Fresh tracks through winter silence

When the peaks turn white, a blanket of silence settles over Pitztal. These are the snowshoe routes worth knowing – from an easy first outing to an Alpine pasture hike with a well-earned hut stop.

Snow crunches underfoot. Other than that, silence. No engines, no voices. Just the small white plume of your breath in the cold. This is winter in Pitztal. And it can’t come soon enough! More than 79 kilometres of snowshoe trails run through the valley, from short loops to Alpine pasture hikes with sweeping views.
The Taschach Gorge is a good place to start. Starting from Mandarfen, the route is 1.5 kilometres long with 105 metres of ascent. Short enough for a first outing, but with spectacular scenery: frozen waterfalls, ice caves that the sun lights up in blue. There are no signposts here, so bring a guide.
For a classic Alpine pasture tour, head to the Tiefentalalm. Starting at the Scheibe bus stop, the route covers 9.3 kilometres and almost 500 metres of ascent, reaching 1,880 metres above sea level. Allow around three and a half hours at a steady pace. Make your way through sugar-dusted spruce branches that bow under the weight of new snow, until the high valley opens out and the view suddenly widens – unspoilt, expansive, and wonderfully unhurried.
Looking for something steeper? Head for the Zaunhof area. The route to the Ludwigsburger Hütte covers 7.1 kilometres with 608 metres of ascent; the Mauchele Alm route stretches for 8.8 kilometres; and from Eggenstall, a four-hour circuit takes you past the Neubergalm. All three routes are rated moderate and delight with familiar summer landscapes transformed beneath a blanket of white.
One thing to keep in mind: you’ll be heading into high-Alpine terrain. Check the current avalanche conditions before setting out, and if in doubt, go with a guide. The local ski school offers guided snowshoe hikes to various destinations, including the Tiefentalalm, with snowshoes and poles provided.
And after a day in the winter silence, the best place to warm up is right here at the Alpine Resort Sportalm in St. Leonhard im Pitztal. In the Naturpark Spa, the Swiss stone pine sauna will thaw your frozen fingers, while outside, the infinity pool steams against a backdrop of snow-covered peaks.