Klostertal & Sonnenkopf

The Klostertal runs some 30 km from Bludenz along the Alfenz river up to the Arlberg pass (1,793 m); it takes its name from a hospice that Count Hugo of Montfort gave to the Knights of St John in 1218 – the 'Klösterle'. The Arlberg railway has run here since 1884, disappearing at Langen into the 10.6 km tunnel to St. Anton, joined in 1978 by the parallel road tunnel. The Sonnenkopf near Klösterle is the valley's family mountain: an 8-seater gondola from 1997 takes you from Danöfen (1,001 m) to 1,840 m, where the free 'Bärenland' awaits – over 30 play stations, rafting on the Bärensee, silver panning, a bear cave – plus the 350 m pushchair-friendly Bärenweg and a panoramic mountain restaurant. Pushchairs travel free on the gondola.

If you want to walk, it is 1½ hours to the Wasserstubenalpe or up the Muttjöchle (2,074 m) with a view of the Rote Wand. In 2026 the gondola runs daily from 27 June to 4 October, 8.30 am to 4.30 pm; a return ticket costs €25 for adults and €13.50 for children (as of 2026), and it is included with the Freizeit-WildPass. The Klostertal museum in the 350-year-old Thöny farmhouse in Wald am Arlberg tells of life on the pass (May to October, Wed and Sun 2–5 pm). From our house it is 39 km / 43 minutes; public transport: Montafonerbahn to Bludenz, then Landbus 720 to 'Wald Sonnenkopfbahn' or the Arlberg railway to Langen. Continue over the Flexen pass to Lech or over the Arlberg to St. Anton.

Last updated: 13 Sep 2026