Portlakopf is a striking, well-defined summit in the Damüls mountain group, standing as a secondary peak of the Portlahorn in the Bregenzerwald range. Its bold shape catches the eye from a distance, and the relatively short climb rewards hikers with wide views across this corner of Vorarlberg.

The slopes are covered in dense thickets of blueberries, alpine roses, juniper and fir trees, giving the area a wild, natural character in every season. The Mellenbach stream has its source just below the summit. On a clear day you can look across to the neighboring Portlahorn, the Blaue See (Blue Lake), Sünser Spitze and Ragazer Blanken, making Portlakopf a fine vantage point over the surrounding Bregenzerwald peaks.

How to reach the summit

• From Portlaalpe (near the Furkajoch pass) - about 1 hour, 195 m of ascent, moderate difficulty
• From Damüls via Sieben Hügel, Sünser Joch and Portlahorn - a longer route, roughly 6-7 hours total, around 600 m of ascent

Practical information

• Nearest huts: Portlaalpe (1710 m) and Freschenhaus (1846 m) - both open only in summer
• Other nearby alpine huts, such as Sünser Alpe, are also staffed only during the summer season

Lying close to the municipal boundaries of Damüls, Dornbirn and Laterns, Portlakopf sits at the heart of a popular hiking area in the Bregenzerwald, right along the route leading up to the Portlahorn.