Venediger Höhenweg light – 5 day hut hike in the Virgental in Austria
Level: T2, with some parts T3
Period: End June – mid September
In this hut hike you will hike a large chunk of the ‘Venediger Höhenweg’ in the Virgental in Austria. Hiking times mentioned below are adjusted to hiking with kids.
Check this route well for yourself in advance. There are many alternatives to this hike and the stages on this tour do change from time to time, especially due to rock fall.
Day 1: From Parkplatz Ströden (1450 m) to the Essener- und Rostocker hütte (2.208m): 5,5 km, 3:00, ↑ 800 m. From the car park, a wide path leads into the Maurertal valley. The path initially leads through the forest. After the Ochsnerhütte (2,068 m), you zigzag over a former moraine to the Essener Rostocker Hütte.
Day 2: Essener- und Rostocker hütte (2.208m) – Johannishütte (2.121 m): 7,6 km, 4:00, ↑ 600 m, ↓ 700 m. Following the Schwerinerweg, the path leads a little way into the Maurertal valley and then quickly gains altitude in serpentines to the Türmljoch (2,772 m). The descent from the Türmljoch starts gradually, is well marked with cairns and becomes increasingly steeper in the lower part of the path.See website of the Johannishütte for more info on this leg.
Day 3: Johannishütte – Eisseehütte (2421m): 5:00, 5,5 km, ↑ 800 m, ↓ 450 m. Level T3, with some cables. Leave the hut eastwards and ascend in a few serpentines to a prominent “Steinmann”. From there, walk in an easterly direction across wide mountain meadows of the “Zopat” to the junction of the “Kreuzspitze” (2750 m) and continue in an easterly direction along the foot of the Zopetspitze to the Zopetscharte. The first 100 metres of the descent are steep hairpin turns (secured with ropes). These then lead to the valley floor of the “Kleinitzalm”. After crossing the Timmelbach, you reach the Eisseehütte in a short time. See website of the Johannishütte for more info on this leg.
Day 4: Eisseehutte – Bonn Matreier hütte (2750m): 7 km, 4:00, ↑ 600 m, ↓ 370 m. As you walk away from the Eisseehüttehütte, the route remains almost at the same altitude. You are also surrounded by mountain peaks, such as the Großer and Kleiner Hexenkopf, Säulkopf and Rauhkopf. You pass under the Wunwand and climb steeply between the Wunalm and Wunspitze to the Eselrücken. From there it is not far to the Bonn-Matreier Hütte.
Day 5: Bonn Matreier hütte (2750) – Niljochhütte. 5 km, 2:30, ↓ 770 m. Hike from the Niljochhütte to Prägraten (2:00, ↓ 650 m) or parkplatz Bodenalm/Wallhorn (1680 m): 1:00, ↓ 300 m. From parkplatz Bodenalm/Wallhorn, take the Venediger taxi to Parkplatz Ströden.
Another great alternative: Four-day hut hike in the Virgental in Austria
Level: T2, with some parts T3
Period: End June – mid September
Day 1: From Parkplatz Bodenalm/Wallhorn (1680 m) to Jausenstation Bodenalm (1960 m) and on to the Neue Sajathutte (2573 m): 6,3 km, 4:00, ↑ 880 m.
Day 2: Neue Sajathutte ( 2573 m) – Eisseehütte (2521 m): 4:00, 5,5 km, ↑ 400 m, ↓ 450 m.
Day 3: Eisseehütte (2521 m) – Bonn Matreier hütte (2745 m): 7 km, 4:00, ↑ 550 m, ↓ 300 m.
Day 4: Bonn Matreier hütte (2745 m) naar Parkplatz Bodenalm/Wallhorn (1680 m): 3:00, ↑ 100 m, ↓ 1150 m.