4-DAY LOOP IN THE RÄTIKON IN AUSTRIA – WITH ASCENT OF SCHESAPLANA AND TRIP TO SWITZERLAND
Level: T2, with small parts T3
Period: late June – mid-September
The hiking times listed below are adapted to hiking with children.
Day 1: Take the Lünerseebahn gondola, situated at the end of the Brandnertal in Vorarlberg. You’ll arrive at the Douglashütte on the Lünersee (1979 m). Climb to the Totalphütte (2385 m) – 5 km, 2:00, ↑ 420 m, ↓ 10 m. This is a relatively short route, you could do this for example a bit later in the afternoon.
Day 2: Hike from the Totalphütte to the Mannheimerhütte (2679 m) – 5 km, 3:30, ↑ 565 m, ↓ 270 m. On the way, you could climb the Schesaplana (2964 m) – T3 (with steep sections and some cables). You can also do this the next day, on the way from the Mannheimerhütte to the Schesaplanahütte. If you include the Schesaplana on day 2: 6.5 km, 4:30, ↑ 780 m, ↓ 500 m
Day 3: Hike from the Mannheimerhütte to the Schesaplanahütte (1908 m) – 10 km, 5:00, ↑ 300 m, ↓ 1085 m. This hut is in Switzerland, so you’ll cross the border here through the mountains. Like mentioned before you can climb the Schesaplana (2964 m) today, but then it will be quite a long day with lots of descents. If you include the Schesaplana today: 11.6 km, 7:30, ↑ 525 m, ↓ 1310 m.
Day 4: Schesaplanahütte (2679 m) to the Douglasshütte (1979 m): 10 km, 5:00, ↑ 430 m, ↓ 355 m. Return with the Lünerseebahn, or stay another night at the Douglasshütte and take the Lünerseebahn back down the next day.
Handy to know: the Totalphütte, Schesaplanahütte and Douglashütte are easy to book via Alpsonline. You can park your car at the Lünersee Parkplatz (4 days parking: €15).
