Venediger High Trail Trek in Hohe Tauern National Park
The Venediger High Trail (Höhenweg) is a multi-day trek through the Venediger Group in Hohe Tauern National Park, Austria. This classic hut to hut hike partially wraps around Grossvenediger (3657 m), Austria’s second-largest mountain, delivering views of mammoth mountains, melting glaciers, and countless waterfalls.
Venturing into the heart of the Venediger Group is like entering a congregation of wind, water, earth, and stone. Landscapes are eternal and vast. And, time loses meaning altogether.
With unrivaled glacier views, empty trails, and comfortable daily distances, this is a great multi-day trekking option in East Tyrol. While there are some challenging segments, the overall trail is very manageable and suitable for most intermediate hikers. We never felt unsafe, or at risk.
Below, we’re going to outline our Venediger Höhenweg route, but also provide a few alternative options at the end of this guide.
Which Direction Should I Hike the Venediger High Trail
There are two ways to hike the Venediger Höhenweg: the North route and the South route. The North route begins in Matreier Tauernhaus and ends in Hinterbichl in the Virgental Valley.
The South route begins in Hinterbichl and ends in Matreier Tauernhaus in Gschlösstal. We recommend the South route for two reasons. First, it’s easier, as demanding ascents and descents are accomplished early in the day when you’re fresh. And second, the landscapes unfold nicely, saving the best for last.
Venediger High Trail 6 Day Hut to Hut Hiking Route
- Day 1: Hinterbichl / Parkplatz Ströden – Essener-Rostocker-Hütte (5.3 km, 2:30 hours)
- Day 2: Essener-Rostocker-Hütte – Türmljoch – Johannishütte (7.6 km, 4 hours)
- Day 3: Johannishütte – Eisseehütte – Bonn-Matreier Hütte (12.5 km, 7 hours)
- Day 4: Bonn-Matreier Hütte – Badener Hütte (9.2 km, 5:30 hours)
- Day 5: Badener Hütte – Neue Prager Hütte (9.8 km, 6 hours)
- Day 6: Neue Prager Hütte – Innergschlöß / Alpengasthaus Venedigerhaus – Matreier Tauernhaus (10.7 km, 4 hours)
Note: This 6-day route starts out slowly, allowing you to acclimate. You’ll feel well-rested and energized before tackling Stages 4 and 5, which are longer and more challenging. This is the route we hiked, however in retrospect, we think it would have been better to combine the first two stages.