(c)Manuela de Pretis, WISTO

All roads lead ... to the Wiesbadner Hütte!

High alpine terrain with breathtaking views and family-friendly hikes

Rockslide on the Silvretta Road? That didn’t stop Belinda from her planned 3-day hut stay at the Wiesbadner Hütte with friends in mid-August.

Instead of traveling via Montafon, they quickly switched plans and took the train and bus via Landeck-Zams through the Paznaun Valley to the Bielerhöhe. The public transport journey from Vorarlberg was uncomplicated and pleasant. From Feldkirch, it’s about an hour by Railjet to Landeck-Zams. From there, bus line 260 departs every half hour, right from the station, heading up to the Silvretta reservoir.

The path around the Silvretta reservoir is leisurely | Photo (c)Thomas Schmiderer

With backpacks in tow, the small hiking group chose the shortest and easiest route to the Wiesbadner Hütte, which lies at 2,443 meters, making it the third-highest mountain hut in Vorarlberg. From the bus stop Bielerhöhe Gasthaus Piz Buin, they walked along the western shore of the reservoir until the well-marked hiking trail turned off into the Ochsental Valley. This trail runs parallel to the Ochsentalbach before steadily ascending to the hut.

With the right equipment, climbing is fun for both young and old | Photo (c)Thomas Schmiderer

Along the access road, which is also used for material transport, they encountered bikers, spotted marmots, and saw paragliders soaring down the valley. While the experienced hikers completed the route in under two hours, even the more relaxed walkers reached the destination in 2¼ hours. After a warm welcome and an easy “check-in” in the comfortable mattress dormitory, they ended the first day at the high-alpine shelter, which is equipped with everything a mountaineer could need.

The panorama from the Radsattel is breathtaking! | Photo (c)Thomas Schmiderer

The next day greeted the hiking group with the most beautiful mountain weather and a stunning view of the surrounding Silvretta mountains and the (ever-receding) glaciers – like the Ochsentaler Glacier at the foot of the Piz Buin, visible right from the window. After a hearty breakfast, the group decided on a hike up to the Radsattel, located to the northeast on the ridge between the Ochsental and Bieltal valleys. The path is well-marked and leads through rocky terrain. After about 1.5 hours, they arrived at the Radsattel, where it’s perfect to rest and explore the surroundings. Nearby is the Radschulter, which offers a lovely view of the Radsee and into the Bieltal, and the unofficial “Piz 6 R” at 2,701 meters.

Every summit rewards with a grand scene, like at the (unofficial) Piz 6 R summit. | Photo (c)Thomas Schmiderer

The Hohe Rad, a prominent, exposed peak and popular destination, is about 1 to 1.5 hours away from the Radsattel. Due to the rugged terrain, the hikers with children decided to skip it this time and descended the same way back to the Wiesbadner Hütte.

View from the Radsattel over the Ochsental Valley with the Vermunt, Ochsentaler, and Schneeglocke glaciers. Above them rise the Piz Buin (left) and the Silvrettahorn (right). | Photo (c)Thomas Schmiderer

For the hike on the second day, hut host Emil Widmann gave great tips. Belinda and her friends once again opted for a family-friendly tour towards the Tiroler Scharte. This pass lies to the east between the Tiroler Kopf and the Ochsenkopf and offers a unique view into the Tiroler Jamtal Valley with the Jamtalferner Glacier. To get there, the group followed the marked path from the hut, ascending to the relatively flat glacier foreland of the (former) Tiroler Glacier. Passing rock formations, streams, and snowfields, the trail eventually fades into a scree field, where hiking poles proved especially useful.

„Art from stones” on the plateau-like foreland of the vanished Tiroler Glacier with moraines, glacier streams, and sparse, high-alpine flora | Photo (c)Thomas Schmiderer

Vast views from the snow-covered Tiroler Scharte into the Jamtal | Photo (c)Thomas Schmider

On the way back, they passed a small lake below the Vermuntkopf, which was perfect for playing and relaxing. The elevation difference between the Wiesbadner Hütte and the Tiroler Scharte is about 490 meters, and the entire tour took five hours with breaks.

Small meltwater lake below the Vermuntkopf – water invites relaxation and play | Photo (c)Thomas Schmiderer

In the evening, the hikers ended their beautiful day with good food and a cozy gathering at the Wiesbadner Hütte. | Photo (c)Thomas Schmiderer

Conclusion of the 3-day hiking trip

The area around the Wiesbadner Hütte offers beautiful, relaxing, and challenging circular hikes and summit destinations for both families with children and experienced mountain climbers.

At the same time, the awareness of a changing high-mountain world is heightened – the retreating glaciers and crumbling rock walls are evident. In any case, everyone is eager to return!