Via Alpina Red R39

The Via Alpina Red R39 is an approximately 14 km point-to-point alpine day stage in the Tux Alps of Tyrol, Austria, running from the Rastkogelhütte to the Loassattel pass and gaining roughly 600 m of elevation across a single hiking day. Rated moderate, it threads a high grassy ridge with sweeping views over the Zillertal and Inn valleys.

About the Via Alpina Red R39

The Via Alpina is a network of five waymarked long-distance routes — the Red, Purple, Yellow, Green and Blue trails — crossing the eight Alpine countries of Slovenia, Austria, Germany, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Italy, France and Monaco. It was created in 2000 by a coalition of public and private organisations from those eight countries and received European Union funding from 2001 until 2008. As part of the International Walking Network, it ranks among the world's most significant hiking routes.

The Red Trail is the backbone of the system. It comprises 161 numbered stages, labelled R1 to R161, stretching from Muggia near Trieste on the Adriatic to the Place du Palais in Monaco on the Mediterranean. Stage R39 sits in the Austrian Tyrol, in the heart of the Tux Alps (Tuxer Alpen), the grassy, schist-rich range that separates the Zillertal from the Inntal. The Open Street Map description for the stage is simply "Rastkogelhütte - Loassattel," naming its two endpoints.

R39 follows R38 (which climbs from Finkenberg in the Zillertal up to the Rastkogelhütte) and precedes R40 (which descends from the Loassattel toward Schwaz in the Inn valley). Walked in sequence, these three stages carry you from deep valley to high ridge and back down again, a classic transverse of the Tux Alps. R39 itself is the airy middle section — mostly above 1,800 m, on open alpine pasture and rounded ridgelines rather than rock and glacier. That makes it one of the more accessible high stages on this part of the Red Trail, well suited to hikers who want genuine alpine scenery without technical scrambling.

The route is managed under the via-alpina.org umbrella, and the matching official stage page is stage 219 in the organisation's catalogue. The endpoints are both meaningful waypoints in their own right: the Rastkogelhütte (around 2,124 m) is a popular staffed mountain hut beneath the Rastkogel summit, while the Loassattel (around 1,700 m) is a broad, road-served saddle above Weerberg with a mountain inn, making it an easy place to start, finish or break a multi-day walk.

Route Overview & Stages

R39 is a single day stage, but it is rarely walked in isolation. The table below places it in the context of its immediate neighbours on the Via Alpina Red Trail through the Tux Alps. Distances are approximate, drawn from the route's well-known endpoints and typical published figures for this section; always confirm against the official stage pages before you set out.

For R39 specifically, plan on roughly 5 to 6 hours of walking. Although the net elevation change between the 2,124 m hut and the 1,700 m saddle is a descent, the ridge undulates and you cross several minor cols, so the cumulative ascent of around 600 m is real work. The path is a marked mountain trail (Tyrolean red-white-red blazing), generally well-trodden but exposed to weather along the open crest.

Highlights & Points of Interest

• Rastkogelhütte (~2,124 m) — The staffed alpine hut at the stage start, sitting in a wide pasture basin below the Rastkogel. A reliable spot for breakfast, water and weather advice before you commit to the ridge.
• Rastkogel (2,762 m) — The range's signature peak rising directly above the hut. R39 traverses its flank rather than the summit, but the mountain dominates the early views.
• Tux Alps ridge (Tuxer Höhenweg corridor) — Long stretches of open, grassy crest where the trail rolls along at 1,900–2,100 m, offering near-continuous panoramas in both directions.
• Zillertal Alps panorama — Looking south and east, the glaciated peaks of the Zillertal Alps, including the Olperer and Hintertux group, line the horizon on clear days.
• Inntal & Karwendel views — To the north, the trail opens onto the Inn valley with the limestone walls of the Karwendel beyond, a striking contrast to the soft Tux schist underfoot.
• Nurpensalm & alpine pastures — Working summer alms (high pastures) dot the route, with grazing cattle, wildflowers in July, and the occasional chance to buy fresh dairy.
• Loassattel (~1,700 m) — The broad finishing saddle above Weerberg, served by a mountain inn and a toll road, where the high country eases back toward the valley.
• Kellerjoch outlook — From the Loassattel, the pyramid of the Kellerjoch (2,344 m) rises to the north-west, a popular optional add-on for those with extra time and energy.

Best Time to Hike the Via Alpina Red R39

The walking season for this high Tux Alps stage runs from late June to early October. Outside that window the ridge holds snow, the Rastkogelhütte is closed, and route-finding above 1,900 m becomes genuinely hazardous.

The single best month is July. By early July the snow has cleared from the crossing cols, the alpine pastures are in full flower, and daytime temperatures on the ridge typically sit around 12–18 °C with long daylight hours. Huts are open and staffed, and the meadows around the Rastkogelhütte are at their greenest.

August is nearly as good and the most reliable for settled weather, but it is also the busiest period and hut beds fill fast — book ahead. By contrast, June can still deliver lingering snowfields on north-facing traverses, so check conditions before committing early in the season. September into early October brings crisp air, golden larch-tinged slopes and far fewer walkers, though afternoon temperatures drop and the first autumn snow can arrive without much warning. As of 2026, alpine weather across Tyrol remains highly variable day to day; afternoon thunderstorms are common in midsummer, so aim to be off the exposed ridge by early afternoon and always check the current forecast and the avalanche/weather bulletins before departure. Whatever month you choose, carry layers for a 20-degree swing between a sunny ridge and a cloud-wrapped saddle.

Practical Information

Accommodation

The two natural overnight points bracket the stage. The Rastkogelhütte at the start offers dormitory and small-room beds; expect roughly €20–35 per person for a dormitory bunk and €60–80 for half-board (bed plus dinner and breakfast), in line with current Tyrolean hut rates. Membership of an alpine club such as the Österreichischer Alpenverein (ÖAV) or DAV brings discounts on hut fees across the region. At the finish, the inn at the Loassattel provides simpler valley-style rooms and meals, typically €50–90 for a double depending on season.

Wild camping is restricted across much of the Austrian Alps, and bivouacking above the treeline is discouraged in many Tyrolean conservation zones; the practical and legal choice is to use the staffed huts. Reserve directly with each hut by phone or email, especially in August, and reconfirm a day ahead. If you want to plan beds, meals and rest days for the whole R38–R40 sequence, you can map it day by day with the HikeLoad hike planner.

Getting There & Back

The gateway is the Inn valley. The nearest major rail hub is Jenbach on the main Innsbruck–Salzburg line, about 35–45 minutes by train from Innsbruck. From Jenbach or nearby Schwaz, regional buses and the Zillertalbahn reach the trailhead approaches — Finkenberg in the Zillertal for the R38 start, or Weerberg/Hochfügen for road access toward the Loassattel finish. From the valley you reach the Rastkogelhütte on foot via R38, or with a shorter approach from the Hochfügen ski area.

The nearest airport is Innsbruck (INN), roughly 45–60 minutes by train and bus from Jenbach; Munich (MUC) is about 2 to 2.5 hours away by rail and is often better connected internationally. Because R39 is point-to-point, plan your return from the Loassattel via the toll road and bus down to Weerberg and Schwaz, then back to Jenbach by train. For up-to-date timetables, plan with the Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB).

Permits & Fees

No permit is required to walk the Via Alpina Red R39 — Austria's mountains are open to hikers and the trail is freely accessible. Your only costs are hut accommodation and meals, plus any toll-road or bus fares around the Loassattel. There is no entry fee for the trail itself. For official stage details and waymarking, consult the Via Alpina official stage page. If you join an alpine club before your trip, the membership also includes mountain rescue insurance valid across the Eastern Alps — well worth it for any high-ridge walking.

Gear & Packing List

R39 is a high, exposed mountain stage, so pack for fast-changing alpine weather even in midsummer. Essentials include sturdy B-rated hiking boots with good ankle support, waterproof jacket and trousers, an insulating mid-layer, sun protection (the ridge is unshaded), 1.5–2 litres of water capacity, and a paper map plus compass or GPS as backup to the waymarks. Because you stay in staffed huts, you can travel light — a sleeping-bag liner replaces a full sleeping bag.

A comfortable 30–40 litre pack handles a hut-to-hut load with room for layers and lunch. For this kind of multi-day Alpine hut walk, a well-ventilated panel-loader like the Abisko Hike 35 or the Atmos AG 50 carries comfortably across long ridge days. Gram-counters who want to go ultralight can drop to a frame-supported pack such as the 2400 Windrider. If you are weighing pack options before the trip, our roundup of the best ultralight backpacks of 2026 tests seven leading models head to head. And because alpine days burn far more energy than valley walks, read how many calories you need hiking a full day before you plan your food.

Similar Trails You Might Like

If the open ridges and hut-to-hut rhythm of R39 appeal, Tyrol and the wider Austrian Alps offer plenty of kindred routes — from gentle ridge waymarks to demanding multi-day traverses. The following trails share its alpine character, well-managed hut networks and big-mountain scenery.

• Stubaier Höhenweg — a celebrated multi-day hut circuit through the glaciated Stubai Alps, more demanding than R39 but unforgettable.
• Berliner Höhenweg Zustieg Ahornbahn — the cable-car approach into the high Zillertal Alps, the range you gaze across from R39's ridge.
• Adlerweg — Tyrol's flagship long-distance "Eagle Walk," stitching together iconic stages across the state.
• JK01 — a 720 km Austrian long-distance route for hikers thinking on a grander scale.
• JK02 — its 720 km companion route, another option for an extended Austrian traverse.

Looking further afield, the cross-border hut walk between Theth and Valbona in Albania scratches the same alpine itch in the Accursed Mountains.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the best time to hike the Via Alpina Red R39?
July is the single best month, when the snow has cleared from the high cols, the pastures are in full flower and the huts are fully staffed. August is nearly as reliable for settled weather but busier, while September offers quieter trails and crisp air. The season runs late June to early October; avoid the snowbound shoulder months.

How difficult is the Via Alpina Red R39?
R39 is rated moderate. It is a marked mountain trail with no technical scrambling, but it spends most of its length above 1,800 m on an exposed ridge with around 600 m of cumulative ascent over roughly 14 km. You need sure footing, alpine-weather awareness and a reasonable level of fitness, but no climbing skills or special equipment.

How far is the Via Alpina Red R39 each day?
R39 is a single day stage of approximately 14 km, taking most walkers 5 to 6 hours including breaks. Many hikers combine it with the neighbouring stages R38 (Finkenberg to Rastkogelhütte) and R40 (Loassattel to Schwaz) for a three-day Tux Alps traverse, averaging 13 to 16 km per day with one overnight at the Rastkogelhütte.

Where can I stay along the Via Alpina Red R39?
The stage is bracketed by two overnight options. The staffed Rastkogelhütte at the start offers dormitory beds from roughly €20–35, or half-board around €60–80 per person. The inn at the Loassattel finish has simpler valley-style rooms. Alpine club membership earns hut discounts. Book directly and well ahead for August, when beds fill quickly.

Do I need a permit to hike the Via Alpina Red R39?
No permit is required. Austria's mountains are freely open to hikers and the Via Alpina is a public waymarked route with no entry fee. Your only costs are hut accommodation, meals, and any toll-road or bus fares around the Loassattel. Carrying alpine club membership is optional but adds mountain rescue insurance across the Eastern Alps.