The Hinterau valley (Rear Meadow Valley, German: ''Hinterautal'') is a valley crossing the
Karwendel
The Karwendel is the largest mountain range of the Northern Limestone Alps. The major part belongs to the Austrian federal state of Tyrol, while the adjacent area in the north is part of Bavaria, Germany. Four chains stretch from west to east; i ...
range from east to west. The
Isar has its official source in the Hinterau valley.
The valley stretches from its western end at
Scharnitz
Scharnitz is a municipality in the district of Innsbruck-Land in the Austrian state of Tyrol located north of Innsbruck and from Seefeld in Tirol on the German border. It is one of the largest municipalities and has 10 parts: Au, Eisack, Gieße ...
to its upper eastern end called
Rossloch over 14 km from west to east. Starting from Scharnitz the mountain ranges of the Northern Karwendel range and the Hinterautal-Vomp chain limit the valley to the north, just interrupted by the Karwendel valley. To the south the Gleisch-Hall chain limits the valley.
From the western side the valley first is deeply cut into by the waters of river Isar, after that part the valley follows more smoothly to the source of river Isar. After that the valley ends at an alpine bowl called Rossloch.
Huts
After the farms of ''Scharnizer Alm'' and ''Wiesenhof'' at the western part of the valley there are no more huts until the ''Kastenalm'' at the eastern part. From here only the ''Halleranger'' hut offers accommodation. All other huts require at least alpine hikes to be reached.
Activities
The valley is closed to public traffic. Due to its length and small average inclination the route to the ''Kastenalm'' is a classic Karwendel mountain-bike tour. From the eastern end many Karwendel peaks can be reached, for example the
Birkkarspitze from the south. Mountaineers often use mountain-bikes for fast access through the valley.
Kayaking is also common at river Isar in the valley.
Gallery
Image:Hinterautal1.jpg, ''Steinmandl'' at the Isar
Image:Hinterautal_Isar.jpg, Canoeing the Isar Hinterau valley
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Valleys of the Alps