Seven at one stroke: the high alpine pasture round hike in the Gaistal valley

On one side the Hohe Munde, on the other the Wetterstein mountains and in between a green valley, a turquoise river, lots of forest, lots of cows and even more marmots: that is the Gaistal near Leutasch. And spread all along the way: the numerous alpine pastures and huts! Whether on the valley floor or at lofty heights, more than 10 rustic and panoramic alpine pastures have accumulated in the expansive valley. During the Hochalmen-Rundwanderung you can hike 7 of them: The Wettersteinhütte, the Wangalm, the Rotmoosalm, the Steinerne Hüttl, the Tillfussalm, the Gaistalalm and the Hämmermoosalm. What you should bring for the hike are a good condition, some surefootedness and plenty of hunger for good hut food! Depending on the breaks at the huts, you will be on the road for at least 10 hours. If you should squat nevertheless on a hut (too) long: The hike can be easily shortened in several places.

The circular hike starts at the beginning of the Gaistal, preferably early in the morning. A sporty steep section awaits you here, where you already overcome a few meters in altitude. Afterwards, you will take the forest road or a small forest path to the Wetterstein hut (1,717m). Here is already the first wonderful sun terrace of the tour, from which you can enjoy great views over the Leutasch for the first time.

You should not miss this at the Wettersteinhütte: the sunny terrace, coffee (surely well deserved after an early start) and cake, the famous blue gentian schnapps.

After the first two alpine pastures, a scenically impressive section of trail follows. Behind the Wangalm, you climb up through the rock garden in the Scharnitztal valley with a view of the rugged walls of the Schüsselkar. At the large boulder you turn off to the Scharnitzjoch and overcome again a few meters of altitude on the small trail. Arrived at the Joch, you can look at the opposite Gehrenspitze, the Hohe Munde and the Gaistal - and also the Rotmoosalm shows up for the first time. The route continues without difficulty and with little altitude gain via the Südwandsteig. A little surefootedness is required, but the views remain impressively beautiful even here. After a short descent from Schönberg, you finally reach the spectacularly situated Rotmoosalm, which towers at 2,030 meters above the Gaistal and is thus the highest alpine pasture in the valley.

You should not miss this at the Rotmoosalm: the Kaspressknödl fried in clarified butter and the homemade cakes from landlady Gabi.

After the Rotmoosalm follows the fourth of the seven huts: the Steinerne Hüttl (1,925m). Those who have tired legs or cannot part with the sunny terrace of the Rotmoosalm can descend directly from here to the Gaistalalm, otherwise continue via the beautiful Südwandsteig. Here you climb slightly uphill again in the direction of the Predigstuhl. The summit of the Predigtstuhl can still be taken, here a little surefootedness and a head for heights is required. From the Joch it goes slightly downhill to the Hüttl. The Steinerne Hüttl is the most rustic alpine pasture in the Gaistal, and with "rustic" is meant above all "simple": the small hut made of stone and wood has a fine, panoramic terrace and a very small, good map.

This is what you should not miss at the Steinernen Hüttl: the view all the way to the Zillertal Glacier, the refreshing drinks from the cool fountain.

Those who prefer to take it easy can also do the Hochalmen round hike in two days, because all huts also offer nice overnight accommodations. Summit strikers can also take a few mountain peaks along the way. For this purpose, a detour to the Gehrenspitze with its great views or to the Predigstuhl between the Wangalm and Rotmoosalm is particularly suitable, or also a climb to the "Gatterl" above the Steinernen Hüttl, from where you can look up to the Zugspitze.