The sunniest fall hikes

When the mountain meadows and forests slowly turn reddish and visibility in the mountains becomes clearer again, a quieter yet active time in the mountains begins. Autumn is the ideal time for hiking. Actually even better than summer. The temperatures are pleasant and you can sleep in and start your mountain tour a little later. When planning your tour, it is important to remember to choose routes that are on south-facing mountain slopes in order to get the maximum amount of sunshine.
Depending on the weather and snow conditions, tours can be undertaken until December.

The hike starts directly in Hochgenein. From the Edelraute parking lot, the road leads out of the valley to Hochgeneiner Hof, where the trail branches off. On some days, the final destination can be the Hochgeneinerjöchl with its special summit cross. However, if you are still in good physical condition, it is definitely worth continuing along the path towards Sumpfkopf. Following the ridge in a westerly direction, first through the last forests and later through mountain meadows, the hard-working hiker reaches the longed-for final destination - the Sumpfkopf.

There are two different ways to descend. One is to go back the same way or you can do a short circular walk. In the hollow just behind the cross, you head downhill. After a short, crisp descent, you then follow the small path in an arc back through pine forests and flowering meadows, past the natural biotope "auf der Lacke". This part of the tour is particularly beautiful, where you can observe many different plant species, birds, amphibians and insects. But everything beautiful has an end and eventually you reach the ridge again and the trail junction, including the turn-off into the Padastertal valley.

The Hochplataeu Padaun offers wonderful opportunities to explore the area for all kinds of excursionists and hikers. Those who want to take it easy can take a walk to the "Blinder Herrgott" chapel. For the more athletic among you, a hike up the Padauner Kogel is a great option. In both cases, however, a stop at the Steckholzer mountain inn afterwards is a must.

The trail to the Padauner Kogel leads from the parking lot above the Steckholzer inn along the asphalt path further into the valley to the last farm. There, trail 83 starts up to the right. The well-marked path leads up a pleasant incline, initially through the forest and then through beautiful mountain meadows. From the summit with its cross, you have a wonderful view of the Olperer and Fußstein in the Valsertal basin, the Nordkette and the Serles, as well as to the south-west of the Obernberger Tribulaun with the Schwarzer Wand. When I hiked up the Padauner Kogel once in November, it was absolutely windless. You could even relax in the meadow around the Kogel and enjoy the sun - something I've never managed to do in summer. But the tour is always worthwhile in good weather!
The descent is the same as the ascent.

The Blumenberg also offers a breathtaking natural backdrop in autumn and, thanks to its southerly orientation, is accessible until late fall. If the snow holds off a little longer, even into December. I did this hike a few years ago on December 30th during a winter with little snow. At that time, there were only small patches of snow, but it was very easy to avoid them.
The starting point for the hike is the Waldfest parking lot in Trins, which is subject to a charge. Trail no. 30 starts above the church in the district of Leiten. The marked trail first leads uphill across a meadow, then out of the valley through the Platzerwald forest. On the way up, you cross the wide forest path that leads to the Blaserhütte and stay on the path. Already above the forest in the Mähdern, the trail meets the forest path again. Walk along this to the Blaserhütte (only open until mid-September) and from there it is only a few meters to the summit with the cross. The route to the hut can also be easily covered by mountain bike or e-bike until early fall. Descent as ascent.