Vorarlberg is the westernmost state of Austria, bordering Germany, Liechtenstein, and Switzerland. Blissfully under-the-radar, Vorarlberg isn’t the most obvious destination for hiking in the Alps.
Considered even “too far away” for Austrians, this western state enjoys its somewhat hidden status, tucked away from the well-known destinations of Tyrol and Salzburg.
However, those that venture here, will be absolutely enthralled by the alpine scenery, hospitality, and hiking opportunities.
We return to Vorarlberg frequently to hike. Maybe itโs the water, or maybe itโs something else, but I truly believe everything is more charming in Vorarlberg: the grazing cows, the velvet-like mountain slopes, the lush wildflower-carpeted meadows, and even the dialect.
In our guide to hiking in Vorarlberg, weโre highlighting our favorite hiking destinations, hiking trails, and places to stay.
- When to Hike: Late June – Late September. The hiking season (day hikes only) can extend until late October, depending on snow conditions.
- Top Day Hikes: Formarinsee to Spullersee, Lรผnersee to Schesaplana Peak, Hohes Rad Circuit Trail
- Top Hut-to-Hut Hikes: Rรคtikon High Trail and Montafon Circuit Trail
- Long Distance Hikes: Min Weag
- Vorarlberg Mountain Ranges: Rรคtikon Alps, Silvretta Alps, Verwall Alps, Lechquellen Mountains, Bregenzerwald Mountains, Lechtal Alps, Allgรคu Alps.
- Vorarlberg Regions: Montafon, Brandnertal, Lech Zรผrs am Arlberg, Kleinwalsertal, Bregenzerwald, Bodensee-Vorarlberg.
- Recommended Trail Maps: Vorarlberg, Tyrol, East Tyrol Hiking Map Set
Vorarlberg Hiking Map
Brandnertal Hiking Region
Brandnertal is an alpine valley that runs from the city of Bludenz to the Schesaplana massif in the Rรคtikon Alps.
The Rรคtikon Alps are part of the Central Eastern Alps and form part of the natural border between Vorarlberg and Graubรผnden (Swiss Canton) and Liechtenstein.
This range romances hikers with its shimmering limestone peaks, verdant slopes, active alpine pastures, and mountain lakes. It’s like a waking dreamland, almost too beautiful to be real.
The main attraction of Brandnertal is Lake Lรผnersee, fondly called the pearl of the Eastern Alps. In summer (late May – mid/late October), the Lรผnerseebahn cable car connects the valley to the lake.
You can walk around the lake in two hours, hike to the panoramic Schafgafall peak, summit Schesaplana, follow the Rรคtikon High Trail, and so much more.
Form Brandnertal, youโre also well positioned to conquer a series of challenging summits like Mondspitze (1967 m), Schillerkopf (2006 m), Grosser Valkastiel (2449 m), and Saulakopf (2517 m).
More hikes leads to managed mountain huts: Heinrich-Hueter Hรผtte, Sarotlahรผtte, Oberzalimhรผtte, Totalphรผtte, and Lindauer Hรผtte.
Brandnertal Hikes
Rรคtikon High Trail Circuit
The 45-km Rรคtikon High Trail Circuit wraps around the Rรคtikon Alps in four days, starting and ending at Lake Lรผnersee. Hikers overnight in 3 mountain huts, two of which are located in Switzerland.
On day 1, the trail follows the eastern shore of Lรผnersee and gently meanders across meadows and alpine pastures, passing the Schweizer Tor (Swiss Gate), on the way to Lindauer Hรผtte.
On day 2, the Rรคtikon High Trail leads to Tilisunahรผtte and then crosses the border into Switzerland.
On day 3, hikers follow the dazzling Prรคttigauer Hรถhenweg from Carschinahรผtte to Schesaplanahรผtte.
On the final day, hikers return to Austria via a dramatic ascent to Schesaplana (2965 m), the highest peak in the Rรคtikon.
This is a very moderate hut-to-hut hike, with very little technical difficulty. The only challenging section is the ascent from Schesaplanahรผtte to Schesaplana peak (day 4).
For most hikers, it makes sense to descend to Lรผneresee from the peak, ending the hike on day 4. We extended the trek across the Brandner Glacier to Mannheimer Hรผtte, which isnโt entirely necessary.
To learn more about hut-to-hut hiking in Austria, read our Austria Hut to Hut Hiking Guide.
Trail Stats
Day 1 | (Brandnertal) โ Douglass Hรผtte โ Lรผnersee โ Lindauer Hรผtte (4 hours, 10 km)
Day 2 | Lindauer Hรผtte โ Tilisunahรผtte โ Carschinahรผtte (5 hours, 10.2 km)
Day 3 | Carschinahรผtte โ Schesaplanahรผtte (6 hours, 15.8 km)
Day 4 | Schesaplanahรผtte โ Schesaplana โ Totalphรผtte โ Lรผnersee (5 hours, 9.2 km)
Related | Liechtenstein Panorama Trail (4-day hike)
Where to Stay in Brandnertal
Midrange | Hotel Lรผn is a small hotel in Brand, offering 15 double rooms and apartments. Highlights of staying here are the spa area, the breakfast buffet, and cheerful design. Read our Hotel Lรผn review.
Midrange | Pension Bergkristall is an apartment-style accommodation in Brand, next to the Dorfbahn Cable Car Station. If you’re planning to base yourself in Brandnertal for a few days, or even a week, you’ll feel very comfortable here. Breakfast is available upon request.
Midrange | Hotel Garni Tannleger B&B offers modern well-kept rooms in the village of Brand. Guests are treated to a lovely breakfast. If you stay here 2+ nights during the summer season (May – October), you will be given a premium guest card, which gives you free and unlimited use of the local cableways (including the Lรผnersee cable car).
Luxury | Aktiv-Hotel Sarotla is a stylish and modern hotel with excellent spa facilities, spacious rooms with balconies, and a fabulous hotel restaurant and bar. Guests can participate in guided hiking and cycling tours free of charge.
Look for accommodation in Brandnertal.
Lech am Arlberg Hiking Region
Lech am Arlberg is an alpine village in the Lech Zรผrs am Arlberg Region of Vorarlberg. This is one of Austriaโs premier ski destinations, attracting the crรจme de la crรจme.
Lech has a reputation for being posh and stuck-up, but if you visit in summer, you wonโt get that impression.
Lech is a fantastic base for hiking, because itโs situated along the River Lech between the Lechtal Alps and the Lechquellengebirge. In summer, hiking buses shuttle guests to/from trailheads all day.
This is one of the few destinations in the Austrian Alps where you absolutely do not need a car.
The first time we visited Lech was after completing the Eagle Walk across the Lechtal Alps. We finished the route in St. Christoph am Arlberg (where it traditionally ends) and took a bus to Lech.
If we could do it over again, weโd hike directly to Lech via Stuttgarter Hรผtte and Rรผfikopf.
During our second and third visits to Lech, we explored the Lechquellen Mountains on a series of day hikes.
Given that this is a popular ski resort, you may be concerned that thereโs too much ski infrastructure. Luckily, the cableways donโt bisect most of the hiking trails.
The only places where the ski infrastructure is notably distracting is around Petersboden in Oberlech and at Zรผrser See.
Learn More: Lech am Arlberg Hiking Guide
Lech am Arlberg Hikes
Lake Formarinsee to Lake Spullersee
This is our favorite day hike in the Lechquellen Mountains.
To reach the trailhead, take bus 707 from Lech (or Zug) to Formarinsee.
The trail initially wraps around Lake Formarinsee to Freiburger Hรผtte (30-45 minutes). From the hut, trail 601 ascends across wildflower-carpeted slopes and alpine pastures to Steinernes Meer (โStone Seaโ), an impressive karst landscape.
After carefully crossing the Stone Sea, youโll continue your ascent to the Gehrengrat mountain ridge.
The hike continues over the ridge, where you need to be extra careful, and down to the Dalaaser Schรผtz high alpine valley. It’s an easy walk from here to the the Spullersee high-alpine reservoir.
To return to Lech or Zug, take bus 706.
Learn More: Lake Formarinsee to Lake Spullersee
More Day Hikes around Lech am Arlberg
We really loved the summit hike to Spuller Schafberg. We also hiked Rรผfikopf – Stuttgarter Hรผtte – Zรผrs and Oberlech – Gรถppinger Hรผtte – Zugertal.
Where to Stay in Lech am Arlberg
Budget | Lech Hostel is a budget-friendly accommodation in Lech am Arlberg, offering clean and cozy single, double, and triple rooms. Guests have access to a shared kitchen and shared lounge. Bathrooms are shared as well. The room rate is unbeatable.
Midrange | Hotel Garni Schneider is a top-rated, affordable bed and breakfast, situated next to Rรผfikopfbahn in the center of Lech. Bedrooms are nicely decorated, spotless, and comfortable. Guests also have access to a wellness area (Finnish sauna, steam bath, Kneipp basins, and relaxation room) and free private parking.
Look for accommodation in Lech am Arlberg.
Hotel Auenhof
4-star superior
Hotel Auenhof is a family-run hotel, situated along the River Lech, facing Omeshorn.
With its dreamy location and extraordinary staff, Hotel Auenhof outshines other Lech accommodations in terms of its hospitality and atmosphere. The family and staff work hand-in-hand to ensure that your stay is comfortable and memorable.
The highlight of staying here is the creative cuisine. Each night, chef Matthias Fiebig prepares a unique, multi-course dinner menu, which delights and surprises in equal measure. Many hotel restaurants strive to be innovative, but none so successfully as Hotel Auenhof.
In the afternoons, guests are treated to a generous and complimentary afternoon snack.
The wellness area has recently been expanded. The newest addition is the “silent Spa” relaxation area , a lavish space to rest after enjoying one of Auenhof’s five saunas.
Der Berghof
4-star superior
Der Berghof is an elegant hotel in the center of Lech. This hotel delivers an unparalleled experience in terms of style, comfort, wellness and cuisine. Each bedroom is uniquely designed and furnished with the finest materials.
The wellness area features 5 modern saunas, a cold water basin, a foot bath, relaxation room, and tea and snack bar. Additionally, complimentary salt exfoliants are provided for the steam sauna and bath salt for the foot bath.
Guests can look forward to a rich and healthy breakfast buffet featuring sliced cheese and meats, spreads (hummus, Liptauer, etcโฆ), eggs and bacon, breads and delicious croissants, homemade jams, muesli and yogurt, a juice bar and a premium loose leaf tea bar.
You also have the option to eat dinner in the hotel. Each evening, a 5-course menu is served in the main dining room.
Learn More: Best Hotels in Lech am Arlberg
Montafon Hiking Region
Montafon is a 39-km-long alpine valley in Vorarlberg that stretches from the city of Bludenz to the Silvretta Bielerhรถhe mountain pass.
Montafon Valley is bounded by the impressive Verwall, Silvretta, and Rรคtikon mountain ranges.
For decades, this region has been a beloved skiing destination. In the 1920s, the great American novelist Ernest Hemingway spent winters writing, skiing, and playing cards in the valley.
While winter is the premiere season in Montafon, summer tourism is picking up each year, as insiders are discovering the regionโs riveting hiking trails, lofty peak summits, charming mountain huts, active dairy farms, and mountain lakes.
We love this region of Austria because it manages to exhibit a spirit of openness alongside its many deeply-rooted traditions.
Montafon Hikes
Montafon Hut-to-Hut Circuit Trail
The Montafon Hut Circuit is a 13-stage hut-to-hut trail which traverses the Verwall, Silvretta, and Rรคtikon Alps in one giant U-shaped arch around Montafon Valley.
The final 5 stages are actually very short, so the whole trail can be hiked in 10 days.
Highlights of the route include staying in the Wiesbadener Hรผtte, below Piz Buin (3,312 m), the highest mountain in Vorarlberg. The ascent to Litznersattel, which affords staggering views of Klostertaler Egghorn (3120 m), Schattenkopf (3114 m), Schattenspitze (3202 m), Schneeglocke (3223 m), and Knoten (3190 m), is unforgettable.
We loved hiking down the Vergalda Tal valley to the active alpine dairy Alpe Vergalden (1820 m).
Another highlight was hiking into the Rรคtikon limestone range and arriving at Tilisunahรผtte mountain hut.
We hiked 5 stages in 4 days, starting at the Silvretta Bielerhรถhe mountain pass and ending in Schruns.
We wrote about our experience and why we hiked these stages in our Montafon Hut to Hut Circuit Hiking Guide.
Trail Stats
โโDay 1 (Stage 4) | Schruns โ Bus to Silvretta Bielerhรถhe โ Wiesbadener Hรผtte (3:30 hours, 8.3 km)
Day 2 (Stage 5) | Wiesbadener Hรผtte โ Saarbrรผcker Hรผtte (4:45 hours, 10.7 km)
Day 3 (Stages 6 and 7) | Saarbrรผcker Hรผtte โ Tรผbinger Hรผtte โ Gargellen (7:45 hours, 16.8 km)
Day 4 (Stage 8 and Exit Route) | Gargellen โ Tilisunahรผtte โ Tobelsee โ Latschau โ Schruns (9 hours, 21.9 km)
Hohes Rad Circuit Trail
The fabulous Hohes Rad Circuit Trail in the pristine and wild Silvretta Alps starts at Silvretta Bielerhรถhe, the high mountain pass which connects Montafon Valley with Paznaun Valley.
From the pass, youโll hike along the Silvretta Reservoir to Bieltal Valley.
The trail ascends gently up the valley to Radsattel (2652 m), the saddle between Bieltalkopf (2797 m) and and Hohes Rad (2934 m).
When you crest the saddle, youโll be met with dazzling views of glaciated, crystalline peaks.
Experienced hikers should consider extending their hike to the summit of Hohes Rad (3 hours out-and-back), starting at Radsattel.
The trail continues over the saddle through a pristine high-alpine environment to the managed Wiesbadener Hรผtte (DAV mountain hut).
From this mountaineering refuge, descend Oschental valley to Silvretta Bielerhรถhe.
Where to Stay in Montafon
Budget | The brand new TUI Blue Montafon hotel in Tschagguns features modern, comfortable, and quiet (sound-proof) bedrooms. Guests praise the attentiveness and friendliness of the staff. And, the breakfast buffet is excellent, offering a lot of variety and local ingredients. The hotel has an on-site restaurant (limited menu) and small spa area.
Midrange | The quaint Gasthof Lรถwen in Tschagguns is a traditional, family-run hotel dating back to 1500. The hotel restaurant is one of the best places to eat in Montafon. Itโs also one of our favorite restaurants in all of Austria. Expect a wonderful breakfast as well. On Thursdays, the family members play traditional music in the bar. Guests also have access to the Montafoner Hof indoor-outdoor pool.
Luxury | Amrai Suites is an alpine-modern hotel in Schruns with an on-site restaurant and luxurious wellness area. Tastefully designed with natural materials and an earthy color palette, the bedrooms are both incredibly calming and visually stunning. Highlights of staying here are the breakfast buffet, creative dinner menus, and the Stรณlla spa oasis, which pays homage to the regionโs former mining industry. It encompasses an indoor copper bath, herbal kettle sauna, Finnish sauna, steam bath, rain shower, ice fountain in the Montafon Glacier Grotto, outdoor pool, and relaxation rooms.
Look for accommodation in Schruns-Tschagguns.
Lรถwen Hotel Montafon
Lรถwen Hotel Montafon is a 4-star superior hotel in Schruns with a massive 3000 m2 wellness and spa area.
The spa contains an indoor and outdoor pool, five saunas, a Ladyโs spa area, a whirlpool, multiple relaxation rooms, waterbeds, a refreshment bar, and a reading room.
The hotelโs bold interior design honors the Montafon Valley with its use of local materials and regional motifs. You’ll see this keenly expressed in the hotel’s lavish lounge, bar, and lobby area.
Rooms are lovely, though on the smaller side.
We don’t recommend booking half board here. Though the service is exceptional, there are better places to eat in town.
More Austria Hiking Guides
Austria Hiking Guides:
Trekking:
Hiking-Themed Austria Itineraries:
- 2-Week Austria Road Trip
- 1-Week Austria Road Trip
- 10-Day Bavarian Alps – Tyrolean Alps Road Trip
- Salzkammergut Itinerary
