Hi,
I am planning a hiking trip for next year (mid-June maybe) and discovered Vorarlberg. I hiked the Dolomites this year and am looking for something new, but spectacular.
I will be there for at least 7 full days maybe more with a car. I like to base myself in one place. Probably moderate hikes are my limit.
Is Vorarlberg a good pick? Seems to fit the bill. Looks like I can dip into Appenzell across the border pretty easily and have access to hikes there as well.
Vorarlberg is nice, like much of the Austrian Alps. I'm not sure I could call any particular place "spectacular." I have stayed in Boden, Lech, Schoppenau and Silbertal, and explored a lot of the region. Many Bergbahn to get you up into the mountains. One place I would not recommend basing out of is Bludenz. The town just did not do so much for me. One thing I will say was spectacular was the Mountains in Fames during the summer solstice. I was staying in Silbertal and was fortunate enough to have good weather that evening to see it there (2022). I have not got down to Silvretta, but that could be pretty nice. A car will really help you get around. No need to buy a Vignette if you stay on secondary roads.
https://www.montafon.at/en/my-montafon/special-features/solstice
Mchpp, thank you for your insight! I’m glad you mentioned Bludenz, because I thought that would make a logical home base.
Do you prefer another region in Austria for hiking? The appeal of Vorarlberg was that there seemed to be a lot of options within a one hour drive from a central base.
But if there is somewhere else better, would be good to know.
My immediate thoughts after the Dolomites were to go back, but I wanted to explore other options first.
Nothing wrong with Vorarlberg and it's hard to find an area in the Austrian Alps not good for hiking. So many well marked routes and mountain lifts. In general look at the valleys. North-South like The Zillertal, Stubaital, Ötztal, Pitztal, Raurisertal, Gasteinertal, Großarltal, etc. You might like Osttirol East-West like Virgental, Defereggental, Kaisertal (Kals am Großglockner). Other areas like Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis, the Zugspitze Arena and Ehrwald, around the Wilden Kaiser -Scheffau, Going and Ellmau, The area around Schladming-Dachstein - Ramsau am Dachstein. Seefeld in Tirol. Heiligenblut. Biosphärenpark Nockberge. Sorry not being much help and before long I'll name all of the Austrian Alps! My hiking days are slowly ending. A 6k steep hike 3 up and 3 down and a 14k relatively flat one was a challenge for me this year. People born in the Alps are like mountain goats. No fat people there. I'm tending to find smaller more secluded areas nowadays, finding a good place to stay and park myself. Limited public transportation there. I have my own car, so getting to these places is not difficult. I stayed in Lech, Gries (Ötzta), Hinterhornbach and just got back from the Lesachtal this year.
This is the most comprehensive hiking guide for Vorarlberg, listing 2500+ hikes. It is in German, but easily understandable. You can filter the selection by length, duration, height, etc.
https://www.bergfex.at/sommer/vorarlberg/touren/wandern
Thanks everyone. There is definitely an overwhelming amount of options for Austria. It is a good learning experience!
Having been to the Berner Oberland and the Dolomites, the other corners of the alps admittedly feel a little less exciting. But I’m sure I will have an amazing time anywhere I choose.?
Coming down to somewhere in Austria, back to the Dolomites, or Slovenia.
https://www.foto-webcam.eu/
My last stay for a week. Almost the same view from my rooms balcony.
https://www.lesachtal.com/de/Service/Live-aus-der-Region/Webcams
Great place the first week's in June : https://www.tirolerherz.at/anreise-und-service/webcam/
