5 friends, 8 days and 102 kilometres of tear-inducing mountain views. The Lechtal High Trail is one of the best backpacking trips I tackled in Tyrol, Austria. In this post, I will break it down day by day, give you tips on how to hike it safely on a self-guided tour, and prove that things don’t always go according to plan.
Lechtal High Trail: planning logistics
Important info about the Lechtal High Trail
The Lechtal High Trail, as the name suggests, runs through the Lechtaler Alps in western Austria. It begins in Lech, a small village in the Vorarlberg region, right on the border of Tyrol and finishes over 100 kilometres to the East in Nassereith.
There are 13 mountain huts in total along the trail. Most of the trail runs between 2000 and 2500 meters above sea level, ensuring uninterrupted mountain views.
To tackle the route, you certainly need hiking experience and be comfortable traversing airy passages and steep slopes. Some sections are classified as T4 black trails, so being free of vertigo is a must.
When to go: End of June – September
Days Required: 8
Total Distance: 102 km / 63.4 mi
Total Elevation Gain: 7140 m / 23430 ft
Map Required: Kompass Lechtaler Alpen Hornbachkette
Trail Difficulty: Hard
Starting Point: Lech
End Point: Nassereith
The map of the Lechtal High Trail
Getting there
I met my group in Sankt Anton am Arlberg, a small alpine village and a famous ski resort, the day before we started the hike. We all travelled here by train. Sankt Anton is well-connected to other cities in Austria and Germany. It takes 1 hour 10 minutes to reach Sankt Anton from Innsbruck, or about 3 hours by train from Munich, Germany.
By public transport
We started the hike by taking the Rufikopfbahn gondola in Lech. There is a bus stop called Lech Rüfiplatz right next to the gondola station. From Sankt Anton (West Terminal), we took bus no. 760. The journey took 40 minutes.
By car
Since the Lechtal High Trail is one-way, I don’t recommend driving to the start, as it will only be a hindrance. You will need to pay for overnight parking, then take public transport to pick up the car after completing the route.
TIP: Download the VVT (Verkehrsverbund Tirol) Tickets app to check bus connections and purchase public transport tickets.
The average daily cost of hiking the Lechtal High Trail
You need to be prepared to spend at least 100-120 Euros per person daily on the trail. Half-board prices, which include an overnight stay, dinner, and breakfast in the huts, are around 65-70 Euros with the Alpine Club discount and 70-80 Euros without.
Additionally, budget for lunches, drinks, and any snacks you may buy along the way, as well as shower tokens, which cost a few Euros per hut. My own budget usually hovers around 100 euros per night.
TIP: Read my post about what to expect when staying in mountain huts in the Dolomites. It’s just as relevant for Tyrol.
Where to stay before starting the trail
I recommend staying at least one night in either Sankt Anton or Lech before taking off on your adventure. Both are famous mountain resorts with many restaurants, cafes, and outdoor shops where you can do last-minute shopping if you forgot to pack something.
Best Value
This is where we stayed. The hotel lies just steps from the West Terminal bus station in Sankt Anton. It offers a great breakfast, friendly staff, and comfortable rooms.
Top Rated
Stay here if you would like to relax in a spa before the hike. The hotel is a 7-minute walk from the Mooserkreuz bus stop, which lies on the 760 route to Lech.
Lechtal High Trail: day-by-day breakdown
Before I get to the breakdown, I need to mention that there is more than one variant of the Lechtal High Trail. The one my group and I chose was partly determined by hut availability and partly by current trail conditions.
On half the days, we had to reroute due to recent landslides that had eroded the paths. Thankfully, with a wide network of hiking trails along the Lechtal High Trail, detours are not a problem; there is usually more than one way to reach the next hut.
TIP: To better understand the trail network, I recommend buying the printed Kompass Lechtaler Alpen Hornbachkette map.
Lechtal High Trail Day 1: Lech to Leutkircher Hut
Distance
18.4 kilometres / 11.4 miles
Elevation gain/loss
1190 meters (3900 feet) / 1250 meters (4100 feet)
Time required
7-9 hours
The map & elevation profile of day 1
Trail breakdown
From the centre of Lech, take the Rufikopfbahn cable car to the top (2362 m / 7749 ft) and follow signs for Stuttgarter Hut (2310 m / 7578 ft). The trail, which leads over Rauhe-Kopf-Notch (2415 m / 7923 ft), is numbered 645 on the map.
After 5.6 kilometres (3.5 mi) of a relatively easy trail, you will reach the Stuttgarter hut. From here, the trail no. 644 goes up gently before dropping sharply to Erlach Alpe (1922 m / 6305 ft). During this stage, you will lose ca. 500 meters (1640 ft) of elevation.
From the Erlach Alpe (9.6 km / 5.7 mi mark), there are two trail variants to follow, but due to recent landslides, we opted for the longer (but gentler) route. 85, which first descends further down the valley to Bodenalpe (1554 m / 5100 ft and 15 km / 9.3 mi mark). The last 3 kilometres (1.7 mi) of the day are spent hiking up 700 vertical meters (ca. 2300 ft) to the Leutkircher hut. We definitely felt the first day in our legs after we reached the hut.
Overnight stay & lunch possibilities
We opted for an early lunch at the Stuttgarter hut, and it was a big hit. The hut is run by a Nepalese Sherpa Ang Kami Lama, who has summited Mount Everest. On the menu we found Nepalese Momos, which were absolutely delicious and a nice welcome to the boring Austrian cuisine that is typically served in the huts, and as you can probably tell, I am not a big fan of.
Leutkircher hut, where we spent our first night on the Lechtal High Trail, lies at 2251 meters (7385 ft) above sea level on the Almura saddle and offers a view of Sankt Anton. Some of the staff were Nepalese, and we were served a lovely dal in the evening, with free refills. We definitely didn’t go to bed hungry that night.
The only negative thing I’ve got to say about the hut is that the restaurant area is definitely not big enough to hold all the guests, but it certainly made it cosy.
Day 1: Alternative approach to Leutkircher Hut
If you don’t want a long first day, or you are starting late, you can begin directly from Sankt Anton. Take the Gampenbahn chairlift first, then the Kapallbahn. Once you reach the top chairlift station, follow trail no. 601 to Leutkicher hut. The distance for this variant is only 4.1 kilometres (2.55 mi), with 150 metres (492 ft) of elevation gain and 220 metres (722 ft) of loss.
Lechtal High Trail Day 2: Leutkircher Hut to Ansbacher Hut
Distance
13.8 kilometres / 8.6 miles
Elevation gain/loss
1020 meters (3350 feet) / 910 meters (2990 feet)
Time required
6-8 hours
The map & elevation profile of day 2
Trail breakdown
Day 2 of the Lechtal High Trail brings a lot of ups and downs, quite literally. The entire day is spent on an undulating trail above 2250 meters (7382 ft) on path no. 601 and 635.
Today, your nerves will be tested for the first time as you pass a narrow trail with a drop on your right, beneath the Stanskogel mountain.
Throughout the day, you can expect a few short but very steep passages that are secured with steel cables. In some places, wooden planks have been installed to ensure a safe passage. I marked them on the map.
The highlights of the day are the two turquoise lakes that you pass: Vordersee and Hintersee.
Overnight stay & lunch possibilities
4.8 kilometres (3 mi) into the day, you will come across the Kaiserjochhaus alpine hut. We reached it around 10 AM after 2 hours of hiking. Lunches at the huts are usually served from 11 or 12, so we opted for a couple of pieces of cake each and a hot chocolate to give us the strength to carry on. The cake kept us going until the end.
Ansbacher hut, where we spent the second night, is perched on an outcrop at 2376 meters (7795 ft), and it is the highest hut in the Lechtal Alps. It has a beautiful terrace, where you can bask in the afternoon sun and enjoy the direct views of the Hohe Riffler summit.
Day 2: Early exit route
If you need an early evacuation plan on day 2, your best option is to follow trail 641 from Kaiserjochhaus down to the village of Pettneu am Arlberg. It takes ca. 2.5 hours to reach the town (4,7 km / 2.9 mi and 1050 meters / 3445 ft of elevation loss). Pettneu am Alberg has a train station and is well connected to Innsbruck, the closest major city.
Lechtal High Trail Day 3: Ansbacher Hut to Memminger Hut
Distance
14.5 kilometres / 9 miles
Elevation gain/loss
1200 meters (3940 feet) / 1340 meters (4400 feet)
Time required
7-9 hours
The map & elevation profile of day 3
Trail breakdown
Day 3 is demanding, with 1200 meters (3940 ft) of elevation gain and even more descent. The day starts with a gentle climb from Ansbacher hut to Griesslscharte saddle (2632 m / 8635 ft) on trail 601. We were surprised by a few snowfields we had to cross on this section, even though it was already the beginning of August. The saddle is reached after 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) from the Ansbacher hut.
From the saddle, you have to descend on a beginner-level via ferrata section, secured by steel cables. After that, you begin a long slog down to the Parseier valley bottom. Prepare for over 1000 meters (3280 ft) of elevation loss. The suffering is compensated for by the beautiful views of the surroundings.
Once we reached the river at the valley bottom, we were greeted by a trail closure sign again, which meant a slight reroute to the next hut.
Normally, you have to continue on trail no. 601 to the Memminger hut; however, we had to drop further down to the Alpli hut, then for the last 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) follow trail 632 up, which circles the Seekogel mountain.
Warning: Once you start the climb up to the Memminger hut, don’t drink the water from the stream. Unfortunately, the warning sign was posted only after we had completed 500 meters (1640 ft) of elevation gain. 2 of us had already filled our water pouches at the valley bottom and drunk the water. We both got sick 24 and 48 hours later, respectively.
Overnight stay & lunch possibilities
There are no other huts along the route where you can grab a lunch, so I recommend ordering lunch to go and buying some chocolate bars the night before at the Ansbacher hut.
Memminger Hut greets you with Nepalese flags gently blowing in the wind. Its idyllic location is a sight to behold; unfortunately, you are soon met with the dark side of this hut.
Memminger hut lies at the intersection of the famous E5 trail and the Lechtal High Trail, so it often sees double the traffic. It also had to fight a bed bug infestation until recently. Upon check-in, we were instructed that everyone’s backpack had to remain in a specially set-up quarantine tent and that we were not allowed to bring them into the rooms. Don’t worry, none of us brought bed bugs home. The situation seems to be under control.
On top of that, rooms are filled to capacity with hikers, and usually 3 people have to share two mattresses, which means someone has to sleep in the gap between them. We also had two very loud snorers in our room that night, which meant none of us got the rest we so badly needed.
Thankfully, the staff were super lovely and somewhat made up for the bad conditions.
Day 3: Early exit route
If you want to call it a day after the night in the Ansbacher hut, you can take the trail no. 633 to Fritz hut, then descend to Schnann village, where you can catch a bus to Sankt Anton. The total distance from Ansbacher hut to Schnann is 4.8 km (3 mi), with a loss of 1,150 meters (3,773 ft) in elevation, and it takes ca. 2.5-3 hours.
Day 3: Possible extensions
Once you reach Memminger hut, you can summit the nearby Seekogel mountain (2412 m / 7913 ft). It is a roughly 1-hour round trip from the hut, with 170 meters (557 ft) of elevation gain. We decided we were done for the day and opted for sunset drinks on the terrace instead.
Lechtal High Trail Day 4: Memminger Hut to Steinsee Hut
Distance
14.6 kilometres / 9.1 miles
Elevation gain/loss
1240 meters (4070 feet) / 1410 meters (4630 feet)
Time required
7-9 hours
The map & elevation profile of day 4
Trail breakdown
Our original plan for day 4 was to hike to Steinsee hut via Württemberghaus on the high-alpine black trail, but after consulting the snowy trail conditions, we opted for the alternative: the 5 Joch (or 5 Saddle) route. As you can probably guess, we crossed 5 saddles that day. It’s a lot of ups and downs, totalling 1240 meters (4070 ft) of elevation gain and 1410 meters (4630 ft) of elevation loss. Believe it or not, the 5-saddle route is the easier of the two.
From Memminger hut, you first follow the signs for Hanauer hut. After 1.6 kilometres (1 mi) on trail 621, you will reach the first saddle: Oberlahmsjoch (2488 m / 8163 ft). You then drop to 1964 meters (6444 ft) and climb again to the next three small saddles:
- Streichgampenjoch (2221 m / 7287 ft) at 5.9 km (3.7 mi),
- Alblitjoch (2281 / 7484 ft) at 7.2 km (4.5 mi),
- Mintschejoch (2264 / 7428 ft) at 8.6 km (5.3 mi).
From Mintschejoch, follow the signs for the Steinsee hut. You will have one more saddle to cross: Gufelgrasjoch (2382 m / 7818 ft), 12.2 km (7.6 mi) into the trail. From the last saddle, it is all the way down to the Steinsee hut
Overnight stay & lunch possibilities
If you follow the high-alpine route via the Württemberger Haus, you can stop for lunch there; otherwise, you need to order another packed lunch from the Memminger hut, as there are no lunch options along the 5-saddle route.
Upon arrival at the Steinsee hut, we were immediately asked to surrender our sleeping bag liners, which were then subjected to a 1-minute quarantine in the microwave. We also had to store our backpacks in a separate room from where we were sleeping. Only guests who are coming from the Miemminger hut are asked to do this.
Unfortunately, I can’t speak much about my stay in the Steinsee hut because once I made it to the hut and sat on the terrace, I was immediately struck with chills and spent the rest of the evening shivering in my bed or throwing up on the toilet. The next morning, the Warden told me that I had the typical “Miemminger hut sickness”. It definitely came from drinking that water!
My companions seemed to love the Steinsee hut and praised the friendly warden. There were even some yoga mats available for stretching after a long day of hiking.
Day 4: Early exit route
If you want to call it a day after sleeping in Memminger hut, you can exit the Lechtal High Trail after reaching Alblitjoch, 7.2 kilometres (4.5 mi) into the day. From Alblitjoch (also written Albllittjöchl), follow trail 626 for another 6.5 kilometres (4 mi) with 940 meters (3084 ft) of elevation loss until you reach the tiny village called Gramais.
Day 4: Possible extensions
Once you reach the Steinsee hut, you will have the opportunity to tackle the nearby Steinsee Klettersteig (Via ferrata in German), which leads to the summit of Steinkarspitze. It has a B/C difficulty level and can be completed in 3 hours. You can rent gear at the Steinsee hut if you don’t have your own.
My tip is to do it the next morning before moving on to the Hanauer hut, since the 5th day of the Lechtal High Trail is pretty short. Given my condition, tackling a via ferrata was the last thing on my mind, but I do plan to go back, since the Lechtaler Alps are very close to where I live.
Lechtal High Trail Day 5: Steinsee Hut to Hanauer Hut
Distance
4.6 kilometres / 2.9 miles
Elevation gain/loss
400 meters (1310 feet) / 520 meters (1710 feet)
Time required
2-3 hours
The map & elevation profile of day 5
Trail breakdown
Day 5 is the easiest on the Lechtal High Trail and can be considered a rest day, but given the weak state I was in after my water poisoning, it turned out to be the hardest. I had to fight hard to tackle the mere 4.6 kilometres (2.9 mi).
The route from Steinsee hut to Hanauer hut is pretty straightforward. It first climbs up to the Vordere Dremmerlscharte saddle (2434 m / 7986 ft), which you reach after 2 kilometres (1.2 mi). There are quite a few cable-protected sections near the saddle, but the trail’s official rating is red. The Hanauer hut is already visible from the saddle. The next 2.6 kilometres (1.7 mi) is a downhill hike to the hut. The entire trail is numbered 601.
Overnight stay & lunch possibilities
Hanauer Hut lies at 1922 meters (6305 ft) above sea level and is relatively easy to reach via a bike-hike trail from the village of Boden. Many hikers visit the hut on a day trip. It was also the largest hut we stayed in, and that meant more comfort.
The wardens of the hut, the Kirschner family, have tended it since 2002, and they come from a line of very dedicated hut wardens. 5 out of 6 siblings became hut wardens, and the one who didn’t became a mountain guide instead. It just goes to show how deeply connected they are to Alpine culture. It shows in their fantastic customer service.
Day 5: Early exit route
If you want to finish the Lechtal High Trail on day 5, you have two options:
- Exit from the Steinsee hut to Zams on trail no. 631 (Distance: 11.5 km / 7.1 mi, elevation loss 1300 meters / 4265 ft, time required 4.5 hours). Zams has a train station and lies on the Innsbruck-Sankt Anton route.
- Once you reach Hanauer hut, continue on trail 601 to Boden. This will add 5.4 kilometres (3.4 mi) to your day, and you will drop an additional 560 meters (1837 ft) of elevation. From Boden, you can catch a public bus to Imst, then a train to your next destination. We opted for the latter option after our night in the Hanauer hut. I returned a year later with another friend to complete the rest of the Lechtal High Trail.
Day 5: Possible extensions
Even though day 5 is quite short in terms of distance, there are a few ways to extend it. Apart from the Steinsee via ferrata, which I mentioned earlier, there are two additional via ferratas just below the Hanauer hut (variants A/B and C/D). Whichever variant you choose to tackle, you need to account for an extra 1.5 hours and an additional 150 meters (492 ft) of elevation gain. It is possible to rent via ferrata gear at the Hanauer Hut. I did the easier variant on another occasion, a year later, after completing the Lechtal High Trail.
You can also hike to the summit of Dremerlspitze (2733 m / 8967 ft), which involves a small detour from the Vordere Dremelscharte, which you will cross between the Steinsee hut and the Hanauer hut. From the saddle to the summit, there is an additional 300 meters of elevation gain (984 ft) and 1 hour. You will need via ferrata gear to go to the top.
Lechtal High Trail Day 6: Hanauer Hut to Anhalter Hut
Distance
12.7 kilometres / 7.9 miles
Elevation gain/loss
840 meters (2760 feet) / 730 meters (2400 feet)
Time required
5-6 hours
The map & elevation profile of day 6
Trail breakdown
From Hanauer hut, you first follow a single trail, which then becomes a gravel road leading to Boden (1356 m / 4449 ft). From Boden, continue on the E4/39 trail towards Hahntenjoch. Part of this trail (ca. 3 kilometres / 1.8 mi) follows or runs parallel to a road, and it is not particularly exciting. If you want, you can skip this section by taking the bus.
From Hahntenjoch, continue on trail 601 to Steinjöchl saddle, which you will reach after 11.5 kilometres / 7.1 miles. The last kilometre drops down to the Anhalter hut.
Overnight stay & lunch possibilities
You can grab lunch in one of the hotels in Boden or Pfafflar, the two villages you will cross.
The 6th night of the Lechtal High Trail is spent in the Anhalter hut. It is the fanciest and best-equipped hut along the way. The hut and its facilities have recently been renovated. I even managed to score a private room for my friend and me, which meant a great night of sleep. All in all, 10/10 experience.
Day 6: Early exit route
If you want to finish the Lechtal High Trail on day 6, you can catch a bus from Boden to Imst, the nearest town.
Alternatively, you can hike from Hanauer hut to Muttekopf hut, then to the top gondola station of Imster Bergbahnen (11.3 km / 7 mi, 1060 m / 3478 ft elevation gain, 960 m / 3150 ft elevation loss, time required 6-7 hours, partially black trails). Once you reach the gondola, you can take it down to Imst.
Lechtal High Trail Day 7: Anhalter Hut to Lorea Hut
Distance
17.6 kilometres / 11 miles
Elevation gain/loss
1230 meters (4040 feet) / 1240 meters (4070 feet)
Time required
7-9 hours
The map & elevation profile of day 7
Trail breakdown
Scenically, this was supposed to be one of the most beautiful days on the Lechtal High Trail, but unfortunately, we spent most of it hiking in the rain or in the clouds.
Shortly after leaving the Anhalter hut and continuing along trail 601, as on previous days, you will cross two small saddles: Kromsattel and Hinterbergjoch. From here, you will begin a long descent to Tarrentonalm, which lies 7 kilometres (4.3 miles) into day 7.
For the next 4.5 kilometres (2.8 mi), the Lechtal High trail follows a gravel road until you reach a sign on your left-hand side pointing to Lorea Hut.
The next 5 kilometres (3.1) are a long ascent, first through the forest, then across high alpine pastures, and lastly over scree slopes to the Lorea Col, from where you can get your first glimpse of the Lorea Hut.
Overnight stay & lunch possibilities
Tarrentonalm is a cattle station, but they do cater to hikers. We bought a cake and coffee there, which fueled us through the second half of the day.
Lorea Hut is the last hut on the Lechtal High Trail, and it was an absolute highlight for me. Here comes the tricky part, though. The hut is self-sufficient, which means it doesn’t have a permanent warden. It requires a key, which I had to pick up a few days earlier at the Alpine Club Office in Innsbruck, along with a 100 Euro deposit and a 10 Euro daily rental fee. The hut operates on an honesty box; it costs just 10 Euros to stay overnight for Alpine Club members and 22 Euros for non-members.
There are blankets and pillows, as well as kitchen utensils, in the hut, but you will need to bring your own food, which you will have to carry with you from the start. Two dehydrated meals should suffice, though. There is a wooden stove which you need to light up to boil and sterilise the water. The hut also has toilets and a (cold) shower.
We were lucky because when we arrived at the hut, soaked to the bone, there was actually a warden (just a volunteer member of the Alpine Club) who already had a fire going and had boiled the water for us. The hut is very small but ultra-cosy. Apart from the two of us, there were just 8 of us there that night. If you don’t mind the extra hassle of getting a key and carrying your food, I cannot recommend it enough.
Day 7: Early exit route
4.5 kilometres after Tarrentonalm (2.8 mi) and 11.5 kilometres (7.1 mi) into the trail, instead of going up to Lorea Col and Lorea hut, continue on the gravel road until you reach Nassereith. The total stats for the day, if you follow this route, are 17.3 kilometres (10.7 mi) with 270 meters (886 ft) of elevation gain and 1440 meters (4724 ft) of elevation loss.
Day 7: Possible extensions
Once you reach the Lorea Col, you can leave your backpack and summit the nearby Loreakopf. This will add circa 1.5 kilometres (0.9 mi) and 110 meters (361 ft) of elevation to your day.
Lechtal High Trail Day 8: Lorea Hut to Nassereith (Fernstein Lake)
Distance
5.4 kilometres / 3.6 miles
Elevation gain/loss
20 meters (70 feet) / 1080 meters (3540 feet)
Time required
2-3 hours
The map & elevation profile of day 8
Trail breakdown
The last leg of the Lechtal High Trail descends mostly through forest from Lorea Hut to Fernstein Lake near Nassereith. From here, you can either walk or take a bus to Nassereith. The bus stop is right near the lake.
Congrats, you just walked over 100 kilometres (62 mi) through some of the most beautiful landscapes of the Austrian Alps!
Where to stay after completing the Lechtal High Trail
Nassereith, where the trail ends, is a small alpine village at the North end of the Gurgl Valley. I am not a big fan of this place, so I recommend staying overnight in either Imst or Mieminger Plateau, both within a 15-20 minute bus ride from Nassereith.
Best Value
Stadthotel Eggerbräu (Imst)
This hotel is located in the centre of Imst, just a 20-minute bus ride away from Nassereith. Imst has a train station, making it easy to return home or continue your journey.
Top rated
Holzleiten Bio Wellness Hotel (Obsteig)
I have been to this hotel many times, and I recommend it to anyone who wants to unwind in the spa and quiet surroundings after completing the Lechtal High Trail. The hotel is located in Obsteig, 15 minutes from Nassereith on the 350 bus route between Nassereith and Innsbruck.
Onward travel
Depending on your next destination, I recommend a couple of options for onward travel. The first is to travel by bus to Innsbruck, the next-largest city. There is a direct bus (no. 350) from Nassereith to Innsbruck, running every hour. The journey takes approximately 75 minutes.
If you left your car in Sankt Anton or Lech and need to pick it up, take a bus from Nassereith to Imst/Pitztal Bahnhof Train Station, then catch a train to Sankt Anton.
FAQ about the Lechtal High Trail
The Leutkircher hut (night 1), Ansbacher Hut (night 2), Memminger Hut (night 3) and Hanauer Hut (night 5), can be booked with Hütten Holiday Portal. Reservations for the Steinsee hut (night 4) and the Anhalter Hut (night 6) are made through the Alpine Club website. Lorea Hut (night 7) can be booked via e-mail kontakt@lorea-huette.de
I recommend booking as soon as reservations open for the season, usually in January. The sooner you book, the higher your chances of getting a spot in the exact huts where you plan to stay. Thanks to booking early I was able to secure private room for our group in all but one hut.
We did have reception around the huts, but it wasn’t great, often just one or two bars. Along the trails the reception was spotty. It’s best to inform your friends or loved ones about your plans and let them know you might be out of phone reach for a few days. For your own safety always write your name down in the notebooks in the huts. It’s a standard practice on multi-day trails in Europe.
No, you don’t. There are late entry / early exit possibilities each day, which I write about in the post. You can start or finish on any day, which is exactly what we did, when we had to cut our hike short due to my water poisoning on day 6.
No, apart from hut reservations you don’t need any permits to hike the Lechtal High Trail.
The number one rule is not to overpack. Duvets or blankets, as well as food and water are available in the huts. I have a comprehensive hut-to-hut packing list which should come handy when you are packing for the Lechtal High Trail. One thing I would add are crampons for your shoes, especially when you are going early in the season when snowfields still remain, particularly on the Northern slopes. I wished we had them with us on a couple occasions, when I hiked the trail in the first week of August.
There are short passages secured with steel cables which you have to tackle almost every day. We did the route without via ferrata gear, but if you’re not comfortable on exposed sections and prefer to stay clipped in, bring the via ferrata set. The via ferrata sections are of beginner difficulty with A/B rating. To know what it means check out my beginner’s via ferrata guide.
Most huts prefer cash payments over cards, but we were able to pay with cards in a couple of huts. My advice is to bring cash in the 80/20 ratio, meaning the 20 percent of your payments can be done with card.
I generally recommend around 100-120 Euros/person/day to cover your food and sleeping expenses, as well as buying lunch along the way plus any drinks and extras you might have at the hut. Those on a budget who stay in the cheapest rooms, can get away with approx. 80 Euros/person/day.
While most alpine streams are ok to drink from and I never had a problem doing so, I did have a terrible experience of getting water poisoining after drinking water from the stream on day 3. Stay safe and stick to filling up your water in the huts, where filters are installed. Each hut has their own system and the staff will generally inform you about it upon check in.
How would you compare hiking hut-to-hut in Austria versus the Dolomites?
Hi Lorenz. The distances between the huts in Austria can sometimes be longer. Same for the elevation gain, you usually do more daily elevation gain in Austria. The locals in Tyrol are a lot more friendly and generally nicer, than Italians. Views are very different, but both spectacular. All in all, it is a very similar experience.