For a perfect time out, go on a hiking tour where you spend the night on the mountains. In Vorarlberg, there are several rewarding routes to huts in splendid location.
Round tour to the Lech springs
The Lech Spring circuit covers six legs of medium difficulty and five huts, from Bregenzerwald or Grosses Walsertal, via Klostertal to the Arlberg. This Youtube video gives a good impression of the full tour.
Starting from Biberacher hut, your destination is Stuttgarter hut. In between, hikers reach an altitude of up to 2,500 metres above sea level. This four to six-hour tour is ideal for energetic first-timers with physical stamina. It can also be broken up in various legs. Climbing gear is not required. Seasoned mountaineers opt for the detour via the summit, such as Braunarlspitze peak. On the final leg, you can cover a large part of the ascent on the Rüfikopf cableway in Lech.
Itinerary:
• Biberacher hut (mount via Schoppernau-Landsteg, Schröcken or Buchboden)
• Göppinger hut
• Freiburger hut
• Ravensburger hut
• Stuttgarter hut (descent to Lech or Zürs am Arlberg)
Hint: Freiburger hut is located directly above lake Formarin, rated Austria's most scenic site in 2015 by the viewers of the ORF broadcast "9 Sites - 9 Gems" alongside neighbouring Rote Wand. For video impressions of this region click here.
www.lechquellenrunde.com/en
Montafon Chalet Hike
On a total of 12 legs, the Montafon hut circuit takes hikers through the Rätikon, Silvretta and Verwall ranges. At less than three hours, the tour from Tübinger hut to Saarbrücker hut is the shortest. The longest leg runs from Neue Heilbronner hut to Wiesbadener hut.
Allow for approx. ten hours to complete the 25km tour. The first leg starts at the Golmerbahn mountain station and ends at Heinrich Hueter hut. At the end of the tour, hikers pass Kistberg and Bartholomäberg before returning to Schruns. It is also possible to just walk individual legs, the huts can be reached conveniently from the valley. More information
Challenging and children-friendly hut walks in Bregenzerwald
Ambitious hikers have a choice of two options in Bregenzerwald, both with breakfast or half board. One tour starts at Schoppernau and takes hikers on three days via Schwarzwasser and Widderstein hut to Warth. The walking times range between four and six hours, with a maximum of 1,100 metres in altitude to be covered. Prices starting from EUR 58 per person in a bunk bed. More information
Hiking families start their tours via two huts in Schwarzenberg or Bezau. The day tours last two to four hours across easy terrain, with plenty of time left for outdoor games. From EUR 69 per person. More information
Hint: There is a useful helper to assist you planning your tours and finding your bearings on site. Interactive maps provide detailed descriptions of several tours. All information on the recorded routes is available for print-out and download. To access the tour database see touren.vorarlberg.travel. The hiking tours are also available in the free Vorarlberg app "Holidays and leisure." (German only)
More information, recommendations and hiking packages see www.vorarlberg.travel/hiking
Picture credits
Montafoner Hüttenrunde - Lünersee © walser-image.com
