Karnischer Höhenweg

Stage one of the trail starts in Sillian, where you’ll hike toward Wichtelpark to get started. From here, it will start the way most great trails do: with lots of switchbacks. These will take you up, up, up to Heimkehrerkreuz Mountain (2,373m), where you’ll have incredible views and a chance to catch your breath. You’ll then continue onward (and upward) to the Sillianer Hutte where you’ll spend the night.

Stage two will guide you from the Sillianer Hutte to Hochgräntensee Lake for a chance for a refreshing dip or a nice snack break. You’ll then climb Demut mountain (2,592m) and keep on going to Schöntalhöhe (2,635m), Eisenreich (2,665m), and the Obstansersee lake – below the hut of the same name. Finally, you’ll hike to the Filmoor-Standschützenhütte, where you’ll spend the night. This stage of the trail is great for all of the lakes, and finally being up in the alpine.

Next, on stage three you’ll have a much shorter day to rest your legs. You’ll leave from Filmoor-Standschützenhütte and hike over to Oberer Stuckensee Lake, where you’ll then continue to Porzehütte. As you walk along the lake, you’ll see a chance to take a sharp right on the shore – follow this path until the trail turns off again, and then follow it until you reach the hut. Enjoy lots of time by the water this day.

After your rest day hiking to Porzehütte, you’ll be trekking 17.3 kilometers to Hochweißsteinhaus. There’s nearly 1050m of elevation gain, so make sure to start early and stretch before you go. You’ll start the day by following switchbacks up to the Tilliacher Joch ridge (2,093m). From here, hike east until you reach the Winkler Joch ridge (2,235m). You’ll spend the next part hiking between 2,200 and 2,500 meters until you descend down to Hochweißsteinhaus hut which is situated at 1,868 meters.

Stage five will start and end under 2000 meters, but still has over 1000m of elevation gain. You’ll be following the trail to the east for the majority of the day, taking in the mountain views and enjoying the peace of nature. After a while, you’ll start to hike downward to the Obere Wolayer Alm (1,708m) and the Wolayersee Lake, located next to the Wolayerseehütte hut (1,960m).

On stage six, from the Wolayerseehütte hut, you’ll start hiking toward the Obere Valentinalm hut, which is the perfect place to stop for a snack and coffee to rest. Once you’re ready to get moving again, you’ll take a series of switchbacks to the Gasthof Untere Valentinalm, where you’ll spend the night. This stage has fantastic views of the Plöcken mountain pass and into the Angerbach Valley.

Stage seven is the biggest climbing day of the trail, with almost 15000 meters of gain. If you need to end the hike early, this is the best point to do it. You’ll be able to hike down from Gasthof Untere Valentinalm to Gasthaus Plöckenhaus, where you can follow the road over the Hier Plöckenpass. If you decide to continue and finish the trail, then you’ll follow the Angerbach River from the Grünsee Lake uphill for about 500 meters. From there, you’ll see a zigzag section that will lead you to the Zollnersee-Hütte, where you’ll spend the night.

Stage eight will take you from the Zollnersee-Hütte to the Rudnig Alm. A more moderate day, the trail will have an elevation gain of about 820 meters. You’ll follow the trail straight for a long while until you hop on some switchbacks that will take you to the Straniger Alm (1,501m), onto the Trogkopfel (2,279m) and finally leave you at the Rudnig-Alm (1,619m), where you’ll spend the night.

Close to the end now, stage nine is a great chance to work your mental fitness, as there are more switchbacks! You’ll start the day hiking up to the Madritsche-Nassfeld ridge (1,902m), where you’ll have the option to either take the Millennium-Express cable car towards Tröpolach or continue on foot to the Kofelalm (1,600m). You’ll get to pass two lakes before you finally hike across the Sonnealpe Nassfeld to the Garnitzenalm hut (1,645m).

Another big day, stage 10 has about 1200 meters of gain and loss as you hike to the Feistritzer Alm. You’ll pass quite a few huts and refugios this day, so you’ll have plenty of chances for snack breaks. You can also potentially break this day into two and spend the night at the huts you pass if you prefer to take it slower. Just be sure to call ahead and check their availability! As you hike, you’ll also pass the Egger-Alm-See lake on your way.

Stage 11, the final stage, will take you back down into a valley. There are no huts or restaurants on the way though, so be sure to pack snacks from the night before. You’ll hike down to Unterhörl, where you can take public transportation back to Sillian.

The best time to hike the Karnischer Höhenweg is in the summer between mid-June and September. This is when the huts will be open and the snow will (hopefully, likely) be melted. Earlier in the season, from mid-June through early July, you may still encounter lingering snowbanks if there was a long winter. While it may be possible to hike the trail regardless, it’s important to call the hut wardens before beginning to check on the trail conditions. In 2024, the trail was unpassable and hikers were not able to complete it even in late June.

Lingering snow or not, it is always a good idea to check in with hut wardens before beginning your hike. They will be able to tell you of any abnormalities to be aware of for the year you’re hiking, and if you should pack anything special to hike with.

Finally, the high season (July-August) will be busy. You will need to book your huts far ahead of time, likely when they open in the early spring. This can be a blessing in disguise, though, as you’ll have a chance to meet like-minded people at the huts to share a meal and swap stories with.

The Karnischer Höhenweg is a difficult trail only meant for experienced hikers. The nature of the trail – high in the Carnic Alps – is a playground for people who are skilled and enjoy heights and difficult terrain, but can be a dangerous place if you’re just starting.

First, it is important to train your body and mind for difficult days. This means taking practice hikes with full packs, trying endurance exercises, and training your patience and determination. From there, you’ll want to make sure you have the right gear (check out our long-distance gear list here for suggestions!) and plenty of snacks to keep your energy levels high.

Additionally, you’ll want to prepare the GPX far ahead of time and familiarize yourself with the map, as well as the interface of the device or app you’re using to navigate the GPX. You will also want to bring a first aid kit, trekking poles, and weather-proof clothing in case of quickly changing weather conditions.

Finally, make sure you check in with the hut wardens before you start the trail to learn of any abnormal trail conditions and how you can best prepare for them.

The Karnischer Höhenweg is listed as a difficult trail for its steep ascents and descents, sometimes totaling over 1,500 meters of elevation gain/loss in one day. The trail is well-marked and there are plenty of stops for food and water along the way. However, it is because of the physical demand of the trail, along with the occasional long days, totaling close to 30 kilometers, it is best for hikers with alpine and long-distance trail experience.