Glatthorn
2,134 m
Austria
- Elevation
- 2,134 m
- Prominence
- 647 m
- Difficulty
- 3/10
- Mountain hike
- Best Season
- Jul–Sep
- Routes
- 1
Routes
1The usual way up from the Faschinajoch: the Stafelalpe chairlift to its middle station, the flower trail and the ridge to the Schluchtensattel (1,987 m), then 30 minutes up a steep, partly cable-secured flank to the summit. Descend the cabled east ridge to the Franz-Josef-Hütte and the Stafelalpe. About 365 m of ascent, 2½–3½ hours for the loop.
Elevation Profile
- Distance
- 2.3 km
- one way
- Ascent
- +383 m
- start → summit
- High Point
- 2,134 m
- Time Up
- 1h 36m
- DIN 33466
- Time Down
- 1h 07m
- DIN 33466 · same way back
From the car park at the Faschinajoch (1,486 m), the pass between the Großes Walsertal and Damüls, ride the Stafelalpe double chairlift to its middle station. The Blumen-Wander-Lehrpfad, a flower trail laid out in 2005, runs west along the north flank with views towards Damüls and up the ridge to the Schluchtensattel (1,987 m). From the saddle the summit is about 30 minutes away up a steep flank that is partly secured with fixed ropes; the last 150 m of height are steep and tiring rather than difficult. The summit cross looks over the Bregenzerwald, the Lechquellen mountains, the Rätikon, Silvretta and Verwall, and on clear days to the Säntis and Lake Constance. Descend by the east ridge, very steep at first just below the summit and also secured with ropes in places, to the Franz-Josef-Hütte (an alpine restaurant), then past the Stafelalpe back to the Faschinajoch, on foot or by chairlift. The loop can be done in reverse. Without the lift, the round trip from the Faschinajoch is about 650 m and 4½ hours. The chairlift is an open double chair that only runs in dry weather.
Start
Mittelstation Stafelalpe-Lift1,767 m
- Stafelalpe double chairlift, Faschinajoch (1,486 m) to 1,865 m via a middle station; summer 2026 daily 20 June – 13 September and 26 September – 11 October, plus weekends from late May; 08:45–12:00 and 13:00–16:00; dry weather only
- Landbus line 570 (Großes Walsertal) to the stop Faschina Passhöhe; timetables at vmobil.at.
Stages
| Day | Stage | km | m ascent | m descent | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mittelstation Stafelalpe-Lift → Glatthorn | 2.3 | 383 | 18 | 1h 36m |
Waypoints
- Lift: Mittelstation Stafelalpe-Lift1,767 m
Middle station of the Stafelalpe chairlift from the Faschinajoch (valley station 1,486 m)
- Col: Schluchtensattel1,986 m
- Summit: Glatthorn2,134 m
Key Passages
- Blumen-Wander-Lehrpfad along the north flank
- Schluchtensattel
- Steep, partly cable-secured summit flank
- Very steep start of the east-ridge descent
Equipment
0/4 packedDownloads
Route confidence 80%Overview
A steep grassy triangle of 2,133–2,134 m above the Faschinajoch in Vorarlberg, between Damüls and the Großes Walsertal. A chairlift does most of the climbing; the last half-hour is a steep, partly cable-secured flank, with a cabled east ridge for the descent.
The Glatthorn rises west of the Faschinajoch, the road pass linking the Großes Walsertal (Fontanella-Faschina) with Damüls in the Bregenzerwald. With the Türtschhorn (2,096 m) just to the south it forms a distinct double summit, and from the Stafelalpe it appears as a clean, isolated triangle of steep grass and rock. Its name refers to those smooth flanks.
Which range it belongs to depends on the classification: the Alpine Club's AVE and SOIUSA draw the boundary at the Faschinajoch, making the Glatthorn the highest peak of the Bregenzerwald mountains, while Seibert (2008) places it in the Lechquellen mountains. Either way it is a local landmark with a wide view over the Bregenzerwald, the Lechquellen mountains, Rätikon, Silvretta and Verwall, and as far as the Säntis and Lake Constance.
The Faschina ski area covers its north side, and the Stafelalpe chairlift makes the summit a short half-day outing. It is still a proper mountain at the top: the summit flank and the east ridge are steep enough to need fixed ropes in places.
Climbing Notes
With the chairlift, the loop is about 365 m of ascent and 2½–3½ hours; on foot from the Faschinajoch it is about 650 m and 4½ hours. The summit sections are graded T3: steep grass and rock with cable handlines, requiring sure-footedness and a head for heights but no climbing. Families or those uneasy with heights can stay on the lower paths to the Franz-Josef-Hütte.
Avoid the summit flank and east ridge when wet or icy, as steep grass becomes treacherous. The open chairlift runs only in dry weather and pauses between 12:00 and 13:00; check its status before relying on it. Start early in summer to avoid afternoon thunderstorms.
Season
Best Jul–Sep- January: Not advisable
- February: Not advisable
- March: Not advisable
- April: Not advisable
- May: Possible
- June: Good
- July: Best (best window)
- August: Best (best window)
- September: Best (best window)
- October: Good
- November: Not advisable
- December: Not advisable
- Jan
- Ski area; summit flanks steep and avalanche-prone
- Feb
- Winter
- Mar
- Winter
- Apr
- Spring snow
- May
- Chairlift runs on some weekends from late May; snow possible on the steep north side
- Jun
- Daily chairlift from about 20 June; flower trail at its best
- Jul
- Main season; afternoon thunderstorms
- Aug
- Main season
- Sep
- Chairlift runs most of the month (short break mid-September in 2026)
- Oct
- Chairlift until about 11 October; frost on steep grass
- Nov
- Early winter
- Dec
- Winter; ski area
Access & Permits
- Fees
- Stafelalpe chairlift ticket; free with the Gäste-Card Bregenzerwald & Großes Walsertal (stays of 3 nights or more)
- Getting There
Fontanella-Faschina (also Damüls)
Friedrichshafen (FDH) or Zürich (ZRH); Innsbruck (INN) is further
- Landbus line 570 through the Großes Walsertal to the stop Faschina Passhöhe (connections from Bludenz)
- Car: from Bludenz/Thüringen through the Großes Walsertal, or from the Bregenzerwald via Damüls, to the Faschinajoch; public parking in Faschina
Hazards
- Exposure
- Weather