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Hiking trails & Routes

Austria

Bezirk Bludenz

Gargellen

Smugglers' path – Rätikon adventure area

Routes

Hiking trails & Routes

Austria

Bezirk Bludenz

Gargellen

Smugglers' path – Rätikon adventure area

Hard

4.9

(438)

1,840

hikers

Smugglers' path – Rätikon adventure area

03:41

8.82km

490m

Hiking

This tour is a true test of endurance: you hike in the footsteps of smugglers between Austria and Switzerland. From the beginning of the 19th century well into the 20th century, smuggling represented an important source of income for the local population, especially in Montafon. In nocturnal marches, smugglers transported…

by Montafon

Last updated: June 20, 2026

Tips

Includes a segment that may be dangerous

A part of this route comprises technical, difficult, or hazardous terrain. Specialist equipment and prior experience may be required.

After 3.12 km for 20 m

Waypoints

Start point

Cable Car

Get Directions

83 m

Smugglerland Entrance Gate

Highlight • Structure

Where smugglers and customs officers played their cat-and-mouse game in earlier centuries, there are still easily accessible mountain paths leading through the unique mountain landscape. A gate marks the entrance to the 8.5-kilometer-long smugglers' path.

Translated by Google •

Tip by

3.40 km

View of Switzerland from the Schmugglerpfad

Highlight • Viewpoint

The magnificent views are what make the smugglers' path so special. In addition to the great views into the distance, it is also worth paying attention to the nearby landscape: …

Translated by Google •

Tip by

5.98 km

Gafierjöchle

Highlight • Mountain Pass

Border and pass crossing between Switzerland and Austria. Up here you have a fantastic view of the light gray Gafier panels and the surrounding valleys.

Translated by Google •

Tip by

7.53 km

Gargellen Reservoir

Highlight • Lake

At the Gargellen storage lake on the Schafberg you can enjoy the beautiful view and take a break. Less than three kilometers away and 200 meters lower is the mountain restaurant Schafberg Hüsli (2,130 meters).

Translated by Google •

Tip by

8.19 km

View of Madrisa

Highlight • Viewpoint

From the wide hiking trail that connects the mountain station of the Schafbergbahn with the Schafbergsee, you have a fantastic view of the jagged rocky peak of the Madrisa.

Translated by Google •

Tip by

8.82 km

End point

Cable Car

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

5.85 km

2.91 km

Surfaces

5.69 km

1.92 km

990 m

163 m

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Weather

Monday 6 July

20°C

8°C

0 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 11.0 km/h

to get more detailed weather forecasts along your route

Comments

August 11, 2025,Grenzgänger🇦🇹🇩🇪 # Schmugglerpfad〽️🤠🎊

Hiking along historic trails. Fantastic: scenery, surroundings, people, and weather. An unforgettable tour.

Showing Translation

August 22, 2024,Schmugglerpfad auf der Grenze zwischen 🇦🇹 und 🇨🇭

Today we followed in the footsteps of the smugglers. From Gargellen we took the Schafbergbahn up to over 2,000 m above sea level. Then we walked steeply up to the St. Antönier Jöchl, followed by climbing and hiking on a narrow ridge to the highest point of the holiday at 2,477 m above sea level. Then we went down to …

Showing Translation

August 11, 2025,🇦🇹 🇨🇭Montafon: Zwischen Österreich und der Schweiz - der Schmugglerweg

We took the Schafbergbahn cable car up to the start of the hiking trail. Billie had barely started walking when she was happily rolling around in a fresh cow pat 😩. Covered in mud, it was clear: We couldn't go on like this. So we grabbed our dog and scrubbed him down thoroughly at the nearest watering hole – amid …

Showing Translation

June 19, 2025,-28 🇦🇹 Gargellener Schmuggelerpfad

The Gargellen Smugglers' Trail is highly recommended.

Magnificent views of Switzerland and Austria.

From the St. Antoenier Joch, the trail continues over the ridge towards Grafiersee, where there's a small climbing section with rope protection just after the St. Antoenier Joch, but it's easily doable.

Showing Translation

July 19, 2021,🇦🇹🇨🇭⛰🚡Gargellen Schafbergbahn 🧑🏼‍🌾💎💍💰Schmugglerpfad mit ⛰St. Antönier Joch 🌊🍎🍗🦶🏻Gafiersee ⛰Gafierjoch 🌊🚧Schafbergsee

... indescribably beautiful !!!

Take a whole day (not just the 4.5 hours that are estimated), pack food and enjoy every moment of this tour.

That's why I only let the photos speak for themselves ... 👌🏻

Showing Translation

June 15, 2025,Schmugglerrunde Gargellen: Bergstation Schafberg - St.Antonierjoch - Gafienjoch Bergstation

A beautiful tour—but not for those with a fear of heights! Very tricky and exposed sections (blue/white!) and snowfields. Great views of the mountains of the 🇨🇭 and 🇦🇹!

Showing Translation

August 7, 2024,Tag 1 - Schmugglerweg Rätikon 🤠🥶☔

The smugglers' trail starts at just over 2,100m, at the mountain station of the Schafbergbahn 🚠. At first, we went uphill in light fog, but dry, in Austria.
After 30 minutes, we had a setback - it was raining cats and dogs ☔⚡, and we could hear a thunderstorm in the distance. The thunderstorm moved away, the rain stayed, and …

Showing Translation

August 29, 2022,Schmugglerpfad, St. Äntönierjoch-Gafiersee-Gafierjoch-Schafberghüsle

Altitude meters are wrong again. 670 are there. Time forgot to turn off at break. 30 min

Showing Translation

June 1, 2022

This tour is a true test of endurance: you hike in the footsteps of smugglers between Austria and Switzerland. From the beginning of the 19th century well into the 20th century, smuggling represented an important source of income for the local population, especially in Montafon. In nocturnal marches

Showing Translation

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Smugglers' path – Rätikon adventure area

Smugglerland Entrance Gate

View of Switzerland from the Schmugglerpfad

Gafierjöchle

Gargellen Reservoir

View of Madrisa

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