Bartholomaeberg Geology Trail

The hike takes you through 300 million years of the earth’s history, tells how today’s landscape came to be, gives insight to the subsurface structure of the circumjacent mountain ranges and explains how man influences the landscape. 
This is an all day hike with a good 5 hours of walking.  It is 16 km long with an altitude of 1,000 meters.  It is suitable for adults and children with standard hiking gear. 

Route Description

The Bartholomaeberg Geology Trail is a circular route, which can be done in both directions.  It is also possible to only do part of the route or take short cuts on marked paths.  The start and end point is the parking lot at the church in Bartholomaeberg at an altitude of 1,087 meters above sea level.
The hike provides an insight into the substratum which has created the basis for life and local industry over the past 4,000 years for the people who live in the region.  In addition to the geological information, you will also receive information about the surrounding mountains and valleys as well as references to the cultural landscape, cultural and technical structures and mining.
The hike is suitable for families, whereby you will be given specific information for only taking part of the tour or shortcuts in relation to the entire length of the walk.  Pure walking time is about 5 hours, but if you want to take advantage of all of the information being offered, you should plan a whole day. 
Starting at the Bartholomaeberg church, follow the yellow markings and sign posts on the paved path past the village store, the school,  and the former “Linde” guest house to Rellseck.  From Rellseck, you stay on the marked path past Monteneu to Wannakoepfle which lies at an altitude of 2,032 meters above sea level and has a magnificent view of the Silvretta, the Raetikon, through the Walgau to the Rhine Valley and the edge of the Alps and the mountains in the Walser valley as well as the Lech-Quellen mountains and the Verwall. A slight decent from the Wannakoepfle and across the Karkessel below the Itonskopf, (which can be climbed by experienced mountain climbers who are free from giddiness),  to the Alpilakopf at 2,078 meters, the highest point on the hike and then down to the Obere Wies. 
Here you have a view through the Kloster Valley to the Arlberg Pass and the Flexen Pass.  Continue the assent on the north side of the Schwarzhorn to Falla.  There is a link here to the Kristbergsattel and the Miner’s Path.  You ascend Falla on the south east slope to Ammans Legi and stay on the path which is more or less flat at 1,440 meters.  Take the Wiesenweg (meadow path) back to the church in Bartholomaeberg. 
Before you start your hike, we would like to call your attention to the detailed information available:
Press 1 for an introduction to geology.
Press 2 to hear about Bartholomaeberg.
Press 3 to find out more about the significance of the church in Bartholomaeberg
Press 4 for information about mining
Press 5 to hear about the prehistoric excavations
And press 6 for information about the Silvretta Crystalline
We would also like to let you know that you can purchase a small guide with many informative illustrations in the Bartholomaeberg tourist office and in the Schruns museum.
We wish you a relaxing and informative walk.   Let’s start now with special information on geology.