Notice for hikers: there has been a lot of snow this winter in the Alps so find out about the state of the trails from the local contacts and be prepared to make some detours to avoid certain routes that may still be at risk at the start of the season.

Also the opening of some huts at high altitude may be late compared with the approximate dates indicated on our site: make enquiries to the relevant administrative bodies and Alpine clubs if you are planning a hike before mid July. As a rule the huts of the DAV and the OeAV (Germany and Austria) should open on the scheduled dates.

However, many stages of the Via Alpina, at lower altitudes or south facing, are still negotiable for most of the year. Happy hiking!