Schnifis: Winter Hiking, Trails and Culture

If you would like to experience Schnifis on foot in winter, the winter hiking trail offers a clearly described option: it leads from the Winkel car park in Dünserberg via the Naturfreunde-Gerachhaus to the mountain station of the Schnifis cable car on the Hensler. When suitable winter conditions prevail, the trail is prepared and is easy to walk without snowshoes.

Winter Trails and Tours on the Hensler

Tours to the Hochgerach and the Walserkamm start at the Hensler mountain station. The Legends Trail also begins there. This combination makes Schnifis interesting for travellers who do not want to focus their stay exclusively on winter sports, but instead combine trails, landscapes and regional stories. For your planning, check which starting point is suitable for your chosen tour and under what winter conditions the respective trail can be used.

The Vorarlberg Way of St. James: Bludenz–Rankweil also leads to Schnifis. Its section runs from the “Jordan” turn-off through forests and meadows into the village. The Laurentius Trail adds ten stations and benches to the network of paths. At the stations, audio examples about Laurentius von Schnüffis can be accessed by scanning a code. Those who prefer short thematic stops along the way will find a different trail concept here than on a longer tour towards the Hochgerach or Walserkamm.

Forests and Rolling Hills as the Character of the Village

Schnifis is nestled in the rolling hills of the Walgau on sunny slopes and surrounded by beech and fir forests. The Forest Knowledge Trail focuses on the functions and benefits of forests, the importance of sustainable management and climate-resilient tree species. This makes it possible to enjoy a varied stay in Schnifis even when a longer mountain tour is not planned for every day.

The Schnifisberg offers paragliders ideal training conditions all year round. This activity calls for different travel planning than hiking; however, it can be a separate focus for groups with differing interests. Accommodation in Schnifis can therefore be selected particularly well according to the desired mix of winter trails, culture, nature-related topics and other activities.

Culture and Regional Special Features

The parish church of St. John the Baptist stands in the village centre. It was rebuilt in 1972/73; only the old tower with its gable-pointed helmet roof was preserved. On the way to the Gampelin Alp, you will also find the Alte Bild, a small chapel with a votive painting dating from 1704. The two sites offer different focal points: the parish church is part of the village centre, while the Alte Bild is connected to a trail leading to an alp.

The Sennerei Schnifis is part of the village’s regional character. Vorarlberg mountain cheese with protected designation of origin is produced there from silage-free raw milk supplied by cows from the Dreiklang region.

Getting There and Practical Planning

For travel by public transport, route 550 (75a) runs every two hours from the Nenzing municipal office via Nenzing and Schlins railway stations to the Dreiklang region. It stops in Schnifis, Düns and Dünserberg. This is relevant when planning to include the winter hiking trail from the Winkel car park or another starting point in the surrounding area. Therefore, coordinate your daily plans with the relevant starting and ending points as well as the timetable.

If you would like to compare Schnifis with other places, you can also visit Schlins, Furx, Viktorsberg, Dafins, Götzis, Feldkirch, Laterns and Klaus.

For the overarching travel overview: Feldkirch District.