Hoher Fraßen is the westernmost independent peak of the Lechquellen Mountains in Austria's Vorarlberg region. Rising to 1979 m, it rewards hikers with one of the finest panoramic views in the area, stretching remarkably far beyond Austria's borders.

The mountain sends out two long, distinctive ridges – the Frassengrat to the southeast, bending east past the rocky Rappaschrofen towards the Klesiwand, and another descending southwest towards the Hangender Stein. The Ludescherberg settlement sits scenically on its western slope. In summer, the southern flanks are grazed almost up to the ridge, giving the landscape an open, pastoral character. From the summit, expect sweeping views across the Rätikon range (Sulzfluh, Zimba, Schesaplana, Panüeler), the Silvretta group with Piz Buin and Piz Linard, and on clear days deep into Switzerland as far as Tödi and Glärnisch — even the Feldberg and Belchen peaks in Germany's Black Forest, 160-170 km away.

How to reach the summit

• From the Muttersberg cable car top station — about 2 hours, moderate difficulty
• Loop via Fraßenhütte (1725 m) and back the same way — about 3.5 hours
• Via Rappaschrofaweg and Tiefenseesattel (1562 m) — about 4 hours
• From Raggal via Klesialpe — steeper route, about 2 hours 45 minutes
• From Marul via Tiefenseealpe, continuing either via Klesialpe or Tiefenseesattel and Rappaschrofen

Practical information

• Fraßenhütte (1725 m), run by the Vorarlberg section of the Austrian Alpine Club (ÖAV), offers a resting point along the way
• The Muttersberg cable car provides the quickest starting point, cutting down the approach considerably

In 1972 the mountain's southeastern slopes were devastated by what was then Austria's largest forest fire, destroying between 55 and 100 hectares of woodland after a children's grass fire spread out of control. The name Fraßen likely relates to grazing ('fressen', to graze or feed), though some trace it to the Rhaeto-Romanic word 'frasume', meaning 'open area'.