Discover Hinterriß

Hinterriß is the only permanently inhabited settlement in the Karwendel and is inhabited year-round. The village brings together traces of early settlement with insights into the area’s nature and history. There are also very different ways to get out and about: a short, easy hike to the Binsalm, a 28-kilometer cross-country ski trail, and a multi-day tour to Stans.

History in the Karwendel

A Bronze Age sword found in Hinterriß shows that people were already present here in prehistoric times. A Stone Age trade route for flint also ran through the Rißtal: over the Plumsjoch to Lake Achensee and the Inn Valley, and onward across the Alps to the south. These places illustrate the route’s long course and its significance beyond the Rißtal.

A later chapter is associated with Duke Ernst II of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. From 1860, he used his hunting lodge in Hinterriß as a base for hunting throughout the Karwendel region. The village’s history thus encompasses both early traces of human presence and the use of the Karwendel as a hunting ground in the 19th century.

Nature Park Center, Geology, and Labyrinth

The Hinterriß Nature Park Center focuses on nature and history, hunting, and the people of the Karwendel. In summer, it is open from May 1 to the end of October, Wednesday through Monday, from 09:00 to 17:00; it is closed on Tuesdays. Check the opening hours before your trip.

Behind the nature park center, the “Golden Nail” nature trail, established in 2012, explains the geological significance of the Karwendel. At Kuhjoch, the Golden Nail marks a reference point at the transition from the Triassic to the Jurassic, around 199.6 million years ago.

The labyrinth is another feature. It belongs to the Cretan, or classical, type, which typically has seven circuits. At its center is a ceramic artwork symbolizing the biodiversity of the Karwendel and inviting visitors to pause and reflect.

Hikes, Alpine Pastures, and Longer Tours

A short, easy hike leads from Eng in Hinterriß to the Binsalm. There you’ll find traditional local cuisine and overnight accommodation. If you’re planning to stay overnight, check availability in advance. The Eng Alm offers another culinary specialty: it processes fresh pasture milk into butter and cheese. You can sample both at the rest hut and buy them in the farm shop.

The options differ considerably in length. The short hike to the Binsalm is one option; another is the Karwendel cross-country ski trail, which runs for over 28 kilometers from Hinterriß through the Rißtal to the Engalm. The Karwendel Tour requires a different time commitment: it runs from Hinterriß to Stans and is designed to take four days and three nights. The starting point is the Gasthof zur Post in Hinterriß. This lets you choose your stay to suit the kind of outing you have in mind—from a short hike to a multi-day tour.

Plan Your Journey and Accommodation

Hinterriß is accessible from Bavaria by public transport: take the BRB from Munich to Lenggries; in summer, a mountain bus then runs regularly to and from the Eng. Timetables may change, so check your connection before traveling. By car, you can reach the nature park center via the toll road from Wallgau or via the Sylvenstein reservoir.

When looking for a holiday apartment in Hinterriß, you can start by considering how you’ll get there and what kind of daily schedule you have in mind. Would you like to visit the nature park center, hike to an alpine pasture, or take a multi-day tour?

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Stans, Hochpillberg, Stummerberg, Ramsau in the Zillertal, Maurach, Burgstall, Zell am Ziller, Laimach.

Back to the main travel overview: Schwaz.