A side valley in Innervillgraten proceeds up to the Kalkstein Pilgrimage Church, where various ancient paths across the ridges to Casies start
Image gallery: Via Kalkstein to the Alfenalm
Since prehistory, the ancient paths across the ridges between the East Tyrolean Villgratental valley and the South Tyrolean Val Casies valley (Gsiesertal) have been used. Once by shepherds, later by smugglers and today by hikers. The following hiking tip doesn’t take us so far, it proceeds only to the alpine pastures, where the ancient paths start.
Our starting point is Innervillgraten where we walk towards the Malga Unterstaller. At the Eggenberg Farms (shortly before the Wegelate Saw) we follow the signpost Peststeig (plague path), uphill across meadows until the forest where it joins a driveway. As a trail and meadow path it proceeds along the slope further to Kalkstein and offers a gorgeous panoramic view on the Villgratental valley. The hamlet of Kalkstein is located at 1,640 m a.s.l. The St. Mary Major Pilgrimage Church can be found there, it dates back to the 17th century.
The forest road (no. 8) proceeds from Kalkstein up to the Alfenalm alp. Its meadows are the destination of our hike. Near the beautiful ensemble of alpine huts, various paths branch off: the Smuggler’s Path (Schmugglersteig), the Customs’ Path (Brauchtums- und Traditionssteig) and the connection to the Bonn High Route, up to the peaks of the Marchkinkele and Corno di Fana (Pfannhorn). For our way back we choose the same route. A rest point can be found in Kalkstein (tavern at the parking space).
Author: AT
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- Starting point:
- Innervillgraten, Eggeberg
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- Time required:
- 02:25 h
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- Track length:
- 7,9 km
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- Altitude:
- from 1.499 m to 1.749 m
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- Altitude difference:
- +271 m | -271 m
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- Signposts:
- Peststeig, 6A, 8
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- Destination:
- Kalkstein, Alfenalm
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- Resting points:
- Restaurant Kalkstein
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- Recommended time of year:
- Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
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- Download GPX track:
- Via Kalkstein to the Alfenalm
If you want to do this hike, we suggest you to check the weather and trail conditions in advance and on site before setting out.
