The Hochgebirgs-Naturpark Zillertaler Alpen is a true high-mountain wilderness in the heart of Tyrol - over 422 km² of peaks, glaciers and valleys where nature still calls the shots. Together with Hohe Tauern National Park, it forms one of the largest connected protected areas in the Alps.

The park stretches from the Reichenbachspitze in the east to the Olperer in the west, covering ten side valleys and a huge range of elevation - from around 1,000 m near Ginzling up to 3,509 m at the Hochfeiler summit. Glaciers carved this landscape, leaving broad trough valleys alongside wild gorges, such as the 60-metre-deep Glocke ravine near Finkenberg with its rich botanical diversity. Around 80 glaciers remain in the park, though they are retreating fast - the Hornkees glacier lost 104 metres in length in 2019/2020 alone, the sharpest glacier retreat recorded anywhere in Austria. In summer the valleys draw hikers and climbers, while winter blankets the high peaks in deep snow and silence.

Getting there

• Ginzling (Naturparkhaus) — starting point, reached via the Zillertal valley road, moderate access, difficulty: easy to moderate
• Berliner Höhenweg and Peter-Habeler-Runde — multi-day high-altitude routes above 3,000 m, mountain experience required, difficulty: demanding

Good to know

• The Zemmtal and Zillergrund valleys are excluded from the park due to hydroelectric reservoirs
• The Naturparkhaus in Ginzling serves as the park's visitor centre
• Rich flora including orchids and traditional mountain hay meadows in the Brandberg municipality

What makes this park remarkable is the sheer range of altitude within one protected area - from lush valley meadows to permanent snow and ice atop the Hochfeiler.