Three-Day Hike: Neustift - Starkenburgerhütte - Franz-Senn-Hütte

This three-day hike, which is challenging in places, leads from the village of Neustift at the foot of the Kalkkögel mountains into the peaks of the Stubai Main Ridge. The first night is spent at the Starkenburger Hütte, where hikers can enjoy fine views of the Stubai Valley. After passing the Schlicker See lake the landscape changes to limestone mountains. Stop two is the Franz-Senn-Hütte hut, before the third and final day leads along the Stubai High Trail. This is exposed in places and not suitable for those with a fear of heights.

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Starting point

Neustift, village centre

Hike to

Starkenburgerhütte, Franz-Senn-Hütte, Regensburger Hütte

Finishing point

Falbeson

Mountain chain

Stubai Alps

Length

34.4 km

Duration

3 day(s)

Features

Wheelchair-accessible Hiking Route
Circular hike

Difficulty rating

difficult (black trails)

Altitude

2,714m 1,038m

Elevation uphill 2,620m
Vertical metres downhill 2,440m

Fitness level

Technique

Best time of year

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

* These are approximate values and recommendations. Please take your personal fitness level, technical ability and the current weather conditions into account. Tirol Werbung cannot guarantee that the information provided is correct and accepts no liability.

Parking

Car park between Schulweg and Stubaitalstraße

Places serving food & drink:

Stage 1:Starkenburger Hütte (first half of June until second half of October)
Stage 2:Seducker Hochalm (mid-June until mid-September), Franz-Senn-Hütte (mid-June until early October)
Stage 3: Neue Regensburger Hütte (mid-July until early September), Falbesoner Ochsenalm (mid-June until late September), Hotel-Restaurant Waldcafé, Falbeson

Downloads

GPS data: Three-day hike in the Stubai Valley (gpx)

Trail description

Stage 1: Neustift – Starkenburger Hütte

Vertical ascent/descent: 1,190/0 metres, duration: 4 hours 30 minutes, distance: 4.8 kilometres, highest point: 2,237 metres, difficulty: intermediate (red mountain trails)

Departing from Neustift, the trail gains more than 1,200 metres on its way to the Starkenburgerhütte hut. You can either walk past Kartnall Höfe farmsteads and the Forcherkogel mountain or climb meadows and scattered larches to the hut. Either way, the ascent will take some 3.5 to 4 hours to complete.

Stage 2: Starkenburger Hütte – Senderjöchl – Franz-Senn-Hütte
Vertical ascent/descent: 755/835 metres, duration: 6 hours 30 minutes, distance: 15.7 kilometres, highest point: 2,571 metres, difficulty: difficult (black mountain trails)

This second stage (the first stage of the Stubai High Trail) departs from the Starkenburgerhütte hut and traverses the south-western slopes beneath the Hoher Burgstall mountain. The trail leads over a prominent talus and scree slope, towered over by the mighty Kalkkögel peaks, and passes the Seejöchl ridge and Schlickersee lake on its way to the Sendersjöchl ridge. From the ridge, a steep descent in switchbacks takes you down to Rote Wand, from where the route gently climbs to Seducker Hochalm. Having crossed Viller Grube, the trail continues traversing the slopes of Inner Obernberg Valley with a final, steep climb taking you to the Franz-Senn-Hütte, your base for the night. Sections of this day's hike are exposed. Hikers must be sure-footed.

Stage 3: Franz-Senn-Hütte – Regensburger Hütte – Falbeson
Vertical ascent/descent: 675/1,605 metres, duration: 7 hours 15 minutes, distance: 13.9 kilometres, highest point: 2,714 metres, difficulty: difficult (black mountain trails)

Departing from the Franz-Senn-Hütte, this stage leads out of the valley into Kuhgschwetz and climbs atop Platzenturm. Having traversed the Platzengrube hollow to its eastern rim, a few steep switchbacks and a final traverse to the right will bring you to Schrimmennieder. About 20 minutes above Schrimmennieder is the 2,829-metre-high Basslerjoch, from where there are uninterrupted panoramic views of the Stubai Main Ridge. Retrace your steps from there back down to Schrimmennieder until you reach the road that runs from Milderaunalm into the valley on almost level terrain to the Neue Regensburger Hüte hut. From there, it’s a long descent, passing the Ochsenalm pasture on your way down to the valley and the settlement of Falbeson.