The best family hikes & adventures near Innsbruck
Our personal selection of family adventures near Medal House
— tested, loved, and officially approved by our son.
Staying at Medal House means being surrounded by some of the most beautiful family-friendly destinations in Tyrol. Whether your children love animals, waterfalls, slides, playgrounds, or mountain adventures, there are plenty of excursions that can easily be reached within 30 minutes.
Here are four of our favorite family adventures near Innsbruck.
| Destination | Age | Drive | Highlight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natterer Boden | 2–8 | 10 min | Animals & ponies |
| Muttereralm | 3–12 | 20 min | Water playground |
| Schlick 2000 | 4–14 | 30 min | Slides & tree houses |
| Gramartboden | 3–12 | 25 min | Waterfall & forest |
Muttereralm – A Mountain Full of Family Adventures
Distance: 2–4 km (depending on the chosen activities)
Walking time: 1–3 hours
Elevation gain: minimal when using the cable car
Distance from Medal House: 12 km (approximately 20 minutes by car)
Muttereralm is one of our favorite family destinations near Innsbruck. After a short ride with the cable car, families can enjoy several attractions that make it easy to spend an entire day in the mountains.
Zauberwasser
The highlight for many young visitors is the interactive water playground where children can build dams, play with water channels, and cool down on warm summer days.
The natural setting and flowing mountain water make it an unforgettable experience, especially during summer. Most children spend much more time here than parents initially expect.
Our Tip: Bring spare clothes and water shoes.
Easy Walking Trails
Several easy walking paths lead through the area and are perfectly suitable for small children. The trails offer magnificent views of the Inn Valley while remaining manageable even for little hikers.
Open meadows, forest sections, and beautiful viewpoints make the walks enjoyable for the whole family.
Götzner Alm
Families looking for a slightly longer adventure can take the easy walk to Götzner Alm, which takes approximately 30 minutes from the mountain station.
The trail is suitable for children and leads to one of the most popular mountain huts in the region. The hut is famous for traditional Tyrolean cuisine and homemade specialties.
A playground allows children to continue playing while parents enjoy lunch and the mountain scenery.
Mountain Carts
Older children and teenagers may enjoy another exciting attraction: the mountain carts.
These specially designed downhill carts offer a fun ride back down the mountain on dedicated trails. Children aged 10 years and older with a minimum height of 150 cm can use the carts.
For older kids, this often becomes the highlight of the entire day.
Our Family Tip: Plan enough time to enjoy several activities. Many families combine Zauberwasser, a walk to Götzner Alm, lunch at the hut, and some playtime before returning to the valley.
Good to Know: The cable car eliminates most of the elevation gain, making Muttereralm suitable even for families with very young children, while the mountain carts provide additional adventure for older kids and teenagers.
Natterer Boden – Animals, Pony Rides and Forest Adventures
Distance: approximately 2 km
Walking time: around 1 hour
Elevation gain: approximately 50 m
Location: 6 km (approximately 10 minutes by car)
Natterer Boden is one of our favorite family destinations near Innsbruck. The easy forest trails and open meadows make it perfect for small children, while several attractions along the way keep even the youngest hikers motivated.
The highlight for many children is the small petting zoo, where they can meet goats, rabbits, and other farm animals. Pony rentals are available, allowing children to enjoy a unique ride through the surrounding meadows and forests. Exploring nature on horseback is often the absolute highlight of the excursion.
The area also offers beautiful forest paths, open meadows, and plenty of opportunities for a picnic or a short break. There is also a playground where children can continue playing after the walk.
After your adventure, the restaurant at Natterer Boden is the perfect place to enjoy refreshments while relaxing on the terrace.
Our Family Tip: Allow enough time for the pony rides. The ponies often stop along the way to enjoy some fresh grass, which usually makes the ride even more entertaining for children.
Hidden Tip: During the summer months, the surrounding forests are full of wild blueberries. Children love searching for them during the walk.
Good to Know: The routes are relatively short and flexible, allowing families to adjust the distance according to the age and energy level of their children.
Schlick 2000 – Slides, Tree Houses and Mountain Adventures
Distance: 2–5 km (depending on the chosen route)
Walking time: 1–3 hours
Elevation gain: minimal when using the cable car
Distance from Medal House: 25 km (approximately 30 minutes by car)
Schlick 2000 in the Stubai Valley is one of the most exciting mountain destinations for families near Innsbruck. After taking the cable car from Fulpmes, several themed adventure trails await young explorers.
Rutschenweg (The Slide Trail)
The Rutschenweg is undoubtedly the highlight for many children. Along the trail, several large stainless-steel slides are integrated into the route, allowing children to alternate between walking and sliding their way down the mountain.
Each slide offers a different experience, making the journey itself the main attraction.
Our Tip: Do not forget to pick up the special slide mat at the valley station when purchasing your cable car tickets. The mats make the slides faster, more comfortable, and much more fun.
Good to Know: For the Rutschenweg, you need to take the cable car to the top station. Bring sturdy trousers, as children often want to use the slides multiple times.
Baumhausweg (Tree House Trail)
The Baumhausweg leads families through the forest, where several beautifully designed tree houses invite children to climb, explore, and play.
The route combines nature, adventure, and imagination, making it particularly popular with younger children.
Our Tip: If you only plan to walk the Baumhausweg, a ticket to the middle station is sufficient. This makes the excursion slightly shorter and more affordable.
Family-Friendly Walking Trails
The entire Schlick 2000 area offers easy hiking paths with magnificent views of the Stubai mountains. The routes can easily be adapted according to the age and energy level of the children.
Several mountain huts along the trails offer refreshments and traditional Tyrolean food.
Our Family Tip: Allow enough time for the attractions. Children usually want to spend much more time at the slides and tree houses than parents initially expect.
Hidden Tip: Ask for the stamp pass at the valley station. Children can collect stamps at the tree houses and receive a small surprise at the finish.
We highly recommend stopping for lunch after the hike. The relaxing atmosphere and mountain scenery make it the perfect ending to a family adventure.
Good to Know: The cable car eliminates most of the elevation gain, making Schlick 2000 suitable even for younger children.
Gramartboden – Waterfalls and Forest Adventures Above Innsbruck
Distance: approximately 4 km (round trip)
Walking time: 1.5–2 hours
Elevation gain: approximately 150 m
Distance from Medal House: 18 km (approximately 25 minutes by car)
Gramartboden is one of the hidden family gems above Innsbruck. Located on the northern side of the city, this easy forest hike combines mountain scenery, waterfalls, playgrounds, and a traditional mountain restaurant.
Families can conveniently drive directly to the Gramartboden meadow, where parking is available. The large meadow and playground make it an excellent destination even for younger children.
Höttinger Graben Waterfall
One of the highlights of the hike is the beautiful waterfall in the Höttinger Graben. The sound of the water, the small bridges, and the shaded forest make this section particularly exciting for children.
During warmer days, children often enjoy taking a short break near the water and exploring the stream.
Höttinger Bild
The small pilgrimage chapel offers a beautiful resting place surrounded by forest and mountain scenery. The area is quiet and peaceful and provides an ideal spot for a short picnic.
Forest Playgrounds
One of the reasons we particularly enjoy this hike with children is the presence of two forest playgrounds along the route.
These natural playgrounds provide excellent opportunities for climbing, balancing, and playing in the woods.
Gramartboden Meadow and Playground
The large meadow is perfect for children to run, play, and relax after the hike. The playground next to the restaurant offers additional entertainment, making Gramartboden a great destination even for families with very young children.
Gramartboden Restaurant
After the hike, the traditional restaurant is the perfect place to enjoy Tyrolean cuisine and refreshments.
The large outdoor terrace and the nearby playground allow parents to relax while children continue playing.
Our Family Tip: We often use Gramartboden as our own “family hiking test.” The route is long enough to challenge children a little, but short enough that everyone can still enjoy the day. It is a wonderful way to discover how much walking, climbing, and exploring your children currently enjoy before planning longer mountain adventures.
Hidden Tip: After heavy rainfall or during spring snowmelt, the waterfall becomes particularly impressive. During autumn, the colorful forest creates a beautiful atmosphere for family walks.
Good to Know: Families with very young children can simply enjoy the playground and meadow without completing the entire hike. The flexible route options allow every family to adjust the walk according to their children’s age, energy level, and hiking experience.