Alpine Flower Garden
Location: Kitzbühel
Total length: approx. 13.8 km
Overall walking time: approx. 4 hours
Difficulty level: intermediate
The wonderful Alpine Flower Garden boasts no less than 300 plants and species coming from all over the world. A truly unique botanical highlight! According to a number of experts, the Flower Garden at 1,880m above sea level ranks among the most beautiful ones in the European Alps. It covers a total area of 20,000 m², offering an array of colorful plants coupled with breathtaking panoramic views.
Route Description / Signposts
Hornbahn mountain gondola – Alpine Flower Garden – Alpenhaus mountain lift station or Alpenhaus to Horn peak – Lämmerbühelalm hut – Kneipp pool – Bichlalm hut – back to Kitzbühel on the same route or descent via the old Sonnberg trail
From the top terminal of Horngipfel peak (2000 m), easily accessible with Hornbahn I and Horn-Gipfelbahn mountain gondolas, the trail leads down to the Alpine Flower Garden. You continue to Alpenhaus lift terminal (1670 m, refreshment stop). This route can also be enjoyed the other way round, from Alpenhaus up to Horngipfel peak or Hornköpfl summit (1660 m, Hornbahn I and Hornbahn II mountain gondolas).
The unique Alpine Flower Garden is perfectly signposted and features information boards displaying many interesting facts on the Alpine flora within the entire region. Here you can also find a great variety of rarities from all over the world. Since 1985, Eva and Toni Hofer have been taking care of this wonderful Alpine gem. They traveled around the world and brought rare plants from the Caucasus, the Andes, the Pyrenees and the Himalayas to Kitzbühel. The lovely Alpine Flower Garden is embedded in its natural surrounding landscape, between rock formations and sod areas. In addition, the Hofer family installed two artificial ponds in cooperation with Prof. Dr. Herbert Reisigl, an expert of the Botanical Institute in Innsbruck. He is also responsible for the garden's flower archives. Don't miss out on a visit to this outstanding scientific highlight open from spring through fall. Admission is free!
After a scenic uphill ride to the peak and an inspiring hike across the colorful Alpine Flower Garden towards the Hornköpfl summit, visitors will be enchanted by the awesome panoramic view of the Kitzbühel Alps. The trail continues almost without change in altitude via Lämmerbühelalm mountain hut (refreshment stop) to Bichlalm hut (refreshment stop). Besides the wonderful Alpine fauna you can also take advantage of the adjacent Kneipp pool filled with refreshing mountain waters.
From Bichlalm you can hike along the Alpine Flower Trail and return on the same route or you choose the old Sonnberg Trail leading past the famous Sonnbergstub’n (refreshment stop) – owned by Rosi, the singing landlady – down to Kitzbühel.
Info Box – Single Stages
- From Hornbahn mountain gondola to Alpine Flower Garden and Alpenhaus: 1.7 km, 300m altitude gain, 40-60 minutes
- From Horngipfel peak via Alpine Flower Garden, Hornköpfl summit, Lämmerbühelalm hut, Kneipp pool to Bichlalm: 6.3 km, 450m altitude gain, 2.5 hours
- From Alpenhaus to Bichlalm: 4.9 km, 200m altitude gain,1.75 hours
Info Box – Flowering Times
The Alpine Flower Garden has a lot to offer throughout the seasons. Take a glance at the more detailed calendar of flowering times.
Spring: spring crocus, alpine snow bell, daphne, clusius gentian, auricula, white alpine crowfoot, bladder campion, alpine anemone, narcissus-flowered anemone.
Summer: alpine aster, arnica, bearded bell flower, whorled lousewort, hairy alpine rose, yellow gentian, Turk's cap lily, black vanilla orchid, sea purslane.
Fall: shaggy hawkweed, corbett red, chiltern gentian, brown-violet gentian, wooly thistle, blue aconite, alpine sea holly, blue delphinium, stemless carline thistle.
Info Box – Escorted Tours and Guides
Guided tours for free! Uphill ride to Alpine Flower Garden with the Kitzbühel Hornbahn mountain gondolas from May through September. Entrance to Alpine Flower Garden, accessible with Hornbahn I mountain gondola and Horn-Gipfelbahn gondola.
Those yearning for more information are strongly recommended to purchase the "Alpine Flower Garden at Kitzbüheler Horn" guide which is available at all lift stations of Bergbahn AG Kitzbühel and Kitzbühel Tourismus for Euro 3.00 (also in English).
Contact
Alpine Flower Garden
Kitzbüheler HornKitzbühel
Phone: +43 5356 62857
E-Mail: info@bergbahn-kitzbuehel.at
Web: http://www.bergbahn-kitzbuehel.at
Opening times
-Free of charge
