Karnischer Höhenweg, Mountain hiking trail in Carnic Alps, Austria and Italy
Karnischer Höhenweg stretches for 168 kilometers along the border between Austria and Italy, crossing mountain ridges and alpine meadows with different rock layers. The path winds through open high plateaus, steep slopes, and gentle basins, with views alternating between the Northern Alps and the Dolomites.
This route follows former military paths from World War I, when soldiers built fortifications, bunkers, and supply routes along the Austrian-Italian front. After 1918 many of these structures fell into decay, but some sections were later reopened for hikers and linked into a continuous high trail.
The border between Carinthia and Friuli runs along the ridge, and both sides maintain their own names for many peaks and passes. Hikers often encounter wayside crosses, small chapels, and bilingual place markers that tell the story of the shared history in this region.
The route divides into 11 daily stages, with emergency descents to valleys and connection points at Plöckenpass road and Nassfeld for shorter options. Some huts offer hot meals and overnight stays, but it is wise to book ahead during popular stages.
A geological education trail between Sillian and Nassfeld displays the remarkable rock formations of the Carnic Alps through information panels. Many fossils from the Paleozoic era are visible in the rocks along the way and document the formation of these mountains millions of years ago.
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