The Muttereralm is one of our favourite destinations for a mountain excursion close to Innsbruck. It is a magical place for families with kids of all ages. We’ve been going there since Mattheus was two and the number of attractions for children gets bigger every year. Once you step off the Muttereralm cable car, the mountain is your play park. A giant sand pit, hanging tree houses, a man-made lake and mountain carts are just some of the attractions to lure families (and fun-loving adults!) to the Muttereralmpark.
Adventure Playground for Kids of All Ages
Water, sand and buckets. What more does a toddler need to keep him occupied for hours? On your way to the giant sandpit (to the right when you get off the cable car) you will pass a watercourse with wooden canals, pools and water wheels. On a sweltering hot day, this is a good place to have a picnic under the trees.
The sandpit has a wooden jungle gym incorporating buckets, chains and conveyor belts to transport sand in. Take your own digging equipment to avoid tears or playground fights!
Just above the watercourse and sandpit, on your way to the man-made lake, is another adventure playground under the trees which also caters for older kids. The latest additions, a variety of motor skills activities, are sure-fire boredom killers. From swinging hammocks to balancing beams will entice even the most disinterested kid to get involved. They can also walk on hanging walkways to tree houses and viewing platforms.
Note: The string “fence” to keep cows out, IS electrified. My cousin’s poor dog found this out the hard way.
Picture-Perfect Alpine Lake
For magnificent views of the Inn Valley and surrounding mountains, you will have to walk a little further to the man-made Alpine lake (no longer than 10 minutes, though). You can’t see it from the cable car station or the playgrounds, which makes the surprise once you conquered the little hill to get there even more pleasant. A bonus is when the surrounding mountains, blue skies and clouds reflect in the lake on a quiet, sunny day.
Mattheus and his cousins are always looking for stones to see how many times they can make them bounce on the water. This is where we normally have lunch at one of the picnic tables overlooking the valley. There isn’t much shade, but the views are totally worth a little sunburn.
Muttereralm Restaurant
Our next stop is normally the Muttereralm restaurant for an ice-cream for the kids and a cold beer or Radler for the parents. There is a big seating area outside, with a small playground in case the kids haven’t spent all their energy yet. If you didn’t pack your own lunch, you will find an extensive menu with local and seasonal specialties.
Mountain Carts
Instead of taking the cable car down, why don’t you drive a mountain cart back to the valley station? Trust me, it’s a lot more fun. The 5 km track is a bit bumpy at places, but it’s perfectly safe if you’re not trying to be a Formula One racing car driver. Small kids can sit on a parent’s lap or in a rucksack-carry position. Children under 16 are only allowed to ride in the company of an adult.
Rates
€13 per adult (excluding the €13,50 to get up the mountain with the cable car)
€ 10 for young people under 18
Tip: Go before 11:00 and only pay €7 (or €5 for young people).
Other Activities
Hiking
We haven’t done a longer hike to or from the Muttereralm (1608 metres), but it is a popular hiking destination among families and older people. The reason is that most hikes from here are relatively easy. The Götzneralm (1542 metres), for example, can also be reached with a push chair or wheelchair. Other alms (mountain huts offering refreshments) within reach of the Muttereralm include the Kreitheralm (1492 metres), the Alpengasthof Adelshof (1315 metres) and the Birgitzer Alm (1808 metres).
Mountain Biking
Again, not something we’ve tried, but the Muttereralm is also the starting point of several mountain bike tours with varying degrees of difficulty. The downhill trails are said to be very popular. A fee is charged for the bike park. It is also possible to rent bikes on site. Find the prices here.
General Information
Operating Period and Times
Daily from 09:00 to 17:00 between 7 July 2017 and 10 September 2017 (Wednesdays until 20:00)
Check the website for other opening times in June, September and October.
Prices
Return trip on cable car – €16,50 for adults and €7,50 for children
Discounts also apply for senior citizens and youth. Find the detailed list of prices here.
Note: The Muttereralm cable cars are included in the Innsbruck Card and the Freizeitticket Tirol. Holders of the Innsbruck Card also qualify for a discount on the mountain carts.
Getting There
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By car – Take the A13 Brenner highway from Innsbruck and exit at Innsbruck Süd. Follow the signs to Mutters and then to the Muttereralm Bergbahnen until you reach the valley station of the cable car. There is ample free parking.
By public transport – Take the Regionalbahn STB (Stubai Valley tram) from the Innsbruck Main Station and get off at Mutters Nockhofweg/Muttereralm Bahn. The scenic journey lasts about 35 minutes. However, you still have a 20-minute uphill walk to the cable car station when you get off the tram. The tram ticket costs €2,90. Look for connections here.
- Looking for a similar experience elsewhere? Why don’t you also read about the 4 things to discover around the Ötzidorf or how to spend an adventurous few hours on Innsbruck’s Bergisel?
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