On the trail of Emperor Franz I to the Kaisersäule

Hiking route recommended route

On the trail of Emperor Franz I to the Kaisersäule

Hiking route · Hall-Wattens
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  • Kaisersäule
    Kaisersäule
    Photo: Anne W., Tourismusverband Region Hall-Wattens
The perfect tour to start the hiking season!

No matter how you do it, you will always reach the Kaisersäule: a large stone column from which you have a wonderful view of the Inn Valley and the surrounding mountain ranges - even Emperor Franz I enjoyed this view!

moderate
Distance 12.2 km
4:30 h
917 m
917 m
1,668 m
867 m
The hike to the Kaisersäule from Thaur is uncomplicated and well signposted. Follow the signposted alpine path from the village centre up through the mixed forest. At the beginning it is not too steep, but shortly before the Thaurer Alm it becomes steeper. It is reached at 1461 m above sea level. Now it takes another 30 minutes to reach the Kaisersäule, which is at 1701 metres. All in all, the round trip (there and back) takes about 4 hours, with a good 1000 metres of altitude gain.

 

Author’s recommendation

From early summer until the first heavy snowfall, the tour can be extended over the Haller and Thaurer Zunterköpfe and Hochmahdkopf! For this, however, it is advisable to travel by public transport.
Profile picture of Anne W.
Author
Anne W. 
Update: May 13, 2022
Difficulty
moderate
Technique
Stamina
Experience
Landscape
Highest point
1,668 m
Lowest point
867 m
Best time of year
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Track types

Asphalt 4.47%Forested/wild trail 74.59%Path 20.93%
Asphalt
0.5 km
Forested/wild trail
9.1 km
Path
2.6 km
Show elevation profile

Rest stops

Thaurer Alm

Start

Thaur (867 m)
Coordinates:
DD
47.300533, 11.458494
DMS
47°18'01.9"N 11°27'30.6"E
UTM
32T 685853 5241493
w3w 
///sultans.breathy.snorers

Destination

Thaur

Turn-by-turn directions

The tour begins at the hikers' car park just above Thaur. After just a few minutes you can decide whether to follow the forest road or take the Haslbergsteig trail. The trail crosses the forest road only twice and goes relatively steeply up to the Thaurer Alm, until you also join the forest road shortly before it.

If you follow the forest road, you will reach a beautiful bench after about an hour, where the Gasperlsteig (another ascent option) comes up. Take a short rest and you are already on the steepest part of the trail, which leads to the Thaurer Alm. Only a few mountain bikers overtake the hikers on this stretch shortly before the alp...just before the forest path brings you to your knees, the view opens up over the Inn valley and the Kaisersäule has come a considerable distance closer! 40 minutes and a good 200 metres still separate us from our destination.

The well-deserved stop at the Thaurer Alm is saved for the way back and we continue below avalanche cones above the Thaurer Klamm gorge towards the summit of the Kaisersäule. Here we have beautiful views down into the Thaurer Klamm gorge and many a chamois jumps down the steep flanks, unimaginable for us. There are no signs here, so you have to orientate yourself by the "KS" markings on the trees. At the lower part of the Törl meadows, take the first path on the right and continue up to the Kaisersäule column over beautiful ground. A lookout bench invites you to take a breather before you climb the last steep metres to the Kaisersäule. Again and again accompanied by chamois...

At the top, the view makes you forget the effort of the ascent and the warmth of the stone pyramid on your back invites you to take a break. The view here is almost endless. From the Stubai Glacier, to the towering walls of the Latten and Rumerspitze, down to the Thaurer Alm and across to the Zillertal mountains.

The way back can be made along the same path or you can follow a path behind to the Törl shortly after the Kaisersäule at a prayer cross. Here you have a great view of the walls of the Bettelwurf and over to the Lafatscher Joch.

From the Törl, you can descend to the Thaurer Alm via the alpine meadows and continue down on the forest road to Thaur.

Public transport

Public-transport-friendly

With bus 501 to Thauer. If descending into Halltal, return with bus 502.

By road

Thaur

Parking

Thaur

Coordinates

DD
47.300533, 11.458494
DMS
47°18'01.9"N 11°27'30.6"E
UTM
32T 685853 5241493
w3w 
///sultans.breathy.snorers
Arrival by train, car, foot or bike

Similar routes nearby

  • Auf einen kleinen Aussichtsgipfel neben der Thaurer Alm: Thaurer Rosskopf
  • From the Thaurer Almparkplatz over the Thaurer castle to the Romediwirt
  • Vom Schlosshof auf die Thaurer Alm
  • Über die Zunterköpfe oberhalb von Thaur
  • Egger Hütten Runde
  • Thaurer Alm - Törl - Halltal
  • Romedius Chapel
 These suggestions were generated by our system
Difficulty
moderate
Distance
12.2 km
Duration
4:30 h
Ascent
917 m
Descent
917 m
Highest point
1,668 m
Lowest point
867 m
Public-transport-friendly Scenic Refreshment stops available

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