Long and demanding alpine tour to the volcano above Lake Faak.
difficult
13.3 km
8:30 h
1,450 m
1,450 m
The Mittagskogel hike is one of the most famous, and most challenging, hikes in the Villach area. The hike goes along the sometimes-quite-steep west side of the mountain up to the summit. The hike down to the Berta hut is a bit easier, with a chance for nourishment at the hut.
Author’s recommendation
Descend the way we have described in this guide, as the way down on the western flank can be extremely difficult and unpleasant.
At about 1200 meters above sea level you will find a spring. The next water source can't be found again until arriving at the Bertha hut.
The western flank of the Mittagskogel is steep and rubble-enforced. Sure-footedness is required for this hike- and we don't recommend it if you are scared of heights!
After exiting your car, you follow the paved road through a trench to “Weiler Outschena,” where you take a left, following the signs to “Annahütte,” where you take a forest road up into the woods. After a few minutes the forest road branches off and you have to follow it to the left. This trail will take you on mild to moderate climbs, always going up. After a large passage through a trench, the trail takes you to a steep footpath, ending at Anna hut (closed). You are now on the Slovenian border. From here the trail takes on a markedly alpine character. After a few short but steep climbs (cables are available to hang onto), you arrive in a saddle between the small and large Mittagskogel, where you head up the west side of the Mittagskogel. This is a difficult portion, but is secured by steel cables. The rubble-enforced path leads you further up the western flank of the mountain until you reach the southern end of the summit ridge, where the path becomes a bit flatter until you reach the highest point of Mittagskogel.
To continue, you cross the well-marked trail on the Austrian side to the downwards to the south into a small crevice. You take a left here and follow the wood-enforced trail into the valley. After a challenging riverbed crossing, you walk a few more meters downwards and arrive at a large crevice on the left (north). From here you will be at the Bertha hut in mere minutes, with Carinthian specialties awaiting. From the hut you take a steep path down to the north in the direction of “Faaker See” (Hotel Mittagskogel). At about 1100 meters above sea level, you begin your final descent along the forest road until you reach a crossroads (Illitsch Raut.). Here you must follow path 603 to the left (west), where you will cross a stream and arrive back at the starting point.
Note
all notes on protected areas
Public transport
Take an ÖBB postal bus towards "Pogöriach bei Faak" until the Latschach stop.
Getting there
Coming from Villach or from Rostental take the B85 road (Rosentalstrasse) until Gasthof Martinihof in Latschach, to Buschenschenke Ischnighof or to Koflerbauer.
Parking
At the Gasthof (inn/restaurant), the Buschenschenke (tavern) or the Bauernhof (farm)
We did this hike on a dry, mixed cloudy /sunny July 31st. Two fit hikers were at the summit in a little under 3 hours and found it a pleasant trail. The trail follows the red white red flashes and is marked 682 and 681. The walk down seemed longer but Bratwurst XL at Berta’s Hutte made it all good again. The outdoor active map was very helpful on a couple of turns and in tracking progress - I can not understand the comment made Re not knowing how far it still was. The scree type field at the top was a little demanding in terms of staying with the trail but not hard. Many thanks to the creator.
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/ Blick zur Hochalmspitze in den Hohen TauernPhoto: Gerhard Hohenwarter, Region Villach - Faaker See - Ossiacher See
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