Schesaplana
2,965 m
Austria, Switzerland
Also known as შეზაპლანაAlso known as
შეზაპლანა
- Elevation
- 2,965 m
- Prominence
- 829 m
- Difficulty
- 3/10
- Mountain hike
- Best Season
- Jul–Sep
- Routes
- 2
Routes
2The classic Vorarlberg route and one of the most popular summit hikes in the region: Lünerseebahn cable car to the Lünersee (1,980 m), a path up to the Totalphütte (2,385 m), then a steepening trail through a scree-and-slate cirque and a short steep step onto the summit ridge. About 1,000 m of ascent, 3 hours up, no technical difficulty in summer.
Elevation Profile
- Distance
- 5.3 km
- one way
- Ascent
- +994 m
- start → summit
- High Point
- 2,965 m
- Time Up
- 4h
- DIN 33466
- Time Down
- 2h 41m
- DIN 33466 · same way back
From the top station of the Lünerseebahn beside the Douglasshütte (about 1,980 m) follow the west shore of the Lünersee for about 15 minutes, then leave the lake on a stony path signposted to the Totalphütte (2,385 m), reached in about 1¼ hours. Without the cable car, the 400 m step from the valley station (1,565 m) is climbed by the partly secured 'Böser Tritt' path (about 1 hour extra). Above the hut keep left and circle a basin with little height gain on a path marked white-blue-white. The ground becomes rougher and steeper over rock and slate debris to a flatter, stony area at about 2,700 m, then a well-trodden path climbs the last 200 m into a cirque, using hands occasionally at a steep step, and traverses below the crest to a small saddle on the Swiss–Austrian border (Schesaplanasattel, about 2,728 m), where the Swiss route joins. Turn right along the broad ridge to the summit cross, about 1¾ hours from the hut. Descend the same way (about 2 hours to the cable car; last descent usually at 17:00). In snow, the steep section below the summit becomes treacherous: a slip can turn into a long slide, and cornices form in early summer. Start early on summer weekends to avoid crowds.
Start
Lünerseebahn Bergstation1,977 m
- Lünerseebahn cable car, valley station (1,565 m) to the Lünersee (1,980 m); summer season only, last descent usually 17:00
- Train to Bludenz, bus line 580 via Bürs and Brand to the Lünerseebahn valley station (runs during the cable-car season, roughly late May to mid-October).
Stages
| Day | Stage | km | m ascent | m descent | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lünerseebahn Bergstation → Schesaplana | 5.3 | 994 | 11 | 4h |
Waypoints
- Lift: Lünerseebahn Bergstation1,977 m
- Hut: Totalphütte2,381 m
- Summit: Schesaplana2,965 m
Key Passages
- Böser Tritt (if walking up from the valley station)
- Stony cirque above the Totalphütte
- Steep step onto the summit ridge (dangerous when snow-covered)
Equipment
0/5 packedDownloads
Route confidence 85%Overview
The highest summit of the Rätikon (2,965 m), on the border between Vorarlberg and Graubünden above the Lünersee. A cable car and a well-marked T3 path make it one of the most popular summit hikes in western Austria; the quieter Swiss route climbs the south face from the Schesaplanahütte.
The Schesaplana is the highest point of the Rätikon and the westernmost outpost of the Northern Limestone Alps. The Austria–Switzerland border runs over the summit. To the north the remnants of the Brandner Gletscher cling to its flank; at its eastern foot lies the Lünersee, a dammed lake of 1.6 km² that is the largest and deepest mountain lake in Vorarlberg. The summit rocks are crumbly Kössen beds of dark marl, limestone and shale, so the upper slopes are a stony, grey landscape. On a clear day the view reaches from the Silvretta and Ötztal to the Bernese Oberland.
From Austria the Lünerseebahn cable car lifts walkers to about 1,980 m, leaving 1,000 m of ascent on a good path via the Totalphütte. There are no technical difficulties in summer, but the route is long, stony and steep near the top, and it is busy on fine weekends. From Switzerland, the SAC Schesaplanahütte above Seewis is the base for the Schweizerweg through the south face (T4), a far quieter line. A third approach from Brand via the Mannheimer Hütte crosses the remains of the Brandner Gletscher.
In early summer snow lingers on the steep section below the summit, where a slip can turn into a dangerous slide; cornices can form on the ridge.
Climbing Notes
A long day hike for fit walkers who are sure-footed on stony, steep paths; no technical skills are needed in summer. From the Lünerseebahn allow about 3 hours up and 2 down, and plan around the last cable-car descent (usually 17:00). Staying at the Totalphütte or Douglasshütte allows an early start and avoids the crowds.
The Swiss Schweizerweg (T4) suits experienced alpine walkers; it is usually done over two days with a night at the Schesaplanahütte, and can be combined with a descent via the Gamsluggen. Traversing the mountain from Switzerland to Austria (or the reverse) is a classic two-day outing.
Check snow conditions in June and from October: the steep step below the summit is dangerous when snow-covered, and cornices form on the ridge. The summit is exposed to thunderstorms.
History
The first documented ascent was made in the 1730s by the Prättigau pastor Nicolin Sererhard with two companions, who traversed the mountain from Seewis to Brand and described the trip in 1742. A claimed ascent by David Pappus in 1610 is not supported by contemporary records. Franz Ludwig von Sternbach and the Brand hunter Josef Sugg made the first ascent from Brand in 1790. Theodor von Wundt made the first winter ascent (without skis) in early 1885, and on New Year's Day 1900 Victor Sohm, Josef Ostler and Hermann Hartmann reached the top on skis, one of the first ski ascents of a high summit in the Eastern Alps. The Lünerseehütte (later Douglasshütte) opened in 1871; in 1886 the summit was even levelled with explosives to make room for visitors, and by 1932 a newspaper reported 1,000 people on the summit over two August days. The Lünersee was dammed by the Vorarlberger Illwerke in the 1950s, and the works cable car was converted for public use from 1959. The Totalphütte was badly damaged by a powder avalanche in January 2019 and rebuilt in 2020.
Season
Best Jul–Sep- January: Not advisable
- February: Not advisable
- March: Possible
- April: Possible
- May: Not advisable
- June: Possible
- July: Best (best window)
- August: Best (best window)
- September: Best (best window)
- October: Possible
- November: Not advisable
- December: Not advisable
- Jan
- Winter; ski-touring only, avalanche risk
- Feb
- Ski-touring only
- Mar
- Ski-touring season for experienced parties
- Apr
- Spring ski tours
- May
- Cable car opens late May; much snow above the Totalp
- Jun
- Totalphütte opens mid-June; snowfields and cornices near the summit
- Jul
- Main season; some snowfields early in the month; crowded at weekends
- Aug
- Main season
- Sep
- Stable weather, fewer people
- Oct
- Huts close; early snow makes the summit step dangerous
- Nov
- Cable car closed; winter conditions
- Dec
- Winter
Access & Permits
- Hut Booking
- Totalphütte (Alpenverein Vorarlberg) and Douglasshütte: book directly with the huts; arrive at the Totalphütte by mid-afternoon if staying. Schesaplanahütte (SAC): book directly with the hut.
- Fees
- Lünerseebahn cable car fare (summer only)
- Hut overnight fees with discounts for alpine club members
- Rules
- Road from Seewis towards the Schesaplanahütte is closed to private cars beyond about 1,043 m
- Totalphütte accepts cash only
- Getting There
Brand (Brandnertal), Bludenz; Seewis im Prättigau on the Swiss side
Zurich Airport (ZRH)
- Train to Bludenz, then bus line 580 via Bürs, Bürserberg and Brand to the Lünerseebahn valley station (during the cable-car season)
- By car: A14 to Bludenz-Bürs, then up the Brandnertal past Brand to the Lünerseebahn valley station (1,565 m)
- Switzerland: train to Grüsch on the Landquart–Davos line, Postbus to Seewis Dorf, then on foot or by bike to the Schesaplanahütte
Hazards
- Weather
- Rockfall
- Cornices
- Avalanche
Huts & Shelters
3- 1,908 m
SchesaplanahütteHutStaffed
- 1,979 m
DouglasshütteHutStaffed
144 beds · Late May to mid-October
- 2,385 m