The Tux Alps might not be the tallest mountains in Tyrol, but they have a charm all their own — rolling ridges, quiet valleys and trails that welcome hikers of every level. Sitting right on the doorstep of Innsbruck, they are one of the city's three mountain neighbours and one of the most accessible alpine regions in Austria.

The scenery here is defined by gentle green slopes giving way to rocky summits, broad alpine meadows and a network of deep valleys including the Wattental, Navistal, Schmirntal and Tuxertal. The views across to the higher Zillertal and Stubai Alps add a dramatic backdrop, while the region's geology — a mix of quartz phyllite, serpentinite and ancient ocean-floor rock — gives it a distinctive, raw texture that sets it apart from the limestone ranges nearby.

• Lizumer Reckner (2,886 m) — the highest peak in the group, built from serpentinite and rewarding climbers with wide valley panoramas
• Wattentaler Lizum — a scenic valley with a ski resort and excellent year-round hiking and ski touring routes
• Glungezer — an easily reachable summit offering sweeping views over Innsbruck and the Inn valley below
• Hintertux — a village at the end of the Tuxertal, gateway to the famous Hintertux Glacier

• Base towns: Innsbruck, Wattens, Schwaz, Mayrhofen
• Trail difficulty: mostly easy to moderate — well suited to families and those new to alpine hiking
• Getting there: motorway A12 or A13 to Innsbruck, then local roads into the valleys; regular bus and train connections from Innsbruck city centre

History note: the town of Schwaz, on the north-eastern edge of the Tux Alps, was once one of the largest mining centres in Europe — silver and copper were extracted here on an enormous scale throughout the 15th century.