Sankt Jodock Am Brenner: Nature, Hiking and Climbing

Sankt Jodock Am Brenner is a starting point for visits to the Valsertal nature reserve. St. Jodok also connects the Schmirntal and Valsertal; both valleys branch off from there. If you are planning a stay, you can choose your accommodation based on your daily destinations—for example, hikes, climbing options, or visits to cultural sites.

Valsertal and mountaineering villages

The Valsertal has been a nature reserve since 1942 and a Natura 2000 site since 2001. The protected area extends to the Tuxer Hauptkamm; St. Jodok am Brenner is the starting point for visits. This link between the village and the protected area gives the landscape an important place in travel planning.

Since 2012, St. Jodok, Schmirn, and the Valsertal have been part of the Mountaineering Villages initiative. The three names represent the regional context in which the valleys and activities described here can be understood. For your planning, it makes sense to consider the destinations individually and decide which ones you would like to combine during your stay.

Hikes and climbing destinations

The mountain hike to Padauner Kogel is not technically demanding. From the summit, the panoramic views extend to the Olperer, the Brenner, the Stubai Alps, and as far as Innsbruck in the distance. The Padauner Kogel route starts and ends at St. Jodok railway station. This makes the station a clear point of reference for the route; when planning a hike, it is worth considering which tour you specifically want to take.

Stafflacher Wand offers two different climbing options. The Peter Kofler via ferrata is located in St. Jodok and has a difficulty rating of B–C. Stafflacher Wand Links climbing garden near St. Jodok has 40 routes with difficulty ratings from 1+ to 7+. The climbing area at Stafflacher Wand is a 15-minute walk from St. Jodok railway station. The information on the via ferrata and climbing garden describes separate options and can help you decide more precisely which activity you plan to do.

Culture and special experiences

The parish church of St. Jodok in St. Jodok was built in the Gothic style in 1425 and remodeled and given a Baroque makeover in 1784. Its history of construction thus encompasses two distinct design phases: the Gothic origins were followed by the Baroque transformation. A distinctive curved railway tunnel is also located near St. Jodok. The railway takes a detour around the village and gains elevation.

Another offering is the “Almluft & Ziegenduft” course in Vals. It includes a hike to a high alpine pasture at 2,000 meters in the Valsertal, a visit to Erich’s “Land-Art-Kunstreich,” outings with a herd of goats, and making fresh cheese. Vals is also home to the Catholic parish church of St. Jodok and the cemetery. These destinations are in the village of Vals and should be distinguished from the cultural sites in St. Jodok.

Transport connections and finding accommodation

The S3 suburban railway runs through the main valley between Innsbruck and Brenner. Regional bus route 571 connects St. Jodok with Schmirn, while route 572 connects St. Jodok with Vals. As timetables and routes can change, check the current connections before travelling. To compare hotels, you can first decide which destinations you want to visit, then check your plans against the specific routes and transport connections.

Discover more travel destinations: Hatting, Wattens, Axams, Seefeld In Tirol, Steinach Am Brenner, Hall In Tirol, Absam, Götzens.

For the higher-level travel overview: Innsbruck-Land.