The Penken rises to 2095 metres in the Tux Alps and offers a rare double life: a major ski hub in winter and a peaceful hiking area in summer. It sits about five kilometres west of Mayrhofen, on the western slope of the Zillertal valley.

The character of the Penken shifts dramatically with the seasons. In winter it forms the core of the Zillertal 3000 ski area, its slopes (except for the gently sloping west side) crisscrossed by numerous lift installations. In summer the same terrain turns into a network of marked hiking trails winding through alpine pastures, with sweeping views across the Zillertal valley and the surrounding Tux Alps. The upper station of the Penkenbahn cable car, running year-round, is the starting point for many of these routes.

How to reach the summit

• Mayrhofen — take the Penkenbahn cable car up to the top station (approx. 1800 m a.s.l.), then continue on foot to the summit; easy to moderate difficulty
• Finkenberg — the Finkenberger Almbahn cable car runs from the floor of the Tux valley up to the summit area

Good to know

• The summit is home to the Granatkapelle chapel, designed by architect Mario Botta and built in 2013
• The Penkenbahn cable car operates all year round, making the summit area accessible without a long approach hike
• In winter, the mountain is fully developed for skiing as part of the Zillertal 3000 area

Skiing on the Penken dates back to 1954, when the first cable car was built — since then the mountain has become one of the symbols of winter tourism in the Zillertal.