Schwaiberghorn

Overview

Belonging to the northern part of the Alpbach – Wildschönau range of Kitzbüheler Alpen, Schwaiberghorn offers easy hikes and ski routes the whole year round.

Located just a short walk south of Feldalphorn and north of equal easy summits, like Wildkarspitze or Breiteggern, Schwaiberghorn receives many visits throughout the year. Thus you are able to combine some of the routes to nice loops and traverses.

Fire bell of old Kelchsau farm house

Cattle return of the Alm meadows in september

The ski routes to Schwaiberghorn are easy routes for beginners.

Schwaiberghorn is located between Feldalphorn to the north and Breiteggern / Wildkarspitze to the south. Bordered by Kelchsau valley to the east and Auffach valley, a tributary valley to Wildschönau, to the west, Schwaiberghorn is the highest summit of the subridge between Auffach / Wildschönau and Kelchsau.

Getting There

Trailheads for Schwaiberghorn are:

Kelchsau

Auffach / Wildschönau

You reach these trailheads

by car:

From Munich or Salzburg directions use highway A 8 to Inntal junction and then highway A 93 / A 12 (in Austria toll road) to exit Wörgl

From Innsbruck direction go on highway A 12 likewise to exit Wörgl

Turn on road number 178 and then on road number 170 until you reach Hopfgarten

Pond on the east ridge of Schwaiberghorn

Butterfly sucking in vain ...

For the Auffach valley trailheads follow the signposts to Wildschönau (road number L 3) until you reach Auffach. Follow the valley road to its end at Alpengasthof Schönanger with a parking area.

For the Kelchsau trailhead leave road number 170 after the center of Hopfgarten, following the signposts to Kelchsau. Go on Kelchsauer Landstraße to Innerkelchsau with a parking area.


by train and bus

The nearest railway station is Hopfgarten. Bus number 4064 goes to Auffach (bus stop “Auffach Melkstatt”), bus number 4057 to Innerkelchsau (bus stop “Innerkelchsau, Steinerbrücke).

Please note that the frequency of these busses per day is not very high.

Routes Overview

Schwaiberghorn summit

Feldalphorn as seen from Schwaiberghorn east ridge

Schwaiberghorn Routes Overvies:




Trailhead Kelchsau

Start at Innerkelchsau on the forest road climbing the east slopes of Schwaiberghorn. After the 4th switchback take the trail leaving the road to the right (signposts) and ascend first through woods then over meadows to Alpmessau Alm.

Turn to the right and follow another forest road and – at its upper end – a trail again through woods and a clearing to Neustattalm. Continue on the forest road zigzagging up to the northeast ridge of Schwaiberghorn. At roads end another trail starts, following the ridge up to the summit.

Kelchsau route to Schwaiberghorn

On the east ridge of Schwaiberghorn

Wildschönau and traverse routes

At the end of Auffach valley start at Alpengasthof Schönanger, following the valley road to the south and then the first forest road to the left. Ascend on this road up to its end and take the trail up to Breiteggspitze. Continue on the ridge crest to the north, traversing Wildkarspitze and Breiteggern until you reach Schwaiberghorn summit.

Traverse Feldalphorn - Schwaiberghorn

Traverse Feldalphorn - Schwaiberghorn

You may continue the traverse to Feldalphorn and descend to Prädasten and to Auffach valley. You need a walk back to the south on the valley road to regain your trailhead (about 2,5 km).

The route can be done, too, vice versa.


Ski routes

From Auffach valley the main ski routes start at Alpengasthof Schönanger up to Breiteggspitze, Wildkarspitze, Breiteggern and Schwaiberghorn, all of them can be combined together with or without some short downhill and ascent options.

Schwaiberghorn (left) and Feldalphorn (right)

Schwaiberghorn

The ski routes from Kelchsau start further up the valley at a parking area at the toll station for the Langer Grund and Kurzer Grund roads.

One starts at the toll station, goes up a clearing to a forest road which takes you to your left to another clearing. Ski up this clearing until Neustattalm and follow the upper Kelchsau hiking route, mainly using Schwaiberghorn east ridge.

The other route starts further on into Langer Grund. A clearing leads you up to Kühtalalm, Lotterbichlalm and Schwaibergalm, reaching the east ridge of Schwaiberghorn above the latter.

Red Tape & Accommodation

No red tape as far as I know.

Most parking areas are without fee (2017).


You find accommodation of all kind at

Kelchsau
Auffach / Wildschönau

There is no mountain hut around. Some Alm huts sell drinks and food and maybe mountain cheese.

Alpengasthof Schönanger at the end of Auffach valley offers food, drinks and lodging.

Gear & Mountain Condition

In summer and autumn you need normal hiking gear and good shoes. All routes are easy hiking routes; some trails can be steep and narrow, however. A good map of the area is recommended.

In winter you need full ski hike gear and your avalanche gear.
See the Tirol avalanche bulletin here.


Current Weather Kelchsau valley:

Maps

Alpenvereinskarte 1 : 50.000; Kitzbüheler Alpen östliches Blatt, Nr. 34/2, Deutscher Alpenverein, 2009; - topo map with trails

Alpenvereinskarte 1 : 50.000; Kitzbüheler Alpen östliches Blatt, Nr. 34/2 S, Deutscher Alpenverein, 2009; - topo map with ski routes

Austrian Topo Maps:

Österreichische Karte 1 : 50.000 - UTM (ÖK50):

3213, Wörgl
3219, Neukirchen am Großvenediger

Images

View Schwaiberghorn Image Gallery - 17 Images