Hinterriß is the only permanently inhabited settlement in the Karwendel and remains inhabited all year round. The village offers a range of things to explore during your stay: early history and hunting history, information about nature and geology, and excursions of varying lengths. Options range from a short, easy hike to the Binsalm to the four-day Karwendel Tour to Stans.
Early history and the history of the Karwendel
A Bronze Age sword found in Hinterriß shows that people were already in the area in prehistoric times. A Stone Age trade route for flint also ran through the Riß Valley: over the Plumsjoch to Lake Achensee and the Inn Valley, then south across the Alps.
From 1860, Duke Ernst II of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha used his hunting lodge in Hinterriß to hunt throughout the Karwendel region. Taken together, these traces span prehistoric settlement and trade through to hunting in the 19th century.
The Hinterriß Nature Park House focuses on nature and history, hunting, and the people of the Karwendel. In summer, it is open from 1 May to the end of October, Wednesday to Monday, from 09:00 to 17:00; it is closed on Tuesdays. Check opening hours before your trip.
Geology and special places
The “Golden Nail” themed trail, created in 2012, is located behind the Nature Park House and provides information about the geological significance of the Karwendel. The labyrinth in Hinterriß is of 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, mountain pasture and regional products
A short, easy hike leads from Eng in Hinterriß to the Binsalm. There you’ll find traditional local cuisine and accommodation; availability is seasonal. At Eng Alm, fresh-from-the-pasture milk is made into butter and cheese. You can sample both at the rest hut and buy them in the farm shop.
A nature tour that can be booked individually leads across the Großer Ahornboden to Enger Grund. For cross-country skiing, the Karwendel trail runs for 28 kilometers through the Riß Valley to Engalm. The options are quite distinct: a short hike to the mountain pasture, a privately bookable guided tour, or a long cross-country ski trail through the valley.
If you’re planning a route over several days, the Karwendel Tour runs from Hinterriß to Stans. It is designed for four days and three nights, starting at the Gasthof zur Post in Hinterriß. This duration makes it a very different option from a single hike or guided tour.
Getting to Hinterriß
Hinterriß is accessible from Bavaria by public transport: take the BRB from Munich to Lenggries, then catch the regular summer hiking bus toward Eng and back. Timetables may change, so check the connection for your travel dates. By car, you can reach the Hinterriß Nature Park House via the toll road from Wallgau or via the Sylvenstein reservoir.
Discover more destinations
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Back to the higher-level travel overview: Schwaz.
