High-altitude trails im Pitztal

Dear Visitors,

We are very pleased that you visit us on www.pitztal.com ! Here you find the most important information in your language. All information you will find in the language German. The employees of the tourist board Pitztal wish you a lot of fun while surfing on our webpage www.pitztal.com

Pitztaler Almenweg
The Pitztal Alpine pastures trail links up five beautifully located Alpine pastures: the Söllbergalm, Mauchelealm Neubergalm, Tiefentalalm and Arzler Alm! About 100 m in front of the entrance to Wiese village, walk on the right along the goods track to the Söllbergalm. From there the route continues through woods of larch and Swiss pine on a relatively steep path to Brechsee. After walking for about 30 minutes, turn off towards the Mauchele Alm on the Stallkogel; you will now come to the recently opened fairly steep path that proceeds from the Mauchele Alm. After about 500 m (note the red marker) turn left towards the stream crossing. Then turn left again through slightly rocky terrain towards the Neubergalm (with a wonderful view of the valley). A shady path leads from the Neubergalm through a variegated wood to the beautiful setting of the Tiefentalalm. Now continue on the right, following the path, to the goods track of the Arzler Alm. To descend, either walk along the goods track or the forest path to Piösmes. You can always descend from each mountain pasture if you wish to return at an earlier time. Altogether, this hike takes about 8 hrs; level of difficulty: intermediate.

Fuldaer Höhenweg
Take the Rifflseebahn to the Rifflsee. From there, walk left along the lake and cross the stream to the fork leading to the Fulda high-altitude trail. Following the path on the left along moderately steep terrain that regularly goes up and down along several brooks and streams you come to the one critical spot at the Vorderes Köpfl. Here you will have to negotiate some rocky, steep passages, though these are well secured and are not a problem if you tread carefully. The steady descent to the cirque begins at this point and the route continues, after a short stretch uphill, to the Taschachhaus. Enjoy a fantastic view of the Taschach glacier world from the mountain ridge just above the hut. A good way down is to take the moderately steep goods track to the Taschachalm and from there to continue on to Mandarfen. The hike takes about 7 hrs; level of difficulty: intermediate.

St. Leonharder Höhenweg
Take the well signposted goods trail from Zaunhof to the Ludwigsburger Hütte. Then continue towards Lehnerjoch and turn right after about a 10-minute walk before the well signposted path south. Walk across several cirques and cross streams, then go down a steep, secured descent to the Hairlacher Kar. Climb southwards above the (abandoned) Äußere Schwarzenbergalm to the ‘Am Gampen’ junction. The route continues downhill towards Wilder See until you get below Brandsee at the same altitude as the Schoaßkogel. Continue along the Biedere Kar to the Luibisböden (with a descent also possible down the Luibisalm to Piösmes – takes about 8-9 hrs thus far; level of difficulty: intermediate to difficult). From the Luibisböden, climb up towards the Luibiskogel; at about 2,600 m above sea level turn right towards the Sandjoch (signposted as route no. 911). From the Sandjoch the trail continues along a relatively steep downward path across the Luibiskare and on to the Breitlehnerjoch. You now walk through a high-altitude valley until you get to the Rötkarljoch, then descend through the Rötenkar to the Gahwinden lookout mountain (this section is a high-altitude Alpine hiking trail requiring surefootedness and a good head for heights; level of difficulty: hard). A moderately steep path leads down through scree to the Rüsselsheimer Hütte, then descent to Plangeroß. This hike takes a minimum 11-12 hrs to complete.

Mainzer Höhenweg
Turn right at the Rüsselsheimer Hütte to the Weissmaurachsee. The path to the Weissmaurachjoch starts at a moderate incline before becoming quite steep in parts. Continue to the southern Puitkogelferner and traverse two other glaciers until you get to the Rheinlandpfalz bivouac. Crampons are required for the Wassertalkogel! Then on a path – quite steep in places – across the Wurmsitzkogel and on to the Polleskogel. Climb up to the Pitztal Jöchl and down again to the Braunschweiger Hütte. Some of the paths are secured on the route to the glaciers. The Mainz high-altitude trail is a demanding high-Alpine tour requiring absolute surefootedness in the broken rocks terrain, grade II proficiency in rock-climbing and a good sense of direction. Nor should the length of the tour be underestimated: it takes around 10 hours to complete! Level of difficulty: hard, sometimes goes across glaciers and therefore only advisable for experienced mountaineers with the right kit!

Cottbuser Höhenweg
Take the Rifflseebahn up to the Rifflsee. From there turn right along the well signposted path following the sharp bends towards the Brandkogel. Take the path secured with wire cables through steep passages interspersed with slopes across the Alzeleskar and go the long way around the Steinkogel (although the passages through the steep rocky crags have been secured with wire cables they still require absolute surefootedness and a good head for heights in order for you to negotiate them). Where the Cottbus high-altitude trail converges with the trail from Plangeroß that leads to the Kaunergrat Hütte, the route starts off flat and leads through scree, but soon becomes very steep on its way up to the Kaunergrat Hütte. The descent is back along the same path, but turns left at the above-mentioned fork down to Plangeroß.
Level of difficulty: hard, only for experienced mountaineers; takes about 7-8 hrs.

Venet circular tour
The mighty massif of the Venet – a good 10 km wide – is understandably considered to be ‘Western Tyrol’s number-one lookout and hiking mountain’; enthusiastic travel writers have even praised it as being the ‘Tyrolean Rigi’. From its highest point, the Glanderspitz (2,512 m above sea level), you can enjoy impressive long-distance views of the surrounding valleys. For 30 km to the west and the north, from Prutz to Imst, the Inn and Pitze rivers flow around the Venet; to the south it is linked to the Kaunergrat through the Pillerhöhe. Aeons ago however, the course of the Inn river bed ran along the south of the Venet, where the broad undulating slopes of the wooded Pillerhöhe can be seen today. The gentle, round shape of the Venet has made it highly popular among many visitors and local residents as a mountain for going on walks and hikes, particularly since there are lots of interesting routes and ways to get down to the Pitztal.

Club Alpin Imst - Pitztal

Some general advice: Despite the beauty of the mountains you should bear in mind that this is hazardous terrain. Never plan a mountain tour without suitable equipment! Mountain boots and protection from the rain are extremely important. You are specifically advised not to undertake a mountain tour in poor weather and fog. Keep to the signposted trails! Tell your accommodation provider where you are hiking to and when you expect to be back. Start off on easy walking paths or trails and progress gradually to more difficult ones. Report Alpine accidents to the mountain rescue services in St. Leonhard, Plangeroß, Jerzens, Wenns and Arzl. Call 140 in emergencies. Please help to keep our environment clean.