Lechtal Alps

The mountain range of the Northern Limestone Alps is located to a small extent in Vorarlberg, but the vast majority is undisputedly located in Tyrol. In the form of a chain of mountains, the area extends over an impressive main ridge with several branching side ridges, which give the landscape a varied appearance - barren scree passages meet flower-lined, green meadows.

Out of the more than 600 peaks of the Lechtal Alps, one stands out in particular - the Parseierspitze above Landeck - at 3,036 meters the highest elevation of the Lechtal Alps and also the only three-thousander of the Northern Limestone Alps. If you want to conquer it, the best starting point is the Augsburger Hütte, where you initially hike over a section of the Augsburger Höhenweg through the Gasillschlucht. Then you reach the south wall of the mountain via a cirque, where you continue to fight your way up to the summit. The south wall route is marked, but almost entirely a climbing route with partial risk of falling rocks. Walking time from the hut: 3 hours.

The aforementioned Augsburger Höhenweg is a high alpine hiking trail that connects the Augsburger Hütte with the Ansbacher Hütte. It reaches heights of almost 3,000 meters and is accordingly challenging. Expect a total walking time of 8-10 hours.

It is easier to conquer the Gatschkopf, which at 2,945 meters still ranks as the fourth highest mountain in the region. Several climbing aids make the ascent easier. Once again, the starting point is the Augsburger Hütte, continuing through the Gasillschlucht, over the Patrolscharte and finally along the western ridge to the summit.

The fact that hikers have a wide range of options here is proven by numerous other hiking trails, such as the European Long Distance Trail E5, which also passes through the Lechtal Alps. Originating in the Allgäu Alps, it reaches the Lechtal at Holzgau and passes through the stations Madau, Memminger Hütte, Seescharte, Zammerloch, Zams and Landeck.

In addition, there is the Lechtaler Höhenweg along the main ridge of the Lechtal Alps. You will need between 10 and 15 days for the approximately 100 kilometers. 13 Alpine club huts offer accommodation and meals along the way. The greenish-blue shimmering Steinsee delights hikers as a special natural spectacle. However, only embark on this high-altitude trail if you have mountain experience, a head for heights, and surefootedness.

And last but not least, the Via Alpina (a total of 5,000 kilometers from Trieste to Monaco) also makes its way through the mountainous landscape here.

Due to the steep slopes and the particularly rocky scenery, ski resorts in the Lechtal Alps are rather scarce - except for the area around the Arlberg in the western part with the popular winter sports resorts St. Anton and Zürs.

You don't have to do without nature reserves. There are plenty of them in the Tyrolean part. For example, the Naturschutzgebiet Ehrwalder Becken - a magical-looking moorland with a rich variety of different butterfly and bird species, iris varieties, and orchid plants. Or the Naturpark Tiroler Lech between the Lechtal and Allgäu Alps, through which the Lech winds as a pristine wild river, accompanied by impressive floodplain forests and grassland sections.