Trekking in the Stubai Alps: Stubai Rucksack Route (Runde Tour) and Stubai Glacier Tour (Hoehen Weg)
Of all the many alpine areas, few can match the Stubai Alps in the Austrian province of Tyrol. With well-formed peaks, good trails and some of the best huts in the Alps, it offers ideal hiking routes for mountain hikers. The Stubai encompasses some of the best scenery in the Eastern Alps, the snow-capped peaks of the Wilder Freiger and Zuckerhuetl ranges stand proudly along the Frontier Ridge in an area with more than 100 peaks above 3000m.
Hiking in the Stubai Alps offers two brilliant routes for the experienced hiker: the Stubai Rucksack Route (Runde Tour) and the Stubai Glacier Route (Hoehen Weg).
Practical guide
When to go?
The summer alpine season begins when the huts open from mid-June to late September; snow can persist on north-facing slopes well into July; from mid-July to mid-September it is warmer and more settled.
Difficulties and advice
All trails are marked and frequently signposted; unless venturing onto glaciers, no special equipment or additional climbing skills are required.
Cities & Services
Neustift, Fulpmes, Telfes
Stubai Rucksack Route (Runde Tour)
This 9 to 11 day route links eight huts each with direct connections to the main Stubaital valley, with the exception of one, which means that it is possible to start or finish the route according to your preference and can be done clockwise or anti-clockwise.
Its complete traverse is possible without the need to cross glaciers or difficult passes, making the route ideal for people with little alpine experience. However, this does not mean that you will not encounter snow and steep terrain.
Stages
- Stage 1 Neder a la Cabaña Innsbrucker
- Stage 2 Innsbrucker Hut to Bremer Hut
- Stage 3 Bremer Hut to Nuernburger Hut by Simmingjochl
- Stage 4A Nuernburger Hut to Sulzenau Hut via Niederl
- Stage 4B Nuernburger Hut to Sulzenau Hut by Mair Spitze
- Stage 4C Nuernburger Hut to Sulzenau Hut by Wilder Freiger
- Stage 5A Sulzenau Hut to Dresdner Hut via Peiljoch
- Stage 5B Sulzenau Hut to Dresdner Hut by Grosser Trogler
- Stage 6 Dresdner Hut to Neue Regensburger Hut via Grawagrubennieder
- Stage 7 Hut Neue Regensburger to Hut Franz Senn by Schrimmenneider
- Stage 8 Franz Senn to the Starkenburger Hut
- Stage 9 Hut Starkenburger in Neustift
- Stage 9A Starkenburger Hut to Fulpmes
Stubai Glacier Route (Hoehen Weg)
This 7-8 day route, also known as Hoehen Weg, involves extensive glacier progressions, for which you will need the necessary technique and equipment (ropes, ice axe, crampons).
This is a fantastic multi-day route, ideal for climbers visiting the Alps for the first time, provided they have made the necessary preparations. It is also a hut-to-hut route, but instead of avoiding glaciers as on the first route, the very essence of this route is to traverse them.
Stages
- Stage 1 Milders to Franz Senn Hut
- Stage 2 Hut Franz Senn to Hut Amberger by Wildgrat Scharte
- Stage 3 Amberger Hut to Hoch Stubai Hut by Wuetenkar Sattel
- Stage 4 Hoch Stubai hut to the Hildesheimer hut via Bildstoeckljoch
- Stage 5 Hildesheimer Hut to Mueller Hut by Zuckerhuetl and Wilder Pfaff
- Stage 5A Hildesheimer Hut to Siegerland Hut
- Stage 5B Siegerland hut to Mueller hut by Sonklar Spitze
- Stage 6 Mueller hut to Nuernburger hut by Wilder Freiger
- Stage 7 Nuernburger Hut to Ranalt, Neustift and Innsbruck
