Stage 3: Path of springs and water

On the way to the source or “of troughs, troughs and horns!

Our first destination on this stage is the legendary Schrentebachboden, an alpine pasture and spring landscape at approximately 2.380 meters above sea level, where a roaring mountain stream has its spectacular origins. On the way over the Arntaler Lenke, you should take a short detour to the legendary Goldtrögele at 2.630 meters and the Degensee (2,720 meters).

At Lenke, a completely new view opens up, the Dolomites appear timidly for the first time and in the north the Großglockner bids us farewell.

The trump card in the game is the Grosse Degenhorn (2.946 m).

Description

Our hike begins at the Volkzeiner Hut (1,886 m). We follow the alpine path to the Raineralm, then on to the Heinkaralm (approx. 2,100 m). From here, follow trail no. 19 (Tyrolean Jubilee Trail) past the waterfall to the Schrentebachboden (approx. 2,380 m) – a wild, mossy meadowland between rock and water. From this high valley terrace, past the barren remains of a former shepherd's hut, we climb a rocky grassy ridge and, keeping slightly left, reach a green cirque floor with an elongated pool (approx. 2,580 m) nestled between grassy ridges, the so-called Tröger (from here, a path branches off to the Falkamsee, approx. 20 minutes, which is always a worthwhile destination and invites you to take a rest). Follow trail no. 326 eastward through a flat trough valley and through countless streams, later climbing over rocks to the Arntaler Lenke (Volkzeinerlenke, 2,655 m). From here, we have a beautiful view of the Winkeltal valley, and before us lies the Arntal valley, where we descend, following trail no. 326, to Beim Garten. From there, the alpine path continues through a sparse larch forest and alpine roses (Zetten) directly alongside the steep rock faces of the almost 3,000-meter-high Rotspitze (2,956 m) and the Weißspitze, the highest peak in the Villgrater Joch Hochpustertal (2,962 m), the kings of our mountain range, to the picturesque alpine village of Oberstalleralm. From the alpine pasture, we follow the paved mountain road down to the Unterstalleralm, where we can stay overnight at the Gutwenger alpine hut. Or you can continue to Schwarzsee and spend the night in the bivouac hut.