Montafoner Steinschafweg

Moderate
Alpenmosaik - Tal
Rundtour
Themenweg · Hiking · Alpine mosaic – valley · Alpine mosaic · Round trip · St. Gallenkirch
03:30 h duration
9,7 km Length in km
1201 m Highest point
816 m Lowest point
492 m gain Ascent
492 m gain Descent
Stamina
Skill
Difficulty
Adventure
Scenery

Tour description

The Steinschaf Trail tells the story of the rare Montafon Steinschaf sheep and takes you through forests, pastures, and the villages around St. Gallenkirch and Galgenul.

The Montafon Stone Sheep is a breed of sheep threatened with extinction that used to be found only sporadically in the remotest parts of the Montafon. Larger breeds better suited for fattening had increasingly displaced the Stone Sheep. Starting in 1989, typical specimens were purchased again and a herd book was established to preserve the breed and prevent inbreeding.

Since then, the Montafon Steinschaf has been bred throughout Vorarlberg. Along the trail, you’ll learn about the history of this special sheep breed and its connection to the Montafon cultural landscape. With a little luck, you might even spot the animals along the way or during a detour to the Mathis organic farm.

What is the Montafon Alpine Mosaic?

The Montafon Alpine Mosaic showcases the scenic diversity of the Montafon region. Four experiential areas—Verwall, Silvretta, Rätikon, and the valley—reveal how geology, nature, and the cultural landscape are interconnected.

Along 34 themed trails, you can discover the unique features of these diverse landscapes. Starting points, themes, and stories along the trails continually offer you new perspectives on the Montafon.

So: Choose an exploration area, lace up your hiking boots, and discover the diversity of the Montafon step by step.

You can find more information about the Montafon Alpine Mosaic HERE.

Starting Point - Directions - End Point

Starting point
St. Gallenkirch, downtown

Directions
From the St. Gallenkirch Tourist Information Office, walk about 50 meters toward Schruns. At the hiking signpost, follow the trail down to the Ill River. Cross the bridge to reach the other side of the river and continue hiking toward Galgenul.

Passing the Valisera Railway and following the main road, you’ll reach the turnoff toward Gargellen. After crossing the bridge over the Suggadinbach, the trail leads uphill toward Rüti. From there, continue on to Außergampaping and back to Galgenul via Neuberg.

At the Valisera cable car, follow the main road for about 200 meters over the bridge. You’ll then reach the bike and pedestrian path and follow it back toward the town center. At the first junction, turn left and you’ll arrive back in St. Gallenkirch.

End Point
St. Gallenkirch, town center

Getting to the Starting Point

Getting to the starting point
The starting point for the tour is the town center of St. Gallenkirch.

By public transportation:
The Montafon regional bus and the Montafonerbahn railway offer convenient and flexible travel throughout the valley. Trains and buses connect the towns regularly, every half hour or every hour depending on the route. You can find the right connection HERE. Bus stop at the start/end of this tour: St. Gallenkirch Center

By car:
Take the A14 to the Bludenz/Montafon exit, then follow the Montafoner Straße L188 to St. Gallenkirch. There, turn right onto Gargellnerstraße. Parking is available at the Valisera Bahn valley station. For the hike, we recommend taking the public bus from the valley station. There are also parking spaces in the centre of St. Gallenkirch. Please note, however, that these are located in a short-stay parking zone and are therefore only suitable for shorter visits.

Important Information

For the hike, we recommend wearing sturdy, ankle-high hiking boots with good traction.

Tips

If you stop by the Mathis Organic Farm, you can see if the Montafon stone sheep are in the barn right now.

Sicherheitstipps für Wandern in Vorarlberg

EN NOTRUF:

EN 140 - Alpine Notfälle österreichweit 

EN 144 - Alpine Notfälle Vorarlberg 

EN 112 - Euro-Notruf (funktioniert mit jedem Handy/Netz) 

Properties
Route type Themenweg, Hiking, Alpine mosaic – valley, Alpine mosaic, Round trip
Difficulty Moderate
Start Ortszentrum St. Gallenkirch
Finish Ortszentrum St. Gallenkirch
Elevation profile
Best months
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec