Obernberg am Brenner, Austria

This was my first adventure during my visit to Germany.  The hike starts at the historic 1936 winter olympics venue, Olympic-Skistadion stadium.  The preserved stadium adorns the same sculptures and features found during the 1936 winter games.  After taking in the olympic history, follow the sign...

Nestled in the heart of the Dolomites, the Alpe di Siusi (Seiser Alm) is a tapestry of rolling meadows, dramatic limestone peaks, and pure alpine air. Of its many treasures, the Forcella Denti di Terrarossa—a jagged mountain pass flanked by the iconic “Red Teeth” (Denti di Terrarossa)—stands out ...

Starting at the Olympic Ski Jump in Garmisch-Partenkirchen (708 m), walk toward the mountains along Wildenauer Strasse and follow signs to the Partnach Gorge (Partnachklamm). There is a fee of 3 Euros per person to enter the gorge, but it is definitely worth seeing (and hearing.) If you arrive at...

Starting from the parking lot, walk 500m to the trail head. The hike begins with a gravel path that winds up an initial climb and spills out onto a gravel road. The marked trail leads to a hut that serves as the entrance to the gorge. The hut serves light food, drinks, and has free bathrooms avai...

The Krimml Waterfalls are situated in the Hohe Tauern National Park in the Salzburg region of Austria. At 380m high, they are the highest waterfalls not just of Austria, but in all of Europe. In the village of Krimml, near base of the waterfall you'll find a number of parking areas and the Wasser...

If you want to add a via ferrata on to your itinerary for the Dolomites, then the Pisciadù Via Ferrata (also known as Brigata Tridentina Klettersteig) is one of the best. A Dolomites classic! This VF is easily accessible from the village of Colfosco, on the Passo Gardena mountain pass, with a sma...

Tucked in a mostly German-speaking region near the Austrian border, this glacial lake is famous for its crystal-clear water that shifts between shades of blue, green, turquoise, and emerald depending on the light. Often compared to Lake Louise in Alberta, Canada, it's an absolute must if you're e...

The Alta Via 1 is the definite trail through the Italian Dolomites, showcasing some of the most scenic terrain in all of the Alps. It begins at Lago di Braies and ends in the town Belluno, covering 150 kilometers and over 26,000' of elevation gain.Unlike backpacking or fastpacking in the United S...

If you're planning a trip to the Dolomites, you simply must plan a hut-to-hut hike.Last year I did a number of multi-day hikes from hut to hut, and this one definitely has to be one of the most dramatic.I've already shared the first day of the adventure in this post, so today I'm going to share t...

Cita dei Sassi is a great sport climbing and bouldering area on the Sella Pass, not far from Val Gardena in the Dolomites, with a number of boulders and short, bolted sport routes all a short walk from the car park. To access the area, drive over the Sella Pass until you reach the parking areas f...

The Heimgarten/Herzogstand trail is a famous one and there's a reason why: a great hike with outstanding views! Its close vicinity to the Kochelsee and Walchensee only make it even more attractive, since you can cool off with a swim in one of the lakes if you're done hiking and enjoying the views...

One of the most scenic lakes in the Dolomites, this spot can be found right along the road as you drive by from Lake Garda toward Lago Di Brais.  One of the richest and deepest blues in a glacial lake in the Dolomites. Definitely worth your time to stretch your legs and hike around this amazing s...

Lago Limides is a small alpine lake on the Falzarego Pass in the Italian Dolomites, not far from Cortina d'Ampezzo. For this hike, we parked at the Falzarego Lagazuoi cable car station, and followed the trail on the opposite side of the road. The trail is a narrow dirt trail, but it's easy to fo...

Hike to this amazing 376 foot high suspension bridge that spans 1329 feet across the a valley in the beautiful mountainous Tyrol region of the Austrian Alps. The bridge spans the B179 highway, connecting the old Roman Fort Claudia and the 700 year old Ehrenberg castle. This hike is breath taking ...

This summer we discovered the Cinque Torri near Cortina d'Ampezzo in the Dolomites, and I think it may be my new favourite place to climb. In the summertime there are a few ways to reach the Cinque Torri. If you're only coming for the day, one of the easiest ways is to park on the Passo Falzarego...

The hike from Passo San Pellegrino to Rifugio Mulaz is stage seven of the incredible Alta Via 2 multi-day hut-to-hut trek in the Dolomites, which starts in Brixen/Bressanone and ends in Croce d’Aune north of Venice. This challenging but stunning hike is full of incredible scenery, where lush gree...