Fancy a challenging hike including a via ferrata with a rewarding view?

Surefootedness and a head for heights are essential for the ascent to the Alpspitze.

The Alpspitzbahn cable car makes the tour easier at 2050 m. This takes you up to the rock massif in just 9 minutes.

The via ferratas on the Alpspitze also start here. There is the Alpspitz Ferrata and the Schöne Gänge Klettersteig. The latter is presented in this tour.

After starting at the Alpspitzbahn mountain station, you descend along the ski slope on the Mauerläufersteig. Shortly after the rock break, follow the road across a flat meadow cirque until you reach a left turn. You will reach a scree field where you will find the entrance to the via ferrata. Caution: Do not follow the path under the north face to the Bernadeinkopf, but keep right before it.

Now follow the airy via ferrata through the Schöngänge. Once you reach the gap between Bernadeinkopf and Alpspitze, you can continue via the east ridge to the summit of the Alpspitze.

Alternatively, you can also descend via the north face trail without climbing the summit.

In this case, after exiting the wall, keep west to the north face of the Alpspitze and hike down the north face trail along the edge of the cirque. Once you reach the foot of the north face, the hiking trail takes you back to the Alpspitzbahn mountain station.

Tip: If you're unsure, the tour to the Alpspitze is also led by local mountain guides.

Tip: The via ferrata can get quite busy, so plan enough time.