Beginner Venediger Höhenweg

From Prägraten, the route begins gently in the valley before building into a steady climb towards Essener-Rostocker Hut. With 1,000 m of ascent, this is a serious first step into the mountains, even on the beginner version. You should already be used to several hours on alpine trails and a long uphill finish. The route is mostly on paths and mountain hiking paths, with short road and street sections near the start.

The first part follows the valley floor from Prägraten, passing riverside sections along the Isel and the covered bridge before reaching Hinterbichl. If you want a shorter first day, you can start from Hinterer Parkplatz Ströden instead. Beyond the valley, the trail climbs into rougher mountain terrain, passing the material cable car to Clara Hut, a small waterfall and views towards the waterfall on the Isel.

The final approach leads through the Maurertal Valley and past the bridge over the Maurerbach. Essener-Rostocker Hut marks the end of the climb and the real arrival in alpine surroundings. Take your time on this last section, especially if this is your first hut-to-hut trek with more height gain.

This section from Essener-Rostocker Hut to Johannishütte is shorter, but still asks for steady legs and attention. The route gains 560 m and loses 640 m, so it is not simply a connecting walk between huts. The main feature is the climb towards the Türmljoch area, where the trail becomes more alpine and the terrain feels higher and more open. This is a good stage for hikers ready for a bit more challenge after the first ascent.

From the hut, the trail heads northwest and begins with a gradual ascent before the zigzagging climb becomes more defined. The route passes the Goldlan Sand area and viewpoints towards the Hohe Tauern before continuing near the Türmljochspitze and the Türmljoch, which is marked at 2,844 m. After the high section, the trail descends towards the Johannishütte, with mountain paths and rougher ground along the way.

The arrival at Johannishütte comes after the main descent from the Türmljoch area. The hut is well placed for a proper break after the climb and descent, and it gives you time to recover before the more technical terrain that follows on the next section.