Praxmar, Tirol, a hidden gem near Innsbruck.

Feb 19

Q1, 2023

Sometimes, you crave for a quiet, not overcrowded, not touristic place, to stay for a few days in winter. Away from the mass but with all comfort we can’t miss anymore including fast internet to stay connected to the real world. Praxmar in Tirol in Austria is one of these hidden gems: there is no ski lift infrastructure, there are no street names, the houses only have numbers. Nevertheless, it is very accessible by car and has a frequent bus connection, just 30 minutes away from the centre and airport of Innsbruck, the capitol of Tirol.
A stay in this tiny village at an altitude of 1650 meters, securing good snow conditions, opens all kinds of other opportunities for winter activities instead of skiing prepared ski-piste slopes. There are plenty of opportunities for hiking, rodeln, langlaufen, snow shoe hiking, ice climbing, ski touring, observing deer and birds, or reading a good book in the hotel lobby beside the fireplace during a snow dump.

Hiking from Praxmar village to Kögelhütte. Nikon Z7ii, Nikkor 85 mm, 1/200 sec., f 11, ISO 64.

The rodelbahn in Praxmar starts at the Alpengasthof and ends at the tiny cute Kögelhütte. It’s a hike of 1,5 to 2 hours gaining 470 meters, starting at 1650 meters going up to 2120 meters, leading you through the village, crossing the woods at an easy to go wide path, above the tree line to the Kögelhütte. This place is a sublime vantage point offering great views across the valley. Relax on the lee side of this hut, let the sunbeams warm you up, before you start the descend to the valley.

Taking a break to rest and enjoy the landscape. Nikon Z7ii, Nikkor 85mm F1.8., 1/500sec, f 2.5, ISO 64

Sitting at a bench under a tree at a superb vantage point to enjoy the beautiful mountain landscape of a snow covered world. Nikon Z7ii, Nikkor 1/250 sec., f8, ISO 125

The lovely cosy and small Kögelhütte is snow covered during this snow shower lasting already for two days. At this point, you are about at one third of the ski touring route to the Lampenspitze. Nikon Z7ii, Nikkor 14-30mm at 19mm, 1/250, f8, ISO 125

The owner of Alpengasthof Praxmar or a befriended hunter can guide you through the woods of the valley to let you observe birds, deer and roe in fairy tale winter conditions.