route can be memorized during the ascent, as they will later also form the descent route. Thanks to the woodwork and the wind throw, impressive views of the Karwendel mountains and the Inntal valley open up here and there.

Just before the summit, there are two more striking sections to tackle: a traverse to the last fountain at just under 1900 meters and a short rock step. Then you reach the summit (1966 meters above sea level). The view is magnificent and particularly impressive on a clear autumn day.

The descent begins directly from the summit and starts with difficulty level S3. This difficulty level remains until the steep section that has to be conquered. The trail then rides eastwards over a slightly eroded slope. Depending on the weather, this section can vary in terms of passability.

The route then descends steadily along the broad ridge, with sections of S2 and S3 difficulty awaiting you. An anticipatory driving style is essential here. At the Vomper Joch, there is a small climb in the opposite direction. Finally, you return to the Ochsenhag hunting lodge and take the crossroads back to the "Last Bear in Tyrol" monument and the hikers' parking lot.

For the rest of the descent, follow the Alpsteig trail, which has a rock step to negotiate right at the start. This is easily recognizable and is located immediately after the wooden railing. The route then descends continuously at S2 level until you return to the starting point.

All in all, this tour is a varied and alpine mountain bike route that should only be tackled with advanced biking technique and surefootedness.

Note: The route is located on Austrian territory and leads over routes that are not approved for mountain bikers. Riding this route on a mountain bike is the responsibility of each individual, in full awareness of the legal situation.

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