Hiking St. Leonhard

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

Hike to the Ludwigsburger Hütte 1935 m
Setting out from the car park at the Zaunhof/Grüble freight lift take the well signposted but steeper path or walk along the goods track to the Ludwigsburger Hütte. The very pretty location of the hut offers views of the Hohe Geige, the glacier, the Rofele Wand and the Venet. Return the same way to Zaunhof. Takes about 4 hrs; level of difficulty: easy

Rehwald – Mauchelealm 1820m – Brechsee 2145m –
Söllbergalm 1849m – Mauchelealm – Rehwald
From Rehwald follow the goods track to the Mauchelealm. A steep path then takes you to Brechsee-Stallkogel before forking off after about 100 m. The trail on the left leads to the Stallkogel while the path on the right goes to the beautiful Brechsee. From this point there are views of Wenns and Arzl as well as a panoramic view of the Venet, Tschirgant and Gemeindekopf. Another path forks right at the Brechsee and leads to the Söllbergalm after a hike of about 30 to 45 minutes. A goods track then leads from the Alpine pasture to Wiese. Follow the track and after about 150 m a path on the right forks off to the Mauchelealm. This moderately steep path winds its way through larch and pine tree woods until the goods track leading to the Mauchelealm. From there it is about another 200 m up to the Mauchele. On the way down, this trail leads to Rehwald. Takes about 3½ -4 hrs; level of difficulty: easy to intermediate.

Eggenstall – Neubergalm 1889m – Tiefentalalm 1880m –
Arzler Alm 1900m – Eggenstall
Set out along the moderately steep goods track from Eggenstall which leads up to the beautiful Neubergalm. A shady path from there takes you through the variegated wood to the beautiful setting of the Tiefentalalm. Now keep going on the right, following the footpath until you get to the, goods track leading to the Arzler Alm. To get back down you can either go along the goods track or take the forest path to Piösmes. Keep left along the Pitze river and you will reach Eggenstall comfortably in 30 minutes. Takes about 3½-4 hrs; level of difficulty: easy.

Mandarfen – Taschachalm 1800m – Rifflseehütte 2289m –
Hirschtal – Mandarfen
Cross the Pitze river at Mandarfen and follow the flat goods track to the Taschachalm. From here keep going along the track for a further 200 m or so, then take the steep but very good uphill path to the Rifflsee. Once there turn right along the stream and up to the Rifflseehütte. Continue further along the Rifflsee until you arrive at the mountain terminal of the Rifflseebahn. Just a bit further on, the path forks on the right and features a section through the Hirschtal with many beautiful views. Then take the panoramic trail to Mandarfen. Takes about 3½ hrs; level of difficulty: easy to intermediate.

Mandarfen – Taschachalm – Mittelberg – Gletscherstube 1915m – Mittelberg
From Mandarfen cross the bridge and turn left along the wide asphalted road to the Taschachalm. Cross the bridge at the Taschachalm and continue to the glacier valley terminal. Then walk through the Mittelbergerwald to the goods track leading to the Gletscherstube at the foot of the Mittelbergferner. Here you can enjoy beautiful views of the glacier. The way back to Mittelberg along the goods track takes about 2 ½ hrs; level of difficulty: easy.

Zaunhof/Grüble – Ludwigsburger Hütte 1935m –
St. Leonhard high-altitude trail – Enger/Bichl
From Zaunhof/Grüble (with a car park by the freight lift) take the path up to the Ludwigsburger Hütte. Then continue towards the Lehnerjoch. After walking on for 10 minutes or so turn right and follow the signposted footpath heading south. This section requires you to walk across several cirques and ford a number of streams. It is followed by a steep, secured downhill path to the Hairlacher Kar. Here you climb up to the Maurerköpfl embrasure on the western ridge of the Hairlacher Seekopf. Continue south until you come to the ‘Am Gampen’ junction, then go down to the (abandoned) Äußere Schwarzenbergalm and continue on to Enger/Bichl. Surefootedness and stamina required! Takes about 8-9 hrs; level of difficulty: intermediate to hard.

Stillebach/Piösmes – Luibisalm 2070m –
Moalandlsee 2530m Stillebach/Piösmes
An asphalted road on the left between Stillebach and Piösmes leads to the broadcasting mast. Follow this road for a short way until you come to the right fork of the footpath leading to the Luibisalm. Take this straightforward path up to the Luibisalm (not manned). Situated just opposite the steep slopes of the towering Rofelewand (3,354 m), the Luibisalm is a peaceful destination for outings offering superb views of the valley below. The route continues past a hunting lodge to the Luibisböden. If you keep going straight ahead the trail takes you to the Luibiskogel; turning right, it goes through a scree cirque to a cleft behind which you can see the beautiful Moalandlsee nestling in a spectacular setting of sheer rock. The way back is along the same route. Takes about 6 hrs; level of difficulty: intermediate.

Mountain tour to the Stallkogel
Set off on a forest path from Rehwald to the Mauchele Alm. The route continues via Karbach up to the summit of the Stallkogel (one of the most beautiful mountains with panoramic views in the Pitztal). The route back goes across the Mauchelekar to Rehwald. Takes about 5 hrs; level of difficulty: intermediate.

A hike around the Rappenkopf
Take the uphill trail from Piösmes (1,400 m) to the Arzler Alm and continue your ascent from there to the summit of the Rappenkopf (2,300 m). The way back goes across the ‘marshes’ to Piösmes. Takes about 5 hrs; level of difficulty: intermediate.

Trenkwald – Mittelberglesee 2450m – Trenkwald
Cross the Pitze river at Trenkwald, then turn right towards the waterfall. Continue by taking a very steep footpath on the left up to the abandoned Neururer Alm. This trail goes on to the Verpeiljoch. The path forks down on the left to the Loobachtal. Walk across the slopes of the Weißer Kogel down to the Loobach. Cross over the stream and keep left as you walk up to the Mittelberglesee in its rather isolated setting at the foot of the Parstleswand. This place exudes peace and quiet in the midst of an impressive mountain setting. The way back to Trenkwald starts off on the same path leading back to the Loobachtal and the fork at the Neururer Alm. An even steeper path on the right leads down from there along the stream back to the starting point. Takes about 5 hrs; level of difficulty: intermediate.

Plangeroß – Rüsselsheimer Hütte 2382m – Gahwinden 2648m – Plangeroß
Set out from the car park in front of Plangeroß on a very good but steep path to the beautiful setting of the Rüsselsheimer Hütte. From the hut the trail continues steeply uphill across loose debris before coming to a fork with a moderately steep path on the left. This path takes you straight to the Gahwinden vantage point with breathtaking views of the glaciers and leads away from the valley. The way back is along the same trail. Takes about 5 hrs; level of difficulty: intermediate.

Plangeroß – Kaunergrathütte 2811m – Plangeroß
Cross the Pitze river in front of Plangeroß and start out on a wide trail to the very steep ascent leading through woodland to the Plangeroßalpe. Here you need to cross the stream at two points which can prove to be an exciting experience depending on the time of year and level of the water. Continue along the moderately steep trail along the stream to the path leading up to the second level of the valley and the convergence of the Cottbus high-altitude trail. From there follow the path through scree and debris to the final, very steep ascent to one of the highest Alpine huts in the Ötztaler Alpen, the Kaunergrathütte. Return along the same way. Takes about 6 – 7 hrs; level of difficulty: intermediate

Mittelberg – Braunschweiger Hütte 2795m –
Pitztaler Jöchl 2995 m – Mittelberg
Take the flat goods track to the Gletscherstube. Continue on to the Braunschweiger Hütte. The rocky footpath leads along the icefall and steeply upwards to the foot of the Mittelbergferner icefall. This spot marks the start of the very challenging and very steep ascent – some of which leads up steps – to the hut. The walk along this tiring route offers a fantastic view of the surrounding glacier world. A very good path leads up to the Pitztaler Jöchl with its rewarding views of the surrounding peaks and glaciers. Take the same route back to the valley as on the ascent. This hike requires stamina and surefootedness! Takes about 7-8 hrs; level of difficulty: intermediate.

Alternatively, take the ‘Pitz-Express’ (you have to pay for tickets) from Mittelberg to the glacier mountain terminal. From there turn left towards the east and cross over the Mittelbergferner (requires Alpine experience) to the Braunschweiger Hütte (about 1½ hrs). From the hut the way home leads back across the glacier trail to the ‘Pitz-Express’ mountain terminal (note the departure times) or straight down to Mittelberg (approx. 2½ hrs).

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.