Alpine hiking: Laterns

From the Rheintal motorway, Rankweil exit, follow the signs to Laternsertal and then to the Kühboden valley station in the Gapfohl skiing area.

By train to Rankweil, then by the No. 65 country bus to Kühboden.

Parking spaces at the valley station.

From the end of the car park at the chairlift in Kühboden (1150 m), the Walserweg leads through the hamlet of Rain slightly downhill to the Furkastraße. A short stretch along the road is followed by a right turn at Gerstaböda and, after a few minutes, the trail then reaches the Leuesteg bridge across the Frutz, which is followed after that by the ascent through the forest to the Untere Leuealpe (1130 m). It then follows the Netschelweg (beautiful biker trail), past the Untere Probstalpe, until, after a sweeping left-right loop, it reaches the Bädle (inn Bad Laterns, 1160 m) with its beautiful fish pond. It continues along the road for 200 metres before branching off into the Garnitzatal valley after the bridge. The alpine area presents itself after a short ascent. The trail continues along the alpine road to the Hintere Garnitzaalpe (1270 m), across the footbridge and then up along the gorge to the Untere Saluveralpe (1570 m). It then follows the signpost for ‘Gapfohlalpe’ until it reaches the pass at Fürkili (1660 m). This part of the trail presents the opportunity to make a detour to the Falben (1793 m). The trail then leads back across the Gapfohlalpe past the chairlift’s mountain station (1540 m) and then down through the woods to the starting point.

Caution is advised at short sections when they’re wet.

Ankle-high hiking boots with grip soles, poles and protection from the rain and sun.

It’s possible from Friday to Sunday to incorporate the chairlift into the hike. Either as a descent or an ascent if the reverse route is taken.