This is the trail description for Stage 1 of our Emperorโs Crown (Kaiserkrone) Trek in the Wilder Kaiser Mountains of Tirol, Austria.
For a full overview of this multi-day hike, please read our Emperorโs Crown Hiking Guide.
More stages:
Stage 2 | Stripsenjochhaus – Gasteig
Stage 3 | Gasteig – Gruttenhรผtte
Stage 4 | Gruttenhรผtte – Kufstein – more info about this stage in our Emperor’s Crown Hiking Guide.

- Starting Point: Kufstein Kaiserlift
- Ending Point: Stripsenjochhaus
- Distance: 12.3 km point-to-point
- Time Needed: 5:30 hours
- Elevation Gain: 968 meters
- Elevation Loss: 647 meters
- Difficulty: Easy – Moderate
- Minimum Elevation: 832 meters
- Maximum Elevation: 1576 meters
- When to Hike: June โ mid-October
- Weather Forecast and Webcam: Bergfex Weather Wilder Kaiser
- Route: Kufstein (499 m) – Kaiserlift mountain station (1272 m) – Brentenjochalm – Kaindlhรผtte (1293 m) – Anton-Karg-Haus (829 m) – Hans Berger Haus (936 m) – Stripsenjochhaus (1580 m)
- Lunch Options: Kaindlhรผtte, Obere Steinbergalm (closed Tuesdays), Anton-Karg Haus, or Hans Berger Haus
- Where to Stay: Stripsenjochhaus
- Trail Map: Kompass Kaisergebirge 9, 1:50 000
- Vocab:ย German Hiking Vocabulary
Emperor’s Crown Map: Stage 1
Emperor’s Crown Kufstein Trailhead
Traditionally, the Emperor’s Crown (Kaiserkrone) Trek begins in Hรผttling, Going. However, we started in Kufstein instead, because it’s easier to reach by public transit.
To start this hike, first head to the Kaiserlift valley station in Kufstein. Itโs a 2.1 km walk from the Kufstein train station to the Kaiserlift.
Exit the Kufstein train station (“Bahnhof”) and walk over the bridge into the Old Town (“Altstadt”) of Kufstein.
When you cross the Inn River, youโll see the impressive Kufstein Fortress on your right. Continue walking up through the market square.
There are very few signs directing pedestrians to the Kaiserlift. We recommend using Google Maps, or Maps.me to navigate to the valley station. We took this route.
Kaiserlift Chairlift
The Kaiserlift comprises two chairlifts. Each chairlift ride is about 12 minutes long. Purchase a return ticket (ascent & descent) to the Brentenjoch top station (Section I & II).
Operating Times | 8:30 am – 4:30 pm
Last entry for ascent | 4:15 pm
Last descent | 4:30 pm
Purchase your ticket at the ticket machine, directly at the valley station. You can pay using credit cards, or cash.
Thereโs also a ticket office, but itโs only open Mondays – Thursdays (8:30 am – 1:30 pm) and Saturdays, Sundays, and Holidays (8:30 am – 4:30 pm).
Your descending (return) ticket is valid all summer.
Parking | Thereโs a parking lot at the valley station (โPrivatparkplatz Kaiserlift Kufsteinโ). Day tickets cost 3,50 EUR for cars (6 am – 9 pm).
If youโre parking your car here overnight, pay the total amount for the duration of your stay. So, insert 7 EUR for 2 days, or 10,50 EUR for 3 days, etcโฆ into the parking machine.
Note: you can only pay using EUR coins.
There may be a limitation on how many EURs the parking machine will accept.
If your parking days exceed the amount of days (EURs) the machine accepts, you can print another ticket.
Kufstein to Stripsenjochhaus Trail Description
Kaiserlift Mountain Station – Kaindlhรผtte (1 hour)



Thereโs a gorgeous lookout point, Jahnhรผgel, at the Kaiserlift mountain station. The small hill affords expansive views of rolling green pastures and pockets of forest at the foot of the Wilder Kaiser Massif.
From the mountain station, follow signs to Kaindlhรผtte. The descending path leads to the Brentenjochalm alpine pasture hut. Their homemade cake is excellent.
At Brentenjocham, the path divides. Head right, following the Steinberg Almweg in the direction of Kaindlhรผtte.
Continue descending along the wide gravel road for about 15 minutes until you reach a trail intersection. Turn right to Kaindlhรผtte.
Soon after, youโll arrive at a bridge (where there are no signs). Cross this bridge and ascend to a sloping mountain pasture.
The trail continues uphill across the pasture, between two buildings: Steinberghรผtte (not managed) and Bergwacht. When you reach the pasture fence, unhook it (and re-hook it), and follow the road to Kaindlhรผtte (10 minutes).
Kaindlhรผtte is a private mountain hut, situated on the Steinbergalm mountain pasture, at the foot of Scheffauer peak. The food here is excellent. They also have Wifi, if you need to update your weather app.
Kaindlhรผtte to Anton-Karg-Haus (2:30 hours)



From Kaindlhรผtte, pass the tiny chapel (“Kapelle Steinberg”) and continue left in the direction of the managed Obere Steinbergalm (20 minutes), Anton-Karg-Haus (2:15 hours), and Hans-Berger Haus (2:30 hours).
The Obere Steinbergalm is a managed alpine pasture hut, offering food & drinks. They are open daily, except on Tuesdays.
Youโll follow this gravel road across mountain pastures to the Bettlersteigsattel, where thereโs a large info board and a pasture gate. This marks the beginning of the โBettlersteigโ trail (827).
For the next 1:50 hrs, youโll descend 528 meters along the Bettlersteig to Anton-Karg-Haus.
The narrow trail drops below the forest line, tightly twisting towards the Talofenschlucht gorge. On good weather days, youโll see the north face of the Hackenkรถpfe mountains. At times, the path is bolstered with wooden steps, fixed cables, and metal planks.
Youโll cross at least 7 tiny streams on your way to Anton-Karg-Haus, an Austrian Alpine Club hut located in the Kaisertal Valley.
Anton-Karg-Haus is situated next to the Kaiserbach stream in a place called Hinterbรคrenbad. They serve food and drinks throughout the day and accommodate overnight guests.
Hinterbรคrenbad means โBehind Bearโs Bath.โ Allegedly, brown bears used to bathe, or look for food, in this very spot by the Kaiser steam.
In the 19th century, bears were hunted into extinction by the Alpine inhabitants who feared for their cattle.
The trail (801) continues uphill through a beautiful woodland trail for another 15 minutes to Hans Berger Haus, another mountain hut in the Kaisertal Valley.
Both huts have impressive views of the Kaiser mountains.
Hans Berger Haus to Stripsenjochhaus (1:40 – 2 hours)



The trail ascends steadily, mostly through forest to Stripsenjochhaus.
The elevation difference is 748 meters.
Though continuously uphill, this trail is easy-moderate.
Stripsenjochhaus to Stripsenkopf (30-40 minutes one-way)

At some point during your stay at Stripsenjochhaus, hike up to Stripsenkopf peak.
The views of the northern face of the Wilder Kaiser massif are to die for.
Stay in Stripsenjochhaus (1580 m)

Stripsenjochhaus is an Austrian Alpine Club hut located at the scenic Stripsenjoch saddle, between the Stripsenkopf (1807 m) and Totenkirchl (2190 m) peaks. The hut overlooks Kaiserbachtal valley.
We loved everything about our stay: the location, the management, the organization, the attentiveness of the dining staff, the quality of the food, and the double bedrooms.
This is one of the best mountain huts in Austria (weโve stayed in many).
Reservation | Online-Reservation via hut-reservation.com
Pricing | Price List
Showers | Yes. Showers are token operated. 1 token costs 3 EUR for a 4-minute warm shower.
Drinking Water | Yes. There’s a water fountain/sink downstairs in the hallway, outside of the dry room.
Electronic Charging Stations | In rooms and in the dining room.
Payment | Cash only
Food | Excellent. The portions are very generous.
Half Board or ร la carte | Both available. For the half board dinner, you can select any of the main dishes from the main menu. In addition, you’ll get a soup, salad, and dessert. You can order dinner until 7 pm.
Rooms | Double rooms, shared rooms, and Lager (dormitory).
Check-in | You can check-in, starting at 2 pm. When you check-in, you’ll be asked to choose what you want for breakfast. After paying, you’ll be given laminated food cards for dinner and breakfast.
Check-out | You have to leave your room by 9 am.
More Hut to Hut Hiking Trails in Austria
Treks:
- Trekking Austria: Best Treks and Long Distance Trails
- Karwendel High Trail
- Montafon Hut to Hut Circuit
- Eagle Walk
- Berlin High Trail
- Rรคtikon Alps High Trail Circuit
- Schladminger Tauern High Trail
- Venediger High Trail
Tips:
Greetings! I love your descriptions of these Bergtours. Quick question: for those starting in and returning to Kuftstein, where would you recommend leaving one’s extra luggage? I’ll be flying in to Innsbruck before moving on to Kuftstein, and don’t want to bring all of my stuff with me.
Hi Christoph,
We usually leave our extra luggage in the hotel that we stayed in before commencing the trek. Some train stations have storage lockers as well. I would reach out to the Kufstein tourist office for their recommendations as well.
Kindly,
Sabrina