The Rosengarten Gorge in Imst is an impressive natural monument. What makes it unique is that its entrance is located right in the center of Imst and leads you directly into alpine terrain. Over a length of 1.5 kilometers, it overcomes about 250 meters of elevation and is considered one of the most beautiful natural sights in Tyrol.
The path through the gorge follows the Schinderbach stream, which has carved deep into the rock over millennia. The steep rock walls are made of reef limestone, which formed over 230 million years ago during the Triassic period. The gorge offers a varied landscape with narrow rock passages, moss-covered walls, and waterfalls.
Thanks to the different altitude levels, the vegetation changes constantly – from moist, shady gorge forests to sun-drenched rocky areas. The path ends in Hoch-Imst, from where further hiking options open up. Information panels along the trail explain the geological features of the gorge.
About ten minutes before exiting the gorge in Imst, you pass the Blue Grotto, a tunnel that was created by historical mining during the Roman era. Here, silver-bearing galena was extracted, presumably using the fire-setting method, where rock was made brittle by heating and cooling. Today, the grotto impresses with its unique atmosphere: trickles of water make their way through the rock while water continually drips from the ceiling.
