What would Kitzbühel be without the Hahnenkamm run, better known as the Streif? We want to hike down the most famous and at the same time most difficult and dangerous ski run in the world.

Tour facts::

Start: KitzSki Hahnenkammbahn (Hahnenkammstraße 1, 6370 Kitzbühel)
Cost of the Hahnenkammbahn: ascent € 22.5. Here are the current prices and operating times.
Walking time: 2.5 hours
Difficulty: medium
Total length of the route: approx. 3.8 km
Elevation gain: downhill 900 m
Season: recommended June to mid-October

Hahnenkammbahn

We buy a ticket for the Hahnenkamm cable car for € 22.50, of course only for the ascent, after all, we wanted to hike down the Streif.

Nobody is standing in line, so we immediately get into the Marcel Hirscher gondola- we start at 9:12 a.m. You can enjoy a wonderful view and even see a ski jump from above. Almost 15 minutes later we arrive at the mountain station.

The hike:

The starting house

Naturally, our hike begins at the start house. From here it’s 3,312m to the finish line. The start house offers an incredible view of the surrounding mountains and Kitzbühel. Even the starting slope is impressive, you don’t even want to go down here on foot, let alone ski in full swing.

We’d rather go the less steep hiking trail and get to the Hocheckhütte in just 2 minutes. From here you continue in the direction of the Mausefalle, one of the most famous points on the Streif or in the ski circus in general.

First it goes through a pasture gate and up to a rather dilapidated viewing platform.

Die Mausefalle (the mousetrap)

A few meters further on is the famous Mausefalle. My first thought is “Yes, they are insane!” It doesn’t look so wild on TV. But when you stand here yourself, it is simply unbelievable that someone has the courage to pound down at top speed. I wouldn’t stand a chance getting down here alive on skies. No wonder, the gradient is 85%!

We continue down the serpentine path. To stay on the racetrack, you have to leave the main path after a few minutes and turn right. Don’t worry, the path is well signposted. You always go towards the lake.

Steilhang (Steep slope)

Before I thought it would be steep, but only when we get to the steep slope do we know why it bears this name! We have to keep walking in serpentine lines, as the steep slope would simply not be feasible on foot (and nature is also spared in summer). In winter this passage is the iciest place.

das Gschöss

We come to the slide of the racetrack, which is still fast enough for us. The racers still have a whopping 90km/h (55mp/h) on it. However, we have the time to enjoy the surrounding mountains like the Wilder Kaiser.

The alte Schneise (old aisle) follows, the most restless part of the route. Those who want to take a longer break can continue to hike to the Seidlalm lake.

After more than 1 hour we reach the middle part of the race track with the Seidl Alm. If you want, you can stop here.

We go straight on along the narrow path and after a few minutes we come to a beautiful forest which we cross.

Hausberg Kante (Local mountain edge)

After the Lärchenschuss (larch shot) we finally come to the famous Hausberg edge, where you can sit down on a park bench to enjoy the view. It is simply unimaginable that the skiers jump down here at full speed. What already looks impressive on television becomes almost implausible here. The idea is just absurd.

At the end there is still the Zielschuss (finish). Here the racers can reach speeds of up to 140 km/h (nearly 90 mph). However, you don’t go over it, but get onto the street in the direction of Kitzbühel center.