Several years ago, my family went to the Berner Oberland in mid-June, and apparently lucked out that the ridge trails had only just reopened for the season.

Is there a decent rule of thumb for timing a similar trip to the Austrian Alps? We are hoping for a week near Innsbruck to hike and get a taste of the Tirol. It's not that I'm expecting anyone to predict the weather, but are there set times when lifts re-open? Hotel and flat prices don't seem to reflect a real off-season in early June, but I'd hate to be there unable to hike.

Thanks for any guidance you can share.

I'm no great expert, but I went to Neustift im Stubaital (exactly in your target area) in mid to late June last year, and I don't recall anything being closed off. Certainly the cable cars going up to the glacier/"Top of the Tirol" were working, and we walked down from the glacier (or what's left of it). We met some people walking up to do the rounds of the upper mountain huts, and there were plenty of lower forest trails, of course.

Looks like the official summer opening times may vary around the end of May into the first week or ten days of June, with limited opening, not necessarily all the way to the top, on earlier public holiday weekends in May. But as for the highest trails, you'd probably have to check with every separate resort area. As far as Stubaital is concerned, here's their website:
http://www.stubai.at/en/sommer/wandern

Thanks, PL. That's helpful. And hopeful.

I'm enjoying the link you've provided, too.

You might be interested in the TR I posted about the place:
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...untain-air.cfm

Thanks again, PL!

I enjoyed your trip report, and as for your blog ... well, I might just be a litttle bit in love.

You've been such a help.