Access
The starting point for the hike is Latschau. From there, a hiking trail leads up to the Lindauer Hütte—a distance of about 6 kilometers and an elevation gain of approximately 750 meters.
From the Lindauer Hut, follow the sign for “Klettersteig Gauablickhöhle.” The trail first descends briefly toward the east, then branches off to the right and ascends toward “Rachen Sulzfluh.” The trail takes you beneath the impressive rock faces of Drusenfluh, Drei Türme, and Sulzfluh to the “Auf den Bänken” plateau. At an elevation of approximately 2,050 meters, the start of the via ferrata is located on the left and is marked with a yellow sign.
Directions
The via ferrata begins at “Auf den Bänken” below the Rachenwand. First, you’ll climb over several rock steps before reaching the dark entrance to the Gauablick Cave. From here, the tour becomes extraordinary: The via ferrata takes you about 350 meters through the interior of a natural cave. A headlamp is absolutely essential for this section.
After passing through the cave, you’ll emerge back into daylight in the middle of the cliff face. The view from the cave’s exit into the Gauertal valley is one of the most impressive moments of the tour. The via ferrata then continues upward over several steep ledges to the summit of the Rachenkopf.
If you still have enough stamina, alpine experience, and time to spare, you can extend the tour to include the summit of the Sulzfluh. For this, you’ll need to allow for an additional 1.5 hours of hiking time and about 400 meters of elevation gain.
Descent
The descent follows the blue-and-white-marked alpine trail through the Rachen back to the Lindauer Hütte. The trail passes over loose scree and requires sure-footedness and focused walking, especially when wet or after prolonged dry spells when the scree is slippery.
Alternatively, you can descend via the Karrenfeld—also marked in blue and white—toward the Tilisuna Hut. This route also traverses alpine terrain and should only be chosen when conditions are suitable.
