Gentle valleys & steep summits - Hiking vacations in Vorarlberg

Surrounded by towering rocky peaks, the Silvretta Reservoir offers a unique backdrop for hiking in the mountains of the Montafon. While the paths and paths to the surrounding peaks are reserved for experienced mountaineers, hikers of all ages can walk around the idyllic reservoir on a well-developed hiking trail.With the bus line 85 it goes from Schruns up to the starting point on the Bielerhöhe. Alternatively, you will find plenty of parking for your own car. From here, you first pass through the impressive dam, which offers you an exciting view: on one side the mirror-smooth lake and the steep mountains, on the other side the dramatic valley of the Ill river. Below the Lobspitze you walk along the riverbank.On the southern shore you first cross the Klostertal brook and then the Ill, both of which come from the mountains to dine the vast lake. Especially from the confluence of the Ills you have a particularly beautiful view of the lake and the mountain landscape. Afterwards it's always very close to the eastern shore, back to the starting point of the hike. Here you can stop at the Alpengasthof Piz Buin before you start the return journey.

The Körbersee near Schröcken in the Bregenzerwald is a real gem. This was also felt by an official jury and named the picturesque mountain lake the "most beautiful place in Austria 2017". On our tour you can convince yourself of this and wander on good trails from sea to lake. The wide trail is even suitable for all-terrain stroller and thus a real pleasure trip for the whole family.Starting point of the hike is the trail parking lot at the Saloberliften, which is also approached by the bus line 40a. From here you follow the signposted hiking trail in the direction of Körbersee. After just a few minutes, you can already admire the caldera lake, which is in no way inferior to its well-known neighbor in terms of mountain idyll. With a beautiful view you walk along the shore and gently uphill over lush mountain meadows.Soon you have reached the highest point of the tour and at your feet, the valley of the Körbersee spreads - just beyond towers the striking rock pyramid of Mohnenfluh in the sky. The trail now leads you gently downhill to the shore of the lake. If you like, you can also walk around the idyllic mountain lake on a comfortable path. At Berghotel Körbersee, our tour takes you to the cozy Batzenalpe, where you can take a break with a wonderful view.Afterwards you will hike through bright mountain forests to the destination Schröcken. From there, take the bus 40a back to the starting point or continue straight to your accommodation.

The narrow valley Gemsteltal is a tranquil side valley of the Kleinwalsertal and with its gentle slope the perfect place for a leisurely family hike. Shady forest paths along the Gemstelbach, beautiful views of the mountains and two cozy mountain huts complete the tour.With the Walserbuslinie 1 you come comfortably and without a car to the starting point Mittelberg. If you are traveling with your own car, you will also find paid parking here. First, you cross the Breitach and come a little later on the confluence of the Gemstelbach. You change to the other shore and stroll on a wide, comfortable trail always along the stream through shady forests. After about two kilometers, the forest clears and before you spreads a beautiful mountain panorama.Continue on past alpine meadows until you reach the rustic Hinter Gemstelalpe. Here you can take a pleasurable break - or you already wander a bit further and opt instead for Bernhard's Gemstelhütte. After your rest, the wide hiking trail leads you across meadows and through cool mountain forests back to the starting point of your hike.

The wide valley of the Lech in the Lech Zürs region always pampers hikers with leisurely hiking trails and breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains. Especially in combination with the various gondola lifts and chairlifts, you can enjoy wonderful tours without strenuous ascents. A particularly beautiful hike leads you from the Steffisalp through the sleepy mountain village Bürstegg and finally down to Lech am Arlberg.From Warth, the Steffisalp Express takes you comfortably up to the mountain station, the starting point of your hike. Here you can enjoy the panorama first, before you go on the way. You hike on good mountain hiking trails and wide dirt roads always gently downhill towards Bürstegg. With a fantastic view, you will pass through open alpine meadows and along their ruminant inhabitants.Bürstegg is a former Walser settlement with ancient farmhouses - a wonderful photo opportunity. In some hairpin bends, the trail then continues down the meadows down to the banks of the Lech. Directly on the water there is a more than 400 year old farmhouse - the Gasthaus Bodenalpe. After a well-deserved rest you change to the other bank of the Lech and stroll off the Lechtalstrasse over meadows and pastures to the destination Lech am Arlberg. From here there are bus connections back to the starting point Warth.

The mountain village of Alberschwende in the Bregenz Forest can easily be reached from the capital of Bregenz, Vorarlberg, and is a perfect starting point for a climb to Brüggelekopf. The hike leads over gently sloping mountain slopes, along meadows and farms, making it suitable for hikers of all ages. Arrived at the summit cross, you will be spoiled with a magnificent view over the mountains of the Bregenz Forest and the vastness of Lake Constance.The starting point Alberschwende, which is approached by the bus line 35 from Bregenz, is an idyllic mountain village with old farms and houses and therefore worth a visit. You leave the village in a southerly direction and wander on barely traveled roads on gently rising mountain pastures. You pass individual farms and cross small woodland until you reach the side summit Bertholdshöhe.Now it goes on board trails through a boggy spruce forest and a little later you are standing at the summit cross. Right next to the summit, you can stop at the Alpengasthof Brüggele before you start the descent. It leads you through dense forests over the northern mountain flank. On the way, the forest opens again and again and gives you the view of the beautiful surroundings. Finally you walk back on a flat road back to the starting point Alberschwende.

The Formarinsee is one of the largest natural treasures of the Lech Zürs region and in 2015 was named the "most beautiful place in Austria". Around the picturesque mountain lake rise several exciting peaks, which you can reach on demanding mountain tours. This hike will take you around the Formarinsee and across the Steinerne Meer up to the rugged summit of Saladina Peak.Starting point is the Formarinalpe, which you can reach both by car and with the panoramic bus from Lech am Arlberg. From here you hike along the northern shore of Formarinsee to the Freiburger Hütte. Just behind the hut begins the ascent. First, it goes over mountain meadows in a moderate slope uphill. Soon you will reach a large block field - the Steinerne Meer. Over the boulders, the trail slowly becomes steeper and you can already clearly see the rugged north ridge of the Saladina Peak in front of you.However, the path leads gently sloping below the ridge and leads you in a short Kraxelei on the less dramatic southwest ridge to the summit cross. The view of the surrounding landscape is breathtaking. Towards the south, the high peaks of the Lechquellen Mountains and the Montafon line up, and in the north, the famous Rote Wand rises above the neighboring Fensterlewand. After you've had enough of the panorama, it's the same way back to the Freiburger hut, where you deserve a rest. Afterwards, you will hike back to Formarinalpe on the eastern shore of Formarin Lake.

The Madrisa is a striking, massive mountain in the border area of Austria and Switzerland. This promising hike takes you from the Montafon on exciting paths across the Swiss border and once around the Madrisa. On the way, lonely mountain paths, imposing views and a unique alpine flora await you - a wonderful mountain adventure.At the beginning, you first float with the Schafbergbahn cable car from Gargellen up to the mountain station - so you can save yourself quite a few meters in the ascent. From here it goes up in a lofty height to the Schafbergsee, a small reservoir below the Gargellener Köpfles. Right across the street you can already admire the Madrisa. Now it gets steeper and you climb up to the Gafierjoch, where you cross the Swiss border. Between rocky peaks and over barren mountain meadows, the round trip continues around the Madrisa.Soon the signposted path turns east and a little later you reach the highest point of the hike. From here you hike gently downhill in the direction of Schlappiner yoke, where you enter Austrian soil again. On a serpentine path, it goes down into the valley of Valfizenbachs. Here you will find a broad hiking trail that will bring you back to Gargellen through the valley.

The Gottesacker high above the Kleinwalsertal is one of the most impressive natural phenomena in Vorarlberg. The sheer endless karst plateau of rugged rocks impresses you with bizarre rock formations and seems to come from another world. This demanding mountain tour takes you from the Kleinwalsertal up to the Hahnenköpfle and then over the impressive Gottesacker plateau. Afterwards it goes on a long, but wonderfully lonely climb down into the valley. If you want to save a few meters in the ascent, you can shorten with the Ifenbergbahn and start just below the Hahnenköpfle.Starting point of the hike is the parking lot at the valley station of the Ifenbergbahn. In some bends, the route leads you through dense mountain forests and several times under the cable car. Soon, the forest clears and in several serpentines you wander across mountain meadows through the romantic high valley Ifenmulde. On the last meters to the Hahnenköpfle it becomes steep and rocky again, but then you have reached the highest point of the tour. Below you, the Gottesacker Plateau spreads out and a breathtaking view of the surrounding mountains is the reward for the ascent.From Hahnenköpfle it goes downhill and into the Gottesacker. Be sure to stick to the trail markers as the crevices off the trail can be deep and dangerous. Arrived at the abandoned Gottesackeralpe, you will find a crossroads. You keep right here and begin your descent through a narrow, rocky valley. Soon, the landscape is more lovely and you wander first across meadows and then through forests to the valley. The last part of the trail leads you without major differences in altitude on the shore of the Schwarzwasser brook to the Breitach and finally to the destination Riezlern. From here there is a bus connection back to the starting point of your hike.