Beautiful summit hike with stunning panoramic views.
Starting point: car park at Oberöberst Inn
End point: car park at Oberöberst Inn
Refreshment options: Obisell Alm Alp, Oberöberst Inn
Directions
Ascent: Via Obisell Alm Alp to the summit of “Vernuerer Hochwart”
You start the hike at the parking area near Oberöberst (1,398 m) in Vernuer, above Riffian. Follow the road as far as the lower hairpin bend, where you turn onto forest road no. 5, which leads into the woods. Where the material cableway begins, turn right. The hiking trail becomes increasingly steeper as it climbs through mountain meadows, winding its way uphill in numerous switchbacks to the unstaffed Untere Obisellalm Alp at an altitude of around 2,000 m.
Here, turn right and stay on trail no. 5. Pass a small stone hut and, after a wide left-hand bend, reach another higher section of the trail. At the next junction, turn right again onto trail no. 5. After a few minutes of walking, you reach the flat area in front of Obsisell Alm Alp (2,160 m), which you will reach shortly afterwards.
From the alpine pasture, descend a few metres to the nearby Obisellsee Lake (2,150 m) and keep to the left-hand shore. Follow an unmarked path across slopes covered with a mixture of rocks and grass, climbing towards the col to the west. From there, turn left and head eastwards, covering the final metres along the grassy ridge to the summit of “Vernuerer Hochwart” (2,454 m).
Descent: Via Obisell Alm Alp and Hahnenkammhütte back to the starting point
The descent initially follows the ascent route via Obisell Alm Alp to the nearest junction. There, turn right onto the Kameradensteig trail no. 5A, which takes you through terrain interspersed with grass and scree to the next junction.
Turn left towards Hahnenkammhütte/Oberöbersthöfe. After a few minutes, the path brings you to the lower section of trail no. 21. Follow this trail along the mountainside, with almost no change in elevation, until you reach the unstaffed Hahnenkammhütte (2,037 m).
From the hut, descend along trail no. 21, following the mountain ridge. At the end of the ridge, turn left at the edge of the forest onto trail no. 21A towards Öbersthöfe. Follow the trail through the forest, crossing the forest road several times, until you arrive back at the starting point at the Oberöberst parking area.
The trail is not suitable for strollers and wheelchairs.
Parking
• Coming from Meran towards the Passeiertal Valley, take the Jaufenstraße SS44 shortly after Riffian, turn left to Vernuer
• Coming from the Jaufenpass towards Meran, take the Jaufenstraße SS44 shortly before Riffian, turn right to Vernuer
• Coming from the Timmelsjoch towards Moos, continue on the Timmelsjochstraße shortly before Riffian, turn right to Vernuer
Parking is possible at the parking lot at Gasthof Oberöberst.
Public transport
Choose a more environmentally friendly way to travel and use our public transport services:
• Bus line 240 from Meran towards St. Leonhard/Moos/Pfelders
• Bus line 240 from St. Leonhard/Moos/Pfelders towards Meran
Bus stop "Riffian, Abzweigung Vernuer"
continue with
• Bus line 224 to Öbersthöfe (operates only from mid-May to early October)
Bus stop "Riffian, Öbersthöfe"