Naafkopf, Liechtenstein 🇱🇮
Hiking through Triesenberg, Leichtenstein with Grauspitz - Leichternstein’s highest peak in front
One of my favourite pastimes at home is opening google maps and dropping the street view pin at random places in the mountains. Admiring the view, and imagining what it would be like to be there. This allows me to escape my little apartment in Luxembourg into the vastness of the world. I have discovered so many places worth visiting like this. Naafkopf was one of them.
Standing on the summit of Naafkopf, with panoramic views of the surrounding peaks and valleys, was a feeling like no other. As I gazed out at the majestic beauty of the Bernina Range on one side and the dramatic rock formations of Saxer Lucke on the other, I couldn't help but feel a sense of awe and wonder.
My wife Veronika and I had decided to visit Liechtenstein for the first time in October 2022, and one of our main objectives was to explore the beautiful mountains surrounding us. We began our hike in the small village of Steg, and as we made our way through the lush green valley, we could feel the anticipation building inside us.
The trail was not heavily travelled, which added to the sense of adventure and exploration. We had the chance to enjoy the changing foliage and the glacial stream running beside us, taking in the beauty of the natural surroundings in its rawest form.
At the end of the valley, we were greeted by the majestic Grauspitz, the tallest of all peaks in Liechtenstein and next to it was Naafkopf, a tristate peak serving as the border of Austria, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein. The original plan was to reach Pfälzerhütte, but at the last moment, I changed my mind and decided to climb it. The idea of standing on a peak with such geographical significance was too tempting to resist. Veronika had chosen to stay behind at a closed cattle shed, enjoying a quiet moment reading her Kindle and soaking up the sun.
As I made my way up the steep trail to the summit, I encountered several other hikers. But as I reached the summit, I found myself alone, with only the sound of the gusty winds and my own heartbeat for company.
The view from the top was simply breathtaking. On one side, I could see the snow-capped peaks of the Bernina Range, while on the other, the flat plains of Switzerland and Austria stretched out before me. It was a humbling experience, to be able to take in the beauty of such diverse landscapes from a single vantage point.
As I descended from the summit and made my way back to join Veronika, we hiked down together, taking in the natural beauty of the mountains and reflecting on the experience we had just shared. Climbing Naafkopf was a memorable and rewarding experience, filled with natural beauty and unexpected surprises. I did not expect much from Liechtenstein but it turned out to be a positive. In this day and age, it can be hard to find solitude in lower parts of the Alps so I was pleasantly surprised when I could find this quiet corner hidden in Liechtenstein.
