Eagle Walk Stage 17: Ehrwald - Lorea Hütte

Picturesque alpine lakes, spectacular views, knife-edged mountains, and a dizzying array of wildflowers and wonderful groves – this stage is simply gorgeous and a pure nature experience. In Ehrwald follow Moosweg (literally, ‘Moss Trail‘) to Lermoos. Ride the Grubigstein gondola up to the Gipfelhaus Grubigstein (2,050 m), effortlessly gaining vertical feet. You will find yourself at the heart of the scenic Tiroler Zugspitz Arena. A gentle stroll up and down dwarf pine fields and old-growth forest takes you to the Fern Pass Road. Beautiful Blindsee lake can be seen glinting through the trees. Follow the ancient Via Claudia Augusta, the historic Roman road, to Fernstein Castle on a sunny upland plateau. However, it’s still a long journey to the Lorea Hütte, the shelter that is your destination.

Interesting Facts

Eagle View · Set in deep forest with a backdrop of rugged summits, the beautiful Blindsee lake is serene. At the Ehrwalder Becken nature reserve you will need to turn your focus from the scenery to your feet as you walk across meadows brimming with wildflowers, including lawns of flowering cotton grass, moor grass and bog-rosemary. Offering superb views of the surrounding mountains, Lorea Hütte awaits at the end of this arduous hike.

Eagle Kick · Divers rank the two aquatic gems of Fernsteinsee lake and Samarangersee lake among the 100 most beautiful diving spots worldwide (exclusively accessible to guests staying at the Schloss Fernsteinsee Hotel). The two lakes offer great visibility thanks to their crystal-clear waters; slimy seaweed lends the underwater world an otherworldly atmosphere. Diving is also possible in nearby Blindsee lake.

Interesting Facts Eagle View · Set in deep forest with a backdrop of rugged summits, the beautiful Blindsee lake is serene. At the Ehrwalder…

Trail description

Starting point: Ehrwald

Trailhead is at Ehrwald between the “Grüner Baum” hotel and Sparmarkt supermarket. Follow the flat, signedposted (“Moosweg nach Lermoos”) track and walk from the Moosbrücke bridge across the Loisach river to the start of the village of Lermoos, either on the left or right side of the Lussbach stream. Walk through the village until you reach the bottom station of the Grubigstein gondola. Ride the gondola to the Gipfelhaus Grubigstein (elev. 2,050 m). Beyond the base of the 6-passenger chairlift, take footpath number 15 and walk to an elevation of around 1,750 metres above sea level on a path with easy ups and downs. Then, walk down on a broad footpath through the forest. Now the route enters thick stands of dwarf pines, offering occasional views of the Blindsee lake, an aquatic jewel. Some parts of the descent are rather steep. Eventually, the trail breaks into the woods again and emerges onto a forest road which you walk further down. The route continues to Fern Pass Federal Road (“Fernpassbundesstrasse”). Walk next to the road for about five minutes, heading to the right towards Fern Pass. North of the Gasthof Fernpass inn, gently descend on the Roman road (“Nassereith”, “Via Claudia Augusta”). Bear right at the fork and thereafter descend on the left, heading towards Fernstein and Nassereith, crossing a scree slope. A short distance ahead you will pass Schanzlsee lake. Stay on the route for cyclists and walkers after the lake. The old Roman road (a short portion of it is a singletrack trail) gently rolls down to Fernstein Castle and Hotel Fernsteinsee.

Food & drink: Gipfelhaus Grubigstein, Hotel Fernsteinsee

Continue your descent from Fernstein Castle on the old Roman road. After a few metres, the singletrack trail to Lorea Hütte branches off to the right into the woods. The route steeply zigzags up through forest right next to a stream. When you break into high meadows and dwarf pine fields, the steep gradient lessens. A gentle final climb brings you to the Lorea Hütte (2,022 m), a cosy self-catering hut nestled southeast of the Loreakopf peak.

Finishing point: Lorea Hütte