Short Facts:
Duration of the journey from Chalet Bjoerk:
about 50 minutes (around 40km) via Villach and the Villach Alpine Road to the parking place P10 on the Rosstratten (toll needs to be paid – you can check prices here).
Recommended Equipment:
good walking shoes or mountain boots if you plan to go hiking, water bottle, binoculars.
The Dobratsch
Since 80% of Villach’s the drinking water comes from the mountain, the protection of this water has top priority. For this reason, ski lifts were dismantled, enhancing a more gentle way of tourism. Today the hikers enjoy the summer. In the winter, the ski tourers love the local mountain of Villach, which is now a natural and water protection area of extraordinary importance.
The Villach Alpine Road
The well-developed road is 16.5 km long. It covers 1,200 altitude metres and offers spectacular views of Villach and its surrounding mountains and lakes. The mountain road is one of a total of five premium alpine roads in Austria. Start your driving fun in Villach-Möltschach, where the pay desk is to be found. First, quickly ascend via several turns passing the Alpen Arena with the ski-jumping facilities before the road opens far-reaching views of Villach, the Julian Alps and the Karawanks. Now follow the brim of the striking ridge on the wide road until it leads to the final destination, Rosstratte, with views of the Dobratsch summit beyond the timberline across alpine meadows.
10 parking lots give you the chance to stop and enjoy the many highlights along the mountain road:
P0: Arena Lookout Platform
Curve 2: View of the ski jump (also during the summer).
P2 View of the city and lakes, 862 m
Stunning panoramic view of Villach.
P4 View of the Schütt, 1.020 m
Impressive view of the “Schütt” landslide area, view of the Julian Alps and Karawanks.
P6 Alpine garden, 1.483 m
Nearly 800 alpine plants from three climatic zones. Extra admission; open daily from the beginning of June to the end of August (time required: approx. 1 hour).
P6 “Red Wall” observation platform
Stunning view 400 m into the deep rock face with a clear view of the Karawanks and the Julian Alps.
P1o Rosstratte, 1.732 m
Panoramic view over most of Carinthia, the “Sun trails!” observation station, relaxing deck chairs, large adventure playground, Rosstrattenstüberl restaurant and “From the Ocean to the Mountain” geology trail. In the mornings, chamois can often be observed in the wild from the newly-built Chamois & Outlook Platform after a short 20-minute walk on the panorama trail to the summit.
Hiking on the Dobratsch
Numerous hiking trails run across the Dobratsch. Allow us to introduce you to the most beautiful routes on Carinthia’s striking alpenstock. Choose among easy family hikes, high-altitude hikes with great views, educational trails and round tours.
Two very different hiking trails lead from the Rosstratte car park to the summit of the Dobratsch. While the meadow path is also suitable for untrained mountain walkers, the Jägersteig is recommended for sure-footed and experienced hikers.
• Route 1 “easy” across the Elfernock to the German and the Wendish church
Length 8.2 km | walking time 3 hours (there and back) | altitude metres 424 Hiking trail number 291 leads from the Rosstratte car park up to the summit of the Dobratsch at 2,167 m above sea level on an easily manageable route. Stop option: Dobratsch summit house. Tip: visit the two highest pilgrimage churches in the Eastern Alps!
• Route 2 “sure-footed” across the Jägersteig to the Dobratsch summit: Length 4.3 km | walking time 3 hours | altitude metres 434
The Jägersteig also starts at the Rosstratte car park. First follow the tarmacked roadway past the Rosstrattenstüberl, then the gravel path. The narrow Jägersteig branches off at the first sharp right turn. It constantly runs up and down, with exposed and steep spots in places, and affords great views of the Gailtal and the Julian Alps. Reach the summit cross via the Dobratsch summit house.
Alpengarten Dobratsch
The 1.2-hectare site between the Villach Alpine Road and the brim of the Schütt is located only a few steps from car park P6. The site is open to visitors from early June to late August. Admission is affordable – not least because many volunteers nurture and cultivate the garden. The biodiversity of the alpine flora is particularly abundant, thanks to Carinthia’s location. The province is located at the intersection of several flora zones: arctic-alpine, central-European, Illyrian, sub-Mediterranean and sub-Pannonian plants. Numerous species also represent alpine limestone flora. Plants diligently arranged in 27 plant quarters can be easily identified due to meticulously placed name tags by volunteers! Marvel at early flowering plants in June, see the colourful main flowering from late June to mid-July and the tail forb blossoms with numerous late flowerings in August. Tip: take a look at the special features, such as the Wulfenia (native exclusively to Carinthia!), Austrian kidney-vetch and various types of lilies. If you’d take a piece of the Alpengarten back home, then feel free: seeds and seedlings are given away for a donation.
“Red Wall” Observation Platform
The Dobratsch owes its distinctive form to the two greatest landslides in the eastern Alps. Large parts of the unstable south side of the mountain crashed into the valley in 1348 due to an earthquake, releasing a total of 530 million cubic meters of rock over an area of 12 kilometres from the southern flank of the Dobratsch. As a result, the Gail River was dammed up, large parts of the valley area were flooded, and subsequently re-landed by Gail’s boulder. Today the so-called “Schütt” is a nature reserve with a special fauna and flora.
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