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ROUTE 12

Bielerhöhe (2036m) – Wiesbadener Hut (2443m) – Radsattel (2652m) – Bielerhöhe

Start	Bielerhöhe (2036m)
Valley base	Bielerhöhe or Galtür
Distance	13km
Height gain	616m
Height loss	616m
Grade	2–3
Time	5–6hrs
Location	Southeast of the Bielerhöhe

A circular tour with close views of Piz Buin and the Dreiländerspitz, visiting a popular mountain hut and crossing an easy pass, this makes an excellent day’s walk.

From the Bielerhöhe car park cross the dam wall and wander along a good path on the western side of the Silvretta Stausee. When the path forks near the end of the lake take the left branch (the right branch is for the Klostertal). Shortly after cross the Klostertaler Bach and continue round the southern end of the lake, and having crossed a second stream join the east bank trail and bear right into the Ochsental. Mountain views increase in grandeur, and glaciers and snowfields of the Dreiländerspitz, Piz Buin, Signalhorn and Silvrettahorn form a gleaming white backrop. Several minor streams are crossed as the path rises to the Wiesbadener Hut (2443m) about 2–2½hrs from the Bielerhöhe.

The Silvretta reservoir at the Bielerhöhe

The Wiesbadener Hut (Category I) has 160 dormitory places and 40 beds, and is fully staffed from the end of February to early May, and from the end of June to early October (tel 05558 4233).

A few paces beyond the hut bear left on the Edmund Lorenz Weg, a trail climbing northward with a few zigzags up to a high, stone-littered meadow – a good vantage point from which to study Piz Buin and its neighbours. Cairns and waymarks guide the continuing way into a rolling pastureland where a few minor pools are found in early summer. From here the path climbs a final slope to the 2652m Radsattel by a series of zigzags. This saddle, or pass, on the southeast ridge of the Hohes Rad marks the boundary between Vorarlberg and Tyrol.

The ascent of the Hohes Rad (2934m) is recommended if you have the time and energy. Take the left-hand path at the Radsattel. Heading north it cuts along the east side of the ridge to a point about 200m above the little Radsee, where a sign painted on a rock directs the ascent route up to the left. The way is a little exposed, and some easy scrambling is involved, but the summit is reached about 30–45mins from the Radsattel. The panoramic view makes the effort worthwhile.

At the Radsattel take the right fork at the path junction to descend northeastwards. Snow patches often lie well into summer on this side of the ridge, so caution is advised. The initial descent is steep and over rocks, then in tight zigzags down to the floor of the Bieltal shortly after passing the Radsee tarn at 2477m.

The Bieltal is a gentle, narrow valley with a rich variety of alpine flowers in early summer, and the path follows its stream most of the way through it. Towards the northern end of the valley the way curves left among hillsides thick with alpenroses, and finally brings you back to the Bielerhöhe above the Silvretta Stausee.

Piz Buin and its glacier, from the Radsattel