Above Virgental Valley

The long west-east Virgental valley separates the western Venediger and Lasörling groups, with numerous streams and trails climbing from it to the highlands. It is a particularly lovely valley in its own right, green and wide with the youthful Isel river at its bottom and with charming villages lower down; and peters out in the high border mountains around 3,596m Rötenspitze. 

Venediger Valleys

All the valleys heading north into the Venediger massif have excellent and very inviting trails, and huts in their higher reaches, so you can make day or overnight excursions, and indeed cross the ridges between them (on sections of the Venediger Höhenweg) to make longer explorations. 

From the Umbaltal in the far north-west, directly below the Rötspitze ridge, you can cross westward into Italy, but an eastward crossing to the next-east Maurer Tal involves quite a bit of glacier walking.

The Maurer Tal is a beauty, with the first stage of the Venediger Höhenweg leading to the Essener-Rostocker Hut at its head. A superb 4-5hr return, or stay overnight and take the Höhenweg eastward to cross the 2,772m col to the Johannis Hut at the head of the also-gorgeous Dorfer Tal. You can take a mountain taxi to/from Johannis Hut, or can walk up the valley in 2.5hrs or so.  

The next-east Timmeltal is short and steep, with the high Eissee Hut at its head and the Höhenweg passing through to wind on eastward high above the Virgental, towards the Bonn Matreier Hut.

Lasörling Group 

The Lasörling mountains to the south are not as high or glaciated or famous as the Venediger, but have some excellent walks and are emptier if you like your solitude. They are riddled with trails, including high ridge walks and peaks to bag, best known being 3,098m Lasörling itself. The group is well served with huts, too, so there are endless exciting combinations to be made.

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The Hohe Tauern are well loved, and well walked, so you won’t feel alone on the main routes, although can get away. This can be tough walking in high and remote mountains with uncertain weather. Come fully prepared.

Trekking in Austria’s HoheTauern  – Allan Hartley for Cicerone describes the Venediger Höhenweg as it winds its way along the northern flanks of the valley. Find relevant books on Amazon.

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For more information and photos, including detailed practical information and some warnings, see our Höhe Tauern [link] walk page.