This year we were able to end our mountain summer in the beautiful region of Warth-Schröcken am Arlberg. A whole host of thrills, adrenaline, and breathtaking scenery awaited us here. To be honest, we hadn’t expected such a spectacular end to our season. We immediately fell in love with Warth-Schröcken, and we can already agree that it will definitely not be our last trip to this region. In the following article, we’ll take you to Warth-Schröcken and show you what a varied weekend can look like. Enjoy browsing!

• The Walser villages of Warth & Schröcken
• The Outdoor BIG5 in Warth-Schröcken
• 1. Climbing fun at the Schröcken Adventure Park
• 2. Karhorn via ferrata at over 2,400 m
• 3. Canyoning tour “Hard Rock”
• Relaxation: Hike to Körbersee
• Restaurants, cafés & huts
• Out and about with the guest card
• Our apartment: Lisa’s Schröcken
• Conclusion on Warth-Schröcken

The Walser villages of Warth & Schröcken

The villages of Warth and Schröcken are characterized by their charming Alpine character. Here you can experience authentic Austrian hospitality and enjoy local specialties in cozy inns and huts. The region attaches great importance to its traditions and customs, which is reflected in various festivals, events, and cultural activities.

The former mountain farming village of Warth is located at 1,500 meters above sea level, making it the highest municipality in Vorarlberg. The majestic mountains and lush alpine meadows invite you to hike, mountain bike, and climb. In the village itself, you’ll find several great hotels, guesthouses, restaurants, shops, and other small stores. Popular destinations include the Karhorn via ferrata, Körbersee, and the “Lechweg” long-distance hiking trail.

Schröcken lies at 1,269 meters above sea level in the rear part of the Bregenzerwald and has just 200 inhabitants. This community was also settled by Walsers in the 14th century. Even today, themed trails, buildings, and stories in the village recall the Walsers. In Schröcken, you’ll also find a handful of hotels, guesthouses, vacation apartments, restaurants, and shops. We particularly liked the mountain village’s incredibly idyllic and tranquil location.

In winter, Warth-Schröcken transforms into a paradise for winter sports enthusiasts. The region is known for its excellent snow conditions and high snow reliability (Europe’s most naturally snow-rich ski area). The Warth-Schröcken ski area is part of the larger Ski Arlberg ski area, which is one of the largest connected ski areas in Austria. With an impressive selection of slopes, runs, and off-piste opportunities, the region attracts skiers and snowboarders from all over the world. More about this here.

The Outdoor BIG5 in Warth-Schröcken

The Warth-Schröcken region not only scores points with its varied hiking and biking trails, but also with plenty of fun and adrenaline. This outdoor mecca in the Alps has a number of adventures in store for you to try on your next trip. The so-called Outdoor BIG5 include whitewater swimming, canyoning, flying fox, the adventure park, and via ferrata. We tested three of the five activities and will introduce them in more detail in the following section.

1. Climbing fun at Schröcken Adventure Park

On the first day of our trip, we visited Schröcken Adventure Park. A high ropes course with 42 rope courses, three flying foxes, three zip lines, via ferratas, and a mega swing awaited us. The various courses run through the forest, over natural rock formations, and through the whitewater of the unique Bregenzerache Gorge. You decide for yourself which level of difficulty you prefer, as the courses are set at heights of 3 to 15 meters.

We were given a helmet and harness, and after a detailed safety briefing, we were able to get started right away. First, we tried out the Water Course and tested some of the 20 attractions above the water and on the rocks. The first Flying Fox ride, which runs over the whitewater, was already waiting for us here.

Afterward, we tested the Forest Course with 12 attractions, followed by the Heavenly Course with a total of 10 attractions, most of which are completed at lofty heights. The courses are suitable for children ages 6 and up, as well as for teenagers and adults. Only for the Himmelreich course, a minimum height of 140 cm and the accompaniment of an adult is required.

Information about the Schröcken Adventure Park

• Address: Schröcken Adventure Park, Heimboden 104, 6888 Schröcken
• Opening times: End of May to beginning of October (☞ see exact times here)
• Prices: Adults €27, Children €18, Youths €21 (also family rates for 3 or more people)
• No card payments, cash only
• Maximum body weight on the course: 100 kg

2. Karhorn Via Ferrata at over 2,400 m

On the second day of our trip, we headed off to the next outdoor adventure, the Karhorn Via Ferrata. We took the Steffisalp Express summer cable car from Warth up to the mountain station. From there, we hiked for about 45 minutes to the start of the via ferrata, which is located at the Wartherhorn saddle. On one side, it leads up to the Wartherhorn, and on the other, to the summit of the Karhorn. The via ferrata to the summit has a difficulty level of B/C, making it suitable for beginners and families. Surefootedness and a head for heights are required, however.

The path led us over the east ridge to the summit. Along the way, we were able to enjoy the magnificent view and gaze over countless peaks. Since we were moving quite quickly, we reached the summit after just 1.5 hours (550 meters of elevation gain, including the approach). Here, we met not only other climbing enthusiasts but also hikers who were reaching the summit via the normal hiking trail. At almost 2,400 meters, we had a clear view of striking mountain giants such as the Zugspitze, Wildspitze, and the Swiss Säntis.

Descent and refreshment stop at the Hochalphütte

From the summit, you can extend your climbing tour to include the challenging Panorama Via Ferrata Westgrat (C/D). Here, you’ll climb at lofty heights over the ridge to the exit and back to the Warterhornsattel. Several steep passages and two mini rope bridges await you. We skipped the Westgrat because we didn’t feel ready for this part of the via ferrata. So, we hiked down from the summit back to the Warterhornsattel and then continued to the Hochalphütte. After a delicious snack, we returned to the Steffisalp Express mountain station and descended to Warth.

Information about the Ostgrat via ferrata

• Ride with the Steffisalp Express to the mountain station (free with guest card)
• Access: 45 minutes from the Steffisalp Express mountain station
• Ostgrat via ferrata: 1.5 to 2 hours to the Summit
• Return route: 45 minutes from the summit to the Wartherhorn saddle
• Hike to the Hochalphütte, from there 45 to 60 minutes
• Please note: Cash payments only at the hut!!!
• Via ferrata set: We rented our sets from Sporttraum Warth

3. Canyoning tour “Hard Rock”

On the third day of our trip, we were able to try something new, something we had never done before. Our program included an adventurous canyoning tour. We met up in Nesslegg with our guide Jürgen Strolz, who led the “Hard Rock” canyoning tour with us. Jürgen is an absolute professional in this field and knows exactly what this sport requires. We received all the necessary equipment on site, including sturdy shoes, a wetsuit, a canyoning harness, and a helmet. After a detailed briefing, we set off in full gear. The tour started right behind the front door of the Holzschopf company.

Canyoning involves moving along the natural course of the gorge or river, overcoming natural obstacles such as rocks, waterfalls, and pools. Along the way, a combination of different techniques, such as climbing, abseiling, jumping, swimming, and sliding, is used to navigate through the canyon. An adventurous tour awaited us with various slides, climbing sections, and 6-8 waterfalls.

While Marco mastered all the obstacles with flying colors and without fear, I had to step out of my comfort zone a few times. At first, it was a strange feeling to hang onto a rope and abseil down over 15 meters. But Jürgen was always able to take away my fear, and with every step through the canyon it became easier for me. By the end, Marco and I were grinning from the adrenaline rush.

Action & Adrenaline in the Canyon

We spent almost 2 hours in the gorge and had a lot of fun during this tour. We had the opportunity to explore this impressive natural landscape, which is normally difficult to access. On this tour, we also experienced the element of water from a completely different perspective. It was also a big step out of our comfort zone, which gave us completely new impressions. This was definitely not our last canyoning tour! You can find all the information about our tour here: ☞ Holzschopf.com. Alternatively, you can also check out the offers from the Widderstein Alpine School in Warth and from guide Mathias Fritz.

Relaxation: Hike to Körbersee

After our adventurous canyoning tour, we made our way to Körbersee. In 2017, viewers of the ORF program “9 Places – 9 Treasures” voted Lake Kröbersee the most beautiful place in Austria. Reason enough for us to visit this place, of course. We started our leisurely hike through the beautiful landscape at the Salober parking lot. After about 45 minutes, we arrived at Lake Körbersee, framed by a stunning mountain backdrop. Set in a protected plant area, the lake, which is up to 8 meters deep, invites you to relax, go boating, and swim.

We made ourselves comfortable by the lake and practiced some mindfulness and breathing exercises suggested in the beautifully designed “Mindfulness & Resilience Card Set”. With this card set, you’ll learn about various power spots in the region and, with the help of the exercises, you can find your inner balance (see card set). Afterwards, we hiked around Lake Körbersee and took countless photos of the lake and the Juppenspitze (2,412 m) towering behind it. In good light and weather conditions, the striking outlines and rocky flanks are reflected in the water. The Berghotel Körbersee is also located on site, where you can not only stay overnight but also feast.

Restaurants, Cafés & Huts

In the Warth-Schröcken region, there are some great restaurants and huts to stop off at. We’ve been to a few of them and can highly recommend the following restaurants.

Berghaus Restaurant Schröcken: You can enjoy really good food in the restaurant of the Hotel Berghaus Schröcken. Here, you’ll find not only traditional home-style cooking, but also freshly cooked and lovingly prepared enamel pans with delicious treats. The spinach dumplings are highly recommended.

Restaurant Holzschopf Neßlegg: In the Restaurant Holzschopf, you can enjoy regional cuisine at an altitude of 1,500 meters above the mountain village of Schröcken. The menu includes soups, salads, dumplings, pasta, cheese spaetzle, and ripple.

Gasthof Tannberg Schröcken: At the Gasthof Tannberg in Schröcken, you can enjoy classics like Zwiebelrostbraten (onion roast beef) and Vorarlberger Kässpätzl (cheese spaetzle) in a rustic and convivial atmosphere. Venison is the house’s specialty.

On the go with the Guest Card

If you spend three or more nights in Schröcken, you will receive the Bregenzerwald & Großes Walsertal Guest Card free of charge. This allows you to travel as often as you like on the mountain railways and public buses free of charge. You can also visit the swimming pools and outdoor pools free of charge and receive numerous discounts at partner businesses. Since May 2023, the Bregenzerwald & Großes Walsertal Guest Card has also been available for smartphones. More information here.

In Warth, you can get the Warth Card for just one overnight stay. With this guest card, you can travel free on the Steffisalp Express and various buses, among other things. You also receive discounts at selected partner businesses and discounts on guided tours according to the weekly program. More information here.

Our Apartment: Lisa’s Schröcken

We stayed at the wonderful Lisa’s Schröcken. The entire building was renovated, expanded, and brought up to date in 2020. Lisa’s has 5 double rooms, 1 family room, and various studios and apartments with space for up to 6 people. We were able to move into the South Apartment, which had a bedroom, a bathroom with shower, a fully equipped kitchen with a seating area, and a large balcony. The furnishings appeared new and modern and left nothing to be desired. In the morning, there was a delicious breakfast buffet in the breakfast room. Book a room or apartment here*.

Conclusion to Warth-Schröcken

The breathtaking mountain landscape, characterized by majestic peaks, green valleys, and clear mountain lakes, attracts outdoor enthusiasts who enjoy hiking, mountain biking, and climbing. Overall, the Warth-Schröcken region offers a perfect combination of alpine beauty, great outdoor adventures, and cultural experiences. A wide range of activities are available in the region in both summer and winter. We’re already certain that we’ll definitely be back.