Elfer Sundial

Even as you get off the cable car, the largest accessible equatorial sundial in the Alpine region catches your eye. The impressive larchwood construction, with its inner diameter of 8 metres, literally transports visitors to the centre of time. The choice of location is no accident: for the local people, the mountainous massif of the Elfer in Neustift has always been an enormous time indicator that makes the rhythm of the sun and nature visible. The same can be said of the origin of the name – since
anyone can remember, the Elfer and its neighbouring mountain, the Zwölfer, have been used to gauge when it’s midday. Because at exactly eleven o’clock the sun stands directly over its summit and then reaches the Zwölfer one hour later. A Viscope telescope also attracts visitors to take a closer look at an area stretching from the Stubai Valley to Innsbruck.

CIRCULAR ROUTE: ELFER SUMMIT STATION – PANORAMA TRAIL – SUNDIAL

Start and finishing points: Elfer summit station (1,794 m)
Destination: Elfer sundial (1,780 m)
Walking time: approx. 5 minutes
Difference in altitude: level
Rest points: Elfer summit station (Agrar mountain restaurant, 1,780 m) or the rustic Elfer hut, nearly 200 metres above (2,080 m)

ARRIVAL / DEPARTURE POINTS
Elfer lifts valley station car park in Neustift

TOUR DESCRIPTION
A flat path runs from the Elfer lifts summit station to the walk-in sundial which also has seats and fantastic panoramic views. From the sundial, you can either climb up the ‘Sonnenzeit’ hiking trail or walk back to the summit station. From here you can also reach the Elfer hut in approx. 15 minutes.