Nordalpenweg (Austrian Alpine Trail 01)
One of Austria's official long-distance Alpine trails, following the Northern Limestone Alps from the Vorarlberg border to Vienna's edge.
Route overview
The Nordalpenweg, designated Austrian Alpine Trail 01 (Weitwanderweg 01) by the Austrian Alpine Club (Österreichischer Alpenverein), traces the Northern Limestone Alps from the Bregenzerwald in the west to the outskirts of Vienna in the east. It is one of a small number of officially numbered long-distance Weitwanderwege crossing the whole of Alpine Austria. The route links a chain of Alpine Club refuges through the Allgäu, the Karwendel, the Dachstein region and the Vienna Woods, showcasing the geological character of the Northern Limestone Alps as distinct from the crystalline Central Alps to the south. Given its scale, the trail is most commonly walked in regional sections rather than as a single continuous through-hike, with the Karwendel and Dachstein stretches among the most popular.
Trail facts
- Country
- Austria
- Region
- Northern Limestone Alps
- Distance
- c. 900 km
- Typical duration
- 5–6 weeks
- Difficulty
- Hard
- Elevation gain
- c. 35,000 m cumulative
- Best season
- July–September
- Trail type
- Point-to-point
Access and logistics
- Bookings
- Alpine Club refuges should be booked ahead in the July–August peak season.
Safety context
High alpine sections require good fitness and route-finding skills; weather in the Northern Limestone Alps can change abruptly, and some via ferrata-assisted passages exist on certain stages.
As with other Austrian Weitwanderwege, waymarking quality can vary by region, and route planning with official Alpine Club maps is recommended.
Highlights
Karwendel Alps limestone ridgelines Dachstein glacier region Allgäu Alps border crossing Vienna Woods finish near the capital
Why find a buddy
Long alpine sections through remote limestone terrain are safer and more manageable when shared with a hiking partner familiar with refuge-to-refuge logistics.
Primary source
Explore and prepare
Discover hikes by intent, read the hiking guides, review hiking safety, prepare a BuddyPack, or browse hiking plans.
Route conditions, access, services and transport can change. Verify time-sensitive information before departure.