This hike starts in St. Johann in Tirol, the most populous town in the Kitzbühel district. From the center of town, walk to the farming hamlet of Bärnstetten where traditional Tirolean farmhouses and modern architecture coexist. Continue along a sunny trail past the horse paddock into a less populated area where you find two nice inns: Landcafé Hinterkaiser (where you can cut the hike short and return to the center of St. Johann in Tirol) and, a little later, Rummlerhof with its curling lanes and sundeck. Occasionally views of St. Johann in Tirol open up. However, more striking are the views of the Niederkaiser range and the rugged Kaiser mountains. The trail continues through a quiet forest, which is especially beautiful when it’s covered in snow and frost. At the crossing, it’s a short walk to Gasthof Römerhof or to the picturesque Granderhöfe farmhouses. The central building dates from the gothic period and boasts some interesting frescoes from the 18th century. The hike then continues to the hamlet of Rettenbach, where Rettenbachstüberl is another nice place to take a rest. At Innsbruckerstraße, pick up the footpath along River Reither Ache and follow it back to the center of St. Johann in Tirol. If you head back along Innsbruckerstraße, don’t miss out on a visit to St. Nikolaus Church. The gothic church was built in 1262 and boasts Tirol’s only window with gothic glass paintings, Tirol’s oldest bell from 1262, and beautiful rococo stucco. TIPP: After Bärnstetten, just before Landcafé Hinterkaiser, you can pick up the packed winter trail to Rummlerhof. This is an especially nice hike on a sunny day since the trail follows the sunlit edge of the forest.
