When the winter snows descend on Mayrhofen, it’s all about high speed thrills on the steepest slope in Austria. Plus plenty of creative boarding in Vans Penken Park. But if you’re expecting a quieter time in Penken in the summer, think again. Apart from offering mile upon mile of hiking trails with some of the most awe-inspiring panoramas in the Alps, the Action Mountain transforms once again this summer into an alpine adventure playground. Challenging ascents for mountain bikers, hair-raising rides down the mountain, climbing on overhanging rocks, even paragliding through the dizzying peaks.

Mountain biking trends have developed along similar lines to winter sports – these days it’s all about freestyle and freeriding. Although lighter, more and more riders are moving away from hard-tails to full suspension bikes – the ride is smoother, and so is the descent. These days getting a heavier bike to the top of the mountain is lot easier anyway, thanks to the Penkenbahn gondola. Each cabin has enough room for up to four bikes and within minutes you’re 2000 metres above sea level.

Once you reach the summit station, you stand before a much bigger network of biking trails, including new single trails making this biking paradise one of the most diverse of its kind in the Alps. There are leisure trails offering totally unique panoramas, medium difficulty trails and of course trails for advanced bikers with challenging descents down the slopes of Penken mountain. For more information on the full scope of trails please refer to the local bike guides. They also offer guided tours, an ideal opportunity for visitors to Mayrhofen to savour the most beautiful trails – and visit traditional alpine huts.

Why compromise – walking on Penken mountain

Even if today’s countryside managers are focussing more and more on providing different routes for biking and walking, on Penken mountain we still haven’t forgotten about the hiking. On the contrary, one of the best ways to enjoy the unique views here and the untouched mountain meadows is by exploring – on foot, on one of the many mountaintop trails. In fact there are ten on Penken, for beginners and advanced trekkers, for a leisurely walk – or a somewhat challenging tour of mountain huts lasting several days.

Many roads lead you to roam – climbing up the Penken

Prefer life on the vertical rather than hurtling down the mountain? Prefer getting about on all fours rather than meandering through meadows on foot? If you do, then Action Mountain offers two ‘rock climbing gardens’ with more than 60 climbs to try out your skills. The Gschöss and Knorren climbs will test mind and body, especially the arms and legs.

Gschöss offers more ambitious climbers 33 routes, ranging from Grade 4 to Grade 8 in difficulty. Knorren offers the same variety, from beginners to advanced. Since last year visitors to Mayrhofen can also enjoy care-free, safe climbing on the ‘Climbing step for all-comers’, before moving on to steeper climbs. There are also four climbing schools with plenty of instruction on grappling your way up the mountain.

High above the mountaintops – paragliding deluxe

Take to the skies and look down on the rest of the world – paragliding is more than an injection of adrenalin. It’s pure freedom. Levitation at the highest elevation. And what better place to enjoy it than Mount Penken, bookmarked even by the professionals for its outstanding thermals. There are two launch sites: the summit station at the top of the Penken chairlift or the launching ramp near the summit station on Knorren. And if the weather is not quite up to flying we’ll save you the effort of the walk down again: pilots and their equipment get the trip down on the Mayrhofen gondola for free.

Paragliding is sport at one with nature. It’s exhilarating and relaxing all at the same time. It’s full of action, yet pure indulgence. A bit like Mayrhofen really, with its two mountains: Penken and Ahorn.