Kolsassberg between castle ruins and suspension bridges

In Kolsassberg, traces of history meet hiking destinations that require very different amounts of time. The suspension bridge circuit crosses two bridges and starts at Rettenberg Castle Ruins; other trails lead through woodland and offer longer outings. When looking for a holiday apartment, your planned daily schedule can therefore be a useful guide: the circuit takes about two hours, while the walk to Weidener Hut takes about three and a half.

Castle ruins, chapels and historic trails

Today, only the ruins of the defensive wall and its corner towers remain of the once-magnificent Rettenberg Castle. The surviving sections provide the village with a tangible historical landmark. Another trace leads over the Geiseljoch: even in ancient times, this pass from the back of Kolsassberg into the Tux Valley was the shortest connection from the Tux Valley to the towns in the Inn Valley, including Innsbruck, Hall and Schwaz. This historic role sets the old crossing apart from today’s hiking suggestions.

The little mountain church is also part of the village’s history: it was built in the early 1970s on a private initiative. The chapels on Kolsassberg are especially worth seeing; their owners lovingly maintain them and decorate them to suit the season. These sacred buildings and their decoration thus complement the castle ruins as cultural aspects of a stay.

The suspension bridge circuit and its landmarks

The Kolsassberg suspension bridge circuit is a moderately difficult loop hike covering 5.7 kilometres. It starts at Rettenberg Castle Ruins and crosses both the front and rear suspension bridges; the stated walking time is about two hours. The distance, difficulty and duration give you a concrete basis for considering how a circuit like this fits into your daily plans.

When driving up to Kolsassberg, Neu Rettenberg Castle Ruins are impossible to miss. The suspension bridge circuit, however, starts at Rettenberg Castle Ruins. Both names are useful for orientation: Neu Rettenberg is a prominent landmark on the drive up, while Rettenberg is the starting point for the circuit described here.

Forest trails, the Silver Trail and longer walks

The Weertal Circuit leads from Kolsassberg through dense forest and up into the Weertal Valley. The Tyrolean Silver Trail follows a different route: its third stage leads from Weer/Kolsass through Kolsassberg to Weerberg. If you are planning a longer outing, you can also consider Weidener Hut, which can be reached from Kolsassberg in about three and a half hours.

Open in two seasons, Weidener Hut welcomes day visitors, hikers, mountain bikers, skiers and tobogganers. Compared with the roughly two-hour suspension bridge circuit, it involves a markedly different amount of walking time. For families planning activities together, these times provide a concrete comparison between a shorter circuit and a longer hike.

Getting there and other activities

Kolsassberg can be reached via the village road through Kolsass. If you would also like to plan some skiing, Hoferlift Kolsassberg offers something designed for children’s first attempts on skis.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Statz, Hatting, Fulpmes, Natters, Seefeld In Tirol, Vals, Patsch, Mils Bei Hall.

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