VAUDE via ferrata Gargellner Köpfe

A great high alpine via ferrata that is easily accessible thanks to its location in the middle of the Gargellen hiking area. Besides the airy ridge and wall climbing in the dark gneiss of the Silvretta crystalline, you can expect two rope bridges that guarantee pure adrenaline. There are two options to reach the summit – the easier follows the ridge with difficulty level B/C, the harder (C/D) also goes over the two rope bridges. The closer you get to the summit cross, the further the panoramic view extends over the mountains of Rätikon and Silvretta.

Approach: From the Bergbahnen Gargellen mountain station, follow the signs towards St. Antönier Joch up to the Kristallbahn mountain station. From there, a path leads left along the ridge to a notch. Then it goes slightly right through the slope to the start.

Descent: From the summit cross, a wire rope-secured wall step leads down onto the flattening ridge. After the end of the wire ropes, sure-footedness is required: the path leads you over a steep gravel path to the avalanche barriers above the chairlift mountain station. From there, you reach the Bergbahnen Gargellen mountain station in about 15 minutes on a forest road.

Take the A14 to the Bludenz/Montafon exit and continue on Montafonerstraße L188 to St. Gallenkirch. There, turn right onto Gargellnerstraße and follow this to Gargellen.

Just leave your car standing

The regional buses operate throughout Montafon. The main lines run every half hour from Schruns train station.

Bus stop at the start/finish of the route: Gargellen Schafbergbahn / line 670

Timetable: www.vmobil.at

Arrival by train to Montafon

From Bludenz station, the Montafonerbahn runs hourly (partially every half hour). There are also direct connections from Lindau (D) and Bregenz.

Timetable: www.oebb.at

Valley station Bergbahnen Gargellen (paid)

From the parking lot or the valley station of the Bergbahnen Gargellen cable cars, you take the gondola up to the Schafberg. Once at the mountain, you still have the opportunity to use the restrooms or to refresh yourself with a small treat at the Schafberg Hüsli mountain restaurant before setting off. To reach the start, follow the signs towards St. Antönier Joch, and at the Kristallbahn mountain station, a path leads left to a notch. Then, it goes slightly to the right into the cirque and continues over a gravel path to the start point.

After the start, the route goes over an obliquely running ridge (B), then over a small ledge and a steep section (C), as well as an easier wall section (B) to a ledge. At the information board, the paths split. The climbing leads through varied surroundings in two variants to the summit of the Gargellner Köpfe at 2482 m (see topo).

The descent from the summit leads down a wire rope-secured wall step onto a flattening ridge and further through avalanche barriers to the chairlift mountain station of the Gargellner Köpfe. From here, it takes about 15 minutes to reach the Bergbahnen Gargellen mountain station again.

EMERGENCY CALL: 144
European emergency number: 112 (works with any mobile phone/network)
vorarlberg.travel/sicherheitstipps

Complete climbing equipment (harness including via ferrata set, helmet and gloves) as well as proper footwear (sturdy ankle-high mountaineering boots with good soles) are absolutely required.

You should also always carry a backpack with provisions, sun and rain protection, and a first aid kit.

Rental option:

Via ferrata sets can be rented at the PME shop & rent directly at the valley station of the Gargellner Bergbahnen.
Opening hours of PME shop & rent can be found here.

The via ferrata is not recommended when wet. Also note that despite the short approach, you are in high alpine terrain.

Gargellen, Bergbahnen Gargellen mountain station

Gargellen, Bergbahnen Gargellen mountain station