Carnic High Trail

The Carnic High Trail follows the Austrian-Italian border heading from west to east along the main ridge of the Carnic Alps. With a total distance of 168 kilometres, this high-altitude hike is a challenge even for experienced hikers and generally takes up to eleven days to complete. It is popular with walkers in the summer months thanks to its fine views of the Dolomites. The trail begins in Sillian in the High Pustertal Valley and ends in Unterhörl in the neighbouring province of Carinthia.

The highlight of the hike comes right at the start. The first third from the Hollbrucker Spitze mountain takes hikers along the first section of the Peace Trail leading through the Dolomites all the way to the Swiss border. This trail traces the Austrian-Italian front during the First World War and includes passages along trails created over 100 years ago to move troops and equipment. Each stage features a number of mountain huts or inns serving local food. All in all there are no fewer than 30 peaks along the trail such as the Großer Kinigat (2,689 metres) and the Pfannspitze (2,678 metres), the highest point of the hike. The information boards along the Geo Trail give visitors an insight into the geological diversity of the Carnic Alps between Sillian and Nassfeld. There is the option of shortening the route by taking a transfer along the roads over the mountain passes at Plöcken (stage 7) and Nassfeld (stage 9).
Day 1: Sillian – Leckfeldalm (1,900 metres) – Sillianer Hütte (2,447 metres) / Obstanserseehütte (2,300 metres)
Elevation gain/loss: 1,373/0 metres, hiking time: 6.5 hours, distance: 13.5 kilometres, highest point: 2,448 metres, difficulty: difficult (black trail)