Biosphere Reserve Großes Walsertal

If you're planning a trip to Austria and, in addition to the unique hiking regions and diverse cities, would like to visit other worthwhile places, then you should visit the Great Walsertal Biosphere Reserve. This reserve is part of the UNESCO-protected natural and cultural heritage and follows the philosophy of "Using nature without harming it."

The Great Walsertal Biosphere Park: An Overview

The biosphere park was established by UNESCO in the 1970s and is part of the "Man and Biosphere" programme. But what exactly does the term "biosphere park" mean? Biosphere parks have the central goal of making transparent the ways in which we can preserve particularly worthy habitats for future generations. As part of this goal, various model regions for sustainable ways of living and doing business have emerged over the years, such as the Great Walsertal Biosphere Park or the Salzburg Lungau & Carinthian Nockberge Biosphere Park. This gave rise to the guiding principle "Using nature without harming it" and thus bringing humans and nature into harmony. But it's not only Austrian landscapes that are part of this programme. Well-known places such as the Rocky Mountains, the Galápagos Islands and the Serengeti are also included.

Division of the Biosphere Park

In order to fulfil the central goal of the programme, the biosphere park is divided into different zones. These zones are called the development zone, maintenance zone and core zone. Together, these areas total almost 20,000 hectares.

The development zone represents the living, economic and recreational space for people, and is therefore regarded as a permanent settlement area. The maintenance zone represents the cultural landscape that is preserved close to nature through traditional three-tier farming and is not damaged. A large number of animals live there, able to develop freely in their environment shaped by plant diversity. In the maintenance zone you can primarily find mountain forests, alpine pastures and mountain meadows. In addition to these two zones, there is the core zone. This is home to ecosystems whose development should take place with as little human intervention as possible. This includes the Gadental and Faludriga-Nova nature reserves, the mountain river Lutz, the Kirschwald-Ischkarnei area, and the Tiefenwald bog complex. A special highlight is the so-called Rote Wand, the highest mountain in the valley.

Hiking Experiences in the Biosphere Park

If you love nature and also enjoy hiking, then the biosphere park is the perfect place for you. The diverse mountain range offers you a rich selection of hiking trails. Become part of a hike and enjoy wonderful views from the Walserkamm, or take part in a leisurely hike to the Wangspitze. The biosphere park also offers certain themed trails that bring you closer to interesting information about the park. Along the way, learn more about the avalanche disaster in the municipality of Blons in 1954. Of course, on your hikes you shouldn't forget to take a little break and walk to the charming mountain huts or visit one of the inns.

Hiking Trail to the Wangspitze

This hiking trail starts at the car park by the Lutz. From there, you follow the forest road into the Hutlatal in the direction of Wangspitze/Rindereralpe. Once you reach the Rindereralpe, the path branches off into a hiking trail. This hiking trail first leads over a short alpine meadow and then up into a beautiful forest towards the Wangspitze. During the ascent to the Wangspitze, you will see an idyllic mountain meadow before following the unique switchbacks up to the Wangsattel. At the Wangsattel, the first real highlight of this hiking tour awaits you! There you'll enjoy the wonderful view of the "Gadental" biosphere park core zone, and just 15 minutes from the Wangsattel lies your destination: the Wangspitze. There your second highlight awaits. Enjoy the spectacular panoramic view from 1,873 m altitude and look out over the Great Walsertal and the Lechquellen mountains. For the return journey, first retrace the same route as on the way there, then descend via the Matona Alpe. From there, follow a wide hiking trail down to the stream in the direction of the Gaden Alpen. This is followed by a bridge leading uphill and taking you down the valley to the Alpengasthof Bad Rothenbrunnen. A wonderful moment for the perfect conclusion to your breathtaking hike, before covering the last few metres to the car park.

Flower Nature Trail

If you would like to explore the unique alpine flora of the biosphere park and be impressed by its diverse plant life, then you should definitely put the flower nature trail on your list. Between the middle station (1,780 m) and the mountain station (1,865 m) of the Stafelalpe panoramic cable car, you can discover more than 150 plant species and let the beauty of nature take effect on you.

On the flower nature trail, you can get to know the various plants better and get all the important information from the information boards. You can follow this trail on your own or take part in an expertly guided tour. These take place regularly in May and June as well as August and September.

Culinary Delight Circuit

This hiking route is particularly suitable for the gourmets among you. The start of the delight circuit is at the valley station of the Sonntag-Stein cable car. You can get there either by local bus or by car. Of course, you'll also find parking spaces for your vehicle directly at the valley station. With the help of the cable car, you can reach Sonntag-Stein in no time at all, and that's where the hike begins. Follow the path branching off to the right, which will take you to the Steintobel. After the Steintobel, follow a new path that takes you through the Blickelwald to the Alpe Steris. There, the first delight station with delicious specialities and fresh bread awaits you. After that, you need to head towards the Alpe Oberpartnom/Breithornhütte and tackle a rather steep climb. After that, the Breithornhütte welcomes you, where you can enjoy a delicious lunch. After this relaxing and, above all, delicious break, you set off towards the last delight station. Follow the track down to the Alpe Unterpartnom, towards Steinbild and back to the mountain station of the Sonntag-Stein cable car. If you're already hiking in this direction, you can also take a short detour to the Echowand and its associated themed trail. If you'd like to cover the last few metres more quickly, follow the path branching off to the left at the Alpe Unterpartnom and you can hike directly down the footpath to the mountain station of the cable car. Once there, board the cable car and head back to your starting point. In the bistro, you can then enjoy a sweet finish and look back on your eventful day.

BergAKTIV: Organised Hikes with Lots of Fun!

In addition to countless hiking routes offering you a wide range of nature experiences, the Great Walsertal Biosphere Park also offers guided hikes. These hikes take place at specific times and are definitely worth taking part in! Special thought is always given to the little ones. For example, your children can take part in the "A little pirate on a treasure hunt" hike, or you can join the "Family hike at the entrance to the Great Walsertal" as a family. But it's not only the little ones who are catered for – adults are too, of course! Enjoy the "Adventure hike with cheese dairy visit" or the "Sunrise hike to the Zafernhorn".

Best Time to Travel

The months of May to September are considered the best time for a visit. During the mild to warm temperatures, you can take part in countless hikes and let the impressive nature take effect on you. The guided hikes take place mainly in July and August and will certainly make your holiday varied. Take advantage of the months of May to September to enjoy the colourful variety of plants and be impressed by the breathtaking views. A special highlight is the biennial "Walserherbst" festival, which always takes place in late summer (August/September) and lasts three weeks. This event combines nature with culture and offers you an eventful stay including music, art and regional delicacies.

The Europamaut Team Wishes You a Pleasant Journey!

We wish you a pleasant journey to Austria and lots of fun exploring the Great Walsertal Biosphere Park. Don't forget to find out about the country's toll regulations. You can find more information about the toll in our guide. You're also welcome to use our route planner to better plan your trip and see the relevant toll products. If you have any questions, we're happy to help. Contact us via our email.