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Dam circuit Silvretta-Bielerhöhe

Across the 80 m high dam of the Silvrettasee at 2,030 m: 2.7 km of secured winter trail on the Bielerhöhe, reached by the Vermuntbahn and tunnel bus from Partenen.

easy winter · 12-3 🐕 Dogs allowed

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Elevation profile↗ 62 m ↘ 65 m

The Bielerhöhe (2,037 m) is a different place in winter: no traffic, no pass-road bustle, just the frozen Silvrettasee, the huts and the 3,000 m peaks of the Silvretta with the Piz Buin (3,312 m). The dam circuit is the shortest of the secured winter trails up here: 2.7 km, a good 60 m of ascent, about 45 minutes, across the crest of the 80 m high, 432 m long main dam of the reservoir, which was built between 1938 and 1951 and holds 38.6 million m³ of water. The border between Vorarlberg and Tyrol runs along the eastern dam.

As the Silvretta High Alpine Road on the Vorarlberg side is expected to remain closed until 2030 after rockfalls – and was never open in winter anyway – the only way up is the Vermuntbahn from Partenen followed by the tunnel bus: winter 2026/27 according to the operator 25 December 2026 to 18 April 2027, daily 8 am–12 noon and 1–4 pm, last descent at 4 pm. Refreshments at the Silvrettahaus (same season). From our house take bus 650 to Partenen; allow around an hour in total to the top. Up there you will also find cross-country ski trails and the long winter trail to Galtür.

🧭 Route description

The plotted track follows the marked trails according to OpenStreetMap; see the map, elevation profile and GPX file above. Please follow the signposting on site.

💡 Tips & refreshments

High alpine terrain above 2,000 m: warm clothing, sunglasses, spikes; give it a miss in storms or poor visibility. Stick to the marked, secured trails and check the avalanche bulletin (lawine-vorarlberg.at). Return: last tunnel bus at 4 pm.

🚌 Getting there by public transport

Landbus 650 to Partenen, then Vermunt cable car + tunnel bus to the Bielerhöhe (summer 2026: 20 June–4 Oct, uphill 8–12 and 13–16:30, last descent 17:00). Approx. 1 h in total from St. Gallenkirch.

🅿️ Parking

Note: the Silvretta High Alpine Road is closed on the Vorarlberg side after rockfalls, expected until 2030 – car access only from Tyrol (Galtür). The Vermunt cable car car park in Partenen is closed in 2026 for construction; use alternative parking in Partenen village.

Emergency: Alpine rescue 140 · Euro emergency 112 · Ambulance 144
All information without guarantee. Please check weather, opening hours and cable car operating times before setting off. Alpine tours require personal responsibility, suitable equipment and experience.

Last updated: 13 Sep 2026 · Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)

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