Silberweg (Silver Trail)

Extensive Alpine pastures, a quiet high moor with the backdrop of the Wilder Kaiser summit and forests rich in delicious berries await you on this circular trail. But it could also happen that a deep blue stone lands on your desk or shelf and brings back memories of an eventful hike on the "Silverweg" in Brixen.

Details & Facts

Departure point: village centre Brixen im Thale
Duration on foot: 5 - 6 hours
Difference in altitude: 850 metres in altitude
Difficulty: moderately difficult
Trail surface: Asphalt, forest roads, hiking path
Equipment: breathable outdoor wear, sturdy hiking shoes

Silberweg

MediumLevel
5:30 hDuration
15,6 kmDistance
1660 mHighest point
900 mUphill
900 mDownhill
Details

Refreshment options

Berggasthof Nieding
SkiWelt-Hütte
Brantlalm
Holzalm
Jochstubn

The first section of the trail to Filzalmsee (lake) can be walked, as with the Wappenweg. Another possibility would be to follow the
Schneckgasse and trail No. 97 where you reach the Kaufmann farm and the Rotschwendt farm along a moderately steep path. Continue along the Sonnbergstraße to Berggasthof Nieding, where the road branches off at the sharp right-hand bend towards Filzalmsee. From here you reach the gondola's mountain-top station in about half an hour. Straight ahead from there it is a 5-minute walk to the Filzalmsee. The forest road branches off to the right in the direction of Holzalm and Jochstub'n.

After about 20 minutes of hiking along this road, you will reach a small quarry a few hundred metres after the turnoff to the Berggasthof Brantlalm. You don't have to look far to discover deep blue or green coloured stones. These are the copper ores azurite and malachite. Less conspicuous are the pencil-grey inclusions of pale ore, which contains a lot of silver, sprinkled in between. In earlier centuries, silver mining flourished here. Copper mining in Brixen may even date back to prehistoric times.

The rest of the trail takes you across broad Alpine pastures, which are also ideal skiing terrain in Winter. Thanks to the good accessibility of the trails, there is a flourishing Alpine pasture economy in the Brixental valley, which not only benefits the health of the animals but also the quality of the agricultural products. Once you reach the ridge of the Holzalm, the paths divide: straight ahead you continue uphill for a few hundred metres to the Holzalmjoch, and to the right the Alpine road branches off to the Jochstub'n and the Jochstub'n lake, a wonderful excursion destination for the whole family. From there you could continue the hike in the direction of Brandstadl (large "Kaiserwelt" playground) or Hartkaiser ("Ellmi's Zauberwelt").

If you take a few steps from the level part of the road across country to the East, a beautiful raised bog lies in front of you in a shallow depression. Like sapphires, the small bog ponds glow in fine weather, and - this is characteristic of raised bogs - they will not become overgrown, even in centuries, if the climate does not change. Raised bogs are sensitive ecosystems and tolerate little trampling, so here's both a request and a tip at the same time: If you are so interested in natural history that you want to enter the bog, do it barefoot! You will protect the bog floor and you will get an additional unique hiking experience.

The descent from the Längmoos leads through quiet mountain forests with lots of blueberry bushes. It can happen that you are suddenly startled by a large bird flying up noisily in front of you, for this is the realm of the extremely shy capercaillie (wood grouse).

As a nature-loving hiker, you will therefore avoid any unnecessary noise and other disturbances. Below this forest, you pass idyllic Alpine huts on a forest road and reach even more scenically situated mountain farms via the Obingalm. Before the Seiblschwendt farm, a shortcut branches off sharply to the right through the Ragginggraben.

The route along the road is a little longer, but offers more spectacular views. Before reaching the outskirts of Brixen again to complete the large circuit, you can enjoy another impressive stretch of trail, the Lindenweg. It runs between a mountain slope and a glacial terrace with beautiful hillside moors - here you will find genuine orchid gardens with some rare species in Spring and early Summer.