Via Alpina Red R31

The Via Alpina Red R31 is an 8 km point-to-point alpine stage in South Tyrol, northern Italy, gaining roughly 1,560 m of elevation over a single hiking day. Rated demanding for its sustained climb, it links the valley village of Antholz-Mittertal to the high Rieserfernerhütte at 2,792 m, deep in the glaciated Rieserferner group.

About the Via Alpina Red R31

The Via Alpina Red R31 is one stage in the longest of the five Via Alpina trails. The full Red Trail runs for 161 stages across all eight Alpine countries, beginning in Muggia near Trieste and ending at the Palais in Monaco. The Via Alpina network was created in 2000 by public and private organisations from the eight Alpine states, with EU funding flowing between 2001 and 2008; its international secretariat moved to CIPRA in Liechtenstein in 2014.

Stage R31 sits in the heart of South Tyrol's Antholz valley (Anterselva), within the Naturpark Rieserferner-Ahrn. Officially numbered as stage 211 on the via-alpina.org route, it carries hikers from Antholz-Mittertal / Anterselva di Mezzo at around 1,230 m up to the Rieserfernerhütte / Rifugio Vedrette di Ries at 2,792 m. Over roughly 8 km the trail climbs about 1,560 m, making it a short but unrelentingly steep day that delivers outsized rewards: glacier tongues, granite cirques and a panorama across the Antholz lake basin.

This is genuine high-mountain terrain operated under the Via Alpina banner by via-alpina.org. The Rieserferner group (Vedrette di Ries) is one of the least crowded high massifs in the eastern Alps, sitting just north of the more famous Dolomites. Where the Dolomite peaks draw the crowds, R31 offers a quieter, more austere granite-and-ice landscape with the same scale of scenery.

Route Overview & Stages

R31 is a single Via Alpina stage, but most hikers break the climb mentally into three sections by gradient and terrain. The table below splits the 8 km route into its natural segments.

Total moving time runs to roughly 4 to 5 hours uphill for a fit hiker, with the return descent taking around 3 hours. Because R31 is point-to-point in the Via Alpina sequence, many walkers either continue north on the next Red stage or descend back the same way to Antholz.

Highlights & Points of Interest

• Rieserfernerhütte / Rifugio Vedrette di Ries (2,792 m) — the stage's destination, a CAI-run alpine hut perched beneath the Rieserferner glaciers, with sweeping views and a base for nearby summits.
• Antholzer See / Lago di Anterselva — the largest natural lake in the eastern Pustertal, visible behind you as you climb out of the valley.
• Hochgall / Collalto (3,436 m) — the highest peak of the Rieserferner group, dominating the skyline above the hut.
• Wildgall / Collaspro (3,272 m) — a second towering summit that frames the cirque around the Rieserfernerhütte.
• Naturpark Rieserferner-Ahrn — the 31,000-hectare nature park protecting this glaciated massif and its meadows, larch woods and wildlife.
• Glacier remnants of the Vedrette di Ries — shrinking ice fields that feed the alpine streams crossed on the upper trail.
• Marmot and ibex habitat — the alpine basin above the treeline is reliable ground for spotting marmots, chamois and occasionally ibex.
• Antholz biathlon centre — the world-famous Südtirol Arena in the valley, a useful orientation point and winter sports landmark.

Best Time to Hike the Via Alpina Red R31

The realistic hiking window for R31 runs from late June to late September, governed entirely by snow cover on the upper switchbacks and by when the Rieserfernerhütte is staffed. The hut typically opens from roughly late June and closes in late September, so plan within that span.

Early summer (late June to mid-July) brings flowering alpine meadows, full streams and the best chance of clear, cool air, but lingering snowfields can sit on the final climb to the hut into early July, especially after a heavy winter. July and August offer the most reliable trail conditions and warmest temperatures, with daytime highs of 18–24 °C in the valley and near-freezing nights at the hut; afternoon thunderstorms are the main hazard, so an early start is essential. September delivers crisp visibility, fewer walkers and golden larches, though the first snow can arrive late in the month.

The single best month to hike R31 is September: stable high-pressure spells, settled snow-free trails, thinner crowds and the autumn colour of the larch forests below the treeline. As of 2026, glacier recession continues to alter the upper basin, so check current conditions with the hut or park before committing to an early-season ascent.

Practical Information

Accommodation

The natural overnight is the Rieserfernerhütte / Rifugio Vedrette di Ries (2,792 m), a staffed CAI mountain hut at the top of the stage. Expect roughly €25–35 for a dormitory bunk, with CAI and Alpine Club members receiving a discount; half-board (bed, dinner and breakfast) typically runs €60–75 per person. Bring a sleeping-bag liner, which is required in Italian huts. Down in the valley, Antholz-Mittertal and neighbouring Antholz-Niedertal offer guesthouses and three-star hotels from around €70–110 per double room, plus the local Gasslhof and farm-stay options. There is no formal campground on the stage itself, and wild camping is restricted within the nature park, so the hut or valley lodging are the practical choices. Booking the hut ahead in July and August is strongly advised.

Getting There & Back

The trailhead at Antholz-Mittertal is served by SAD/SüdtirolMobil regional buses from Bruneck / Brunico, the main Pustertal town about 25 km west. The nearest railway station is Olang / Valdaora–Antholz on the Pustertal line, with bus connections up the Antholz valley taking around 30–40 minutes. The closest major airports are Innsbruck (about 1 hr 45 min by car) and Verona or Venice (around 3 hours); Bolzano/Bozen airport handles limited regional flights. By car, leave the Pustertal main road at Olang and follow the valley road south to Antholz-Mittertal, where parking is available near the village.

Permits & Fees

No permit is required to hike R31, and access to the Via Alpina and the Naturpark Rieserferner-Ahrn is free. Costs are limited to hut accommodation, meals and transport. Drinking water at the hut may be charged separately, and card payment is not guaranteed at altitude, so carry cash in euros. Drone use and off-trail camping are restricted inside the nature park; respect signed protection zones and the alpine wildlife.

Gear & Packing List

R31 is short in distance but serious in vertical gain and altitude, so pack for sudden weather above 2,500 m: waterproof shell, insulating mid-layer, hat and gloves even in midsummer. Sturdy B-rated hiking boots with good grip handle the granite switchbacks far better than trail runners, and trekking poles ease both the climb and the steep descent. Because the hut provides meals, a lightweight daypack is enough for a single overnight — a 35–50 litre pack such as the Abisko Hike 35 or the Arc Haul Ultra 50L covers a hut-to-hut load comfortably. If you are linking several Via Alpina stages and carrying more, the Arc Haul Ultra 60L adds capacity without much weight penalty. For more on choosing a pack, see our roundup of the best ultralight backpacks of 2026. Carry at least 1.5 litres of water for the climb, high-energy snacks, sun protection and a headtorch. A steep 1,560 m ascent burns serious fuel — our guide to how many calories you need hiking a full day helps you plan trail food.

Similar Trails You Might Like

If the high granite and glacier scenery of R31 appeals, the neighbouring Dolomite high routes deliver longer multi-day versions of the same eastern-Alpine character. These Alta Via traverses string together huts across South Tyrol and the Veneto, ideal next steps once you have a Via Alpina stage under your belt.

• Alta Via n. 2 delle Dolomiti - Dolomiten-Höhenweg Nr. 2 (Italy), 185 km
• Alta via n. 6 delle Dolomiti (Italy), 180 km
• Alta via n. 6 delle Dolomiti - XI tappa (Italy), 180 km
• Alta via n. 6 delle Dolomiti - X tappa (Italy), 180 km
• Alta via n. 9 delle Dolomiti - Dolomiten-Höhenweg Nr. 9 (Italy), 140 km

For a different flavour of dramatic valley-to-hut hiking, our guide on how to hike the Theth to Valbona trail in Albania covers a comparable single-day mountain pass crossing.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the best time to hike the Via Alpina Red R31?
The hiking season runs from late June to late September, while the Rieserfernerhütte is staffed and the upper trail is clear of snow. September is the single best month, offering stable weather, snow-free switchbacks, thinner crowds and golden larch colour. July and August are warmest and most reliable but bring afternoon thunderstorm risk, so start early.

How difficult is the Via Alpina Red R31?
It is a demanding stage despite its short 8 km length. The challenge is the sustained climb of roughly 1,560 m to an altitude of 2,792 m, on steep granite switchbacks in the upper section. Hikers need good fitness, sure footing and proper boots. There is no technical climbing, but altitude and gradient make it strenuous.

What distance do you cover per day on the R31?
R31 is a single Via Alpina stage of about 8 km one way, normally done in one day. Expect 4 to 5 hours of climbing to the Rieserfernerhütte and around 3 hours to descend. Many walkers overnight at the hut and either continue on the next Red Trail stage or return to Antholz by the same route.

Where can you stay on the Via Alpina Red R31?
The Rieserfernerhütte / Rifugio Vedrette di Ries at 2,792 m is the main overnight, with dormitory bunks around €25–35 and half-board roughly €60–75 per person. Bring a sleeping-bag liner. In the valley, Antholz-Mittertal has guesthouses and hotels from about €70 per night. Book the hut ahead in summer.

Do you need a permit to hike the R31?
No permit is required and access to both the Via Alpina and the Naturpark Rieserferner-Ahrn is free. Your only costs are hut accommodation, meals and transport. Wild camping and drone use are restricted within the nature park, so plan to stay at the hut or in the valley, and carry cash in euros as card payment is not guaranteed at the hut.

Further planning resources: the official route is documented on the Via Alpina stage 211 page, and protected-area information is available from the Naturpark Rieserferner-Ahrn authority.