Via Alpina Red R47

The Via Alpina Red R47 is a roughly 11 km point-to-point alpine stage in the Mieminger Range of Tyrol, Austria, running from the Coburger Hütte to the Wolfratshauser Hütte and gaining around 550 m of elevation over a single hiking day. Rated moderate, it crosses the Marienbergjoch saddle with sweeping views of the Zugspitze massif and the Lermoos basin.

About the Via Alpina Red R47

The Via Alpina is a network of five waymarked long-distance trails that thread together the entire arc of the Alps, established in 2000 through cooperation between public and private organisations across the eight Alpine nations: Slovenia, Austria, Germany, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Italy, France and Monaco. The project received European Union funding between 2001 and 2008, which helped standardise signage and stage descriptions across borders.

The Red Trail is the longest of the five, running 161 stages (R1 to R161) from Trieste on the Adriatic coast of Italy all the way to Monaco on the Mediterranean. It is the only colour that passes through all eight member countries, making it the backbone of the whole system. Stage R47 sits deep within the Austrian Tyrol, linking two classic mountain refuges: the Coburger Hütte and the Wolfratshauser Hütte.

This stage is firmly an alpine hut-to-hut walk rather than a valley stroll. It begins high, at the Coburger Hütte beneath the Sonnenspitze, and works its way across the western flanks of the Mieminger Range before descending toward the Bichlbach and Lähn area. Because it is part of a continuous international route, most walkers tackle R47 as one link in a multi-day Tyrolean traverse rather than as a stand-alone day trip, though it works perfectly well as a single demanding day for fit hikers based in the Lermoos or Ehrwald basin.

The trail's character is typical of the northern limestone Alps: pale dolomite scree, larch and pine woodland on the lower slopes, and broad mountain meadows around the huts. Way-marking follows the standard Austrian red-white-red blazes alongside the green Via Alpina logo, and the path is well established and maintained by the Alpine clubs that own the refuges.

Route Overview & Stages

R47 is a single official Via Alpina stage, but it is rarely walked in isolation. The table below places it in the context of the surrounding Tyrolean stages so you can see how a typical three- to four-day section through the Mieminger and Wetterstein ranges fits together. Distances and gains are approximate and reflect the standard summer routing.

For R47 itself, plan on roughly 4 to 5 hours of walking time. From the Coburger Hütte at about 1,920 m the path traverses scree and meadow toward the Marienbergjoch saddle near 1,900 m, then drops steadily through larch forest to the Wolfratshauser Hütte at around 1,750 m. The cumulative ascent is modest by alpine standards because both huts sit at similar heights, but there is real up-and-down across intervening ridges, so the figures above describe total gain rather than net change.

Highlights & Points of Interest

• Coburger Hütte (1,920 m) — The stage's starting refuge, owned by the German Alpine Club, perched above the turquoise Drachensee with a celebrated terrace view of the Zugspitze, Germany's highest peak at 2,962 m.
• Drachensee & Seebensee — Two glacial lakes just below the Coburger Hütte. The Seebensee in particular is one of Tyrol's most photographed alpine tarns, its still water mirroring the Sonnenspitze.
• Sonnenspitze (2,417 m) — The dramatic, fang-shaped peak that dominates the view as you leave the Coburger Hütte, a landmark of the eastern Mieminger Range.
• Marienbergjoch (~1,900 m) — The crossing point of the stage, a broad saddle with open panoramas back toward the Zugspitze and forward across the Lermoos basin and Lech valley.
• Lermoos & Ehrwald basin — The wide, flat-bottomed valley spread out below the traverse, ringed by the Wetterstein and Mieminger peaks and a useful base for supplies and transport.
• Marienberg ski area meadows — In summer the lift-served slopes above Biberwier become quiet grazing meadows the path skirts on its way down.
• Wolfratshauser Hütte (~1,750 m) — The stage's destination, a friendly refuge above Bichlbach run under the Alpine clubs, marking the gateway to the Lechtal section of the route.
• Larch forests of the Bichlbach slopes — Mixed larch and pine woodland that turns gold in autumn and shelters the final descent.

Best Time to Hike the Via Alpina Red R47

The reliable window for R47 runs from late June through late September, governed almost entirely by the opening dates of the two huts and by snow lingering on the higher saddles. Both the Coburger and Wolfratshauser refuges typically operate from mid-June to early October, and the Marienbergjoch can hold patches of old snow into early summer, so an early-June attempt risks finding the path partly buried and the huts shuttered.

The single best month is September. As of 2026, late-summer and early-autumn conditions in the Tyrol bring the most settled weather of the year: afternoon thunderstorms become less frequent than in the humid July–August peak, the air is clearer for the long views toward the Zugspitze, daytime temperatures at hut altitude sit comfortably in the 10–18°C range, and the larches begin their golden turn. Crucially, September also clears out the summer-holiday crowds, so hut bookings are easier to secure.

July and August deliver the warmest, longest days and the fullest hut service, but they also bring the busiest dormitories and the highest chance of building afternoon storms over the limestone ranges — start early and aim to be off the Marienbergjoch by early afternoon. October is a gamble: the first significant snowfalls can arrive any time, huts begin to close, and the high traverse becomes genuinely wintry. Outside the June–October window this is mountaineering rather than hiking and should not be attempted without winter equipment and experience.

Practical Information

Accommodation

R47 is built around its two mountain huts, and staying in them is the natural way to walk the stage. A dormitory bed (Matratzenlager) at an Austrian or German Alpine Club hut such as the Coburger Hütte or Wolfratshauser Hütte typically costs around €18–28 per night for non-members, with roughly a 50% discount for Alpine Club (DAV/ÖAV/AVS) members. A bed in a smaller multi-bed room runs about €30–45. Half board — dinner plus breakfast — adds roughly €25–35, and most huts charge a few euros for a hot shower where one exists.

Down in the valleys around Lermoos, Ehrwald and Biberwier you will find guesthouses (Gasthöfe) and pensions from about €70–110 per double room with breakfast, useful if you want a rest day or arrive before the huts open. Wild camping is restricted across most of the Tyrol; bivouacking above the treeline is tolerated discreetly for a single night in emergencies but is not a planning strategy here. Always reserve hut places in advance during July and August, and carry cash, as card payment is unreliable at higher refuges.

Getting There & Back

The natural gateway is the Lermoos–Ehrwald basin, reached by train on the Außerfernbahn line. Ehrwald and Lermoos both have stations served from Garmisch-Partenkirchen in Germany (about 40 minutes) and from Reutte in Tirol. Garmisch in turn connects to Munich by direct regional train in around 80–90 minutes, making Munich Airport (MUC) the most practical international arrival point, roughly 2.5 to 3 hours total from terminal to trailhead by public transport. Innsbruck Airport (INN) is an alternative, about 1.5–2 hours away via Telfs and the Mieming plateau.

From the valley stations, local buses and the Ehrwalder Almbahn or Marienbergbahn lifts shorten the approach to the huts in season. To return after reaching the Wolfratshauser Hütte, descend to Bichlbach or Lähn, both of which lie on the same Außerfernbahn line, closing the loop back toward Reutte, Garmisch and Munich. Check the ÖBB and DB timetables before you set out, as some valley services run only every one to two hours.

Permits & Fees

No permit is required to hike the Via Alpina Red R47 — Austria's mountains are open for free public access under long-standing custom and the trails carry no entry charge. Your only mandatory costs are hut accommodation and meals. It is well worth joining an Alpine Club (annual membership is roughly €60–95 depending on section and age) before a multi-day trip: the membership pays for itself quickly through halved hut rates and includes mountain-rescue and recovery insurance valid across the Alps. Mountain lifts that can shorten approaches charge their own seasonal fares, typically €15–25 one way.

Gear & Packing List

Because R47 is a hut-to-hut stage you can travel relatively light — there is no need to carry a tent, stove or several days of food when half board is available each night. A comfortable, well-ventilated 35–50 litre pack is the sweet spot; something like the Abisko Hike 35 suits a fast hut traverse, while the Atmos AG 50 gives more room if you are linking several stages or carrying extra layers. Ultralight walkers who want to shed weight on the long Red Trail sections often favour a frameless pack such as the 2400 Windrider; for help choosing one, our roundup of the best ultralight backpacks of 2026 tests seven models head to head.

Essentials for the alpine environment include sturdy B-rated hiking boots with grip for scree and damp limestone, trekking poles for the descent to the Wolfratshauser Hütte, a waterproof shell and warm midlayer (mountain weather turns fast even in September), sun protection for the exposed Marienbergjoch, a 1.5–2 litre water capacity, a headtorch, and a lightweight sleeping-bag liner required by most huts. Bring enough cash for hut bills, a small first-aid kit, and a charged phone with offline maps. Fuelling matters on a day with 550 m of climbing and a long descent — see how much you actually need in our guide to how many calories you need hiking a full day.

Similar Trails You Might Like

If the Mieminger traverse of R47 appeals, the Tyrol and wider eastern Alps offer a deep bench of comparable hut-to-hut routes, from compact multi-day high routes to enormous national long-distance paths. The following Austrian trails share R47's alpine character, well-stocked refuges and big limestone scenery:

• Stubaier Höhenweg — a demanding high-level circuit through the Stubai Alps, justly famous for its chain of welcoming huts.
• Berliner Höhenweg Zustieg Ahornbahn — the classic Zillertal high route, with glaciated peaks and serious alpine terrain.
• Adlerweg — Tyrol's flagship long-distance "Eagle Walk", tracing the province from end to end in eagle-shaped stages.
• JK01 (720 km) — a vast Austrian long-distance route for those wanting a multi-week expedition.
• JK02 (720 km) — its companion long-distance corridor across the country.

For a contrast outside Austria, the cross-border Balkan classic in our guide to the Theth to Valbona trail in Albania delivers a similar one-day pass crossing on a grander, wilder scale.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the best time to hike the Via Alpina Red R47?

The hiking season runs from late June to late September, limited by hut opening dates and lingering snow on the Marienbergjoch. September is the single best month: the weather is at its most settled, afternoon storms ease off, the air is clear for Zugspitze views, and the summer crowds have thinned, making hut beds far easier to reserve.

How difficult is the Via Alpina Red R47?

R47 is rated moderate. It is a genuine alpine stage on marked but rocky mountain paths, crossing the Marienbergjoch saddle with around 550 m of total ascent and some exposed traversing. It demands sure-footedness and a reasonable level of fitness but no climbing or glacier skills, making it suitable for experienced day-walkers comfortable on uneven terrain.

How far is each day on the Via Alpina Red R47?

R47 is a single Via Alpina stage of roughly 11 km, taking about 4 to 5 hours of walking from the Coburger Hütte to the Wolfratshauser Hütte. Most hikers link it with neighbouring stages, where Tyrolean days typically range from 11 to 14 km and 4 to 6 hours, always pacing the schedule around hut locations rather than fixed distances.

Where do you sleep on the Via Alpina Red R47?

The stage runs between two mountain huts — the Coburger Hütte and the Wolfratshauser Hütte — and staying in them is the natural plan. Dormitory beds cost roughly €18–28 for non-members, about half that for Alpine Club members, with half board adding around €25–35. Valley guesthouses near Lermoos and Ehrwald offer rooms from about €70 if you prefer.

Do you need a permit to hike the Via Alpina Red R47?

No permit is needed. Austria allows free public access to its mountains and the Via Alpina charges no entry fee, so your only obligatory costs are hut beds, meals and any lifts you choose to use. Joining an Alpine Club for around €60–95 a year is strongly recommended, as it halves hut rates and includes alpine mountain-rescue insurance.

For authoritative planning detail, consult the official Via Alpina trail authority and the hut booking and weather resources of the Austrian Alpine Club (ÖAV) before you set out.