Schesaplana is the highest peak of the Rätikon range at 2965 m, straddling the border between Austria's Vorarlberg and Switzerland's Graubünden. It rewards hikers with one of the finest panoramic views in the Eastern Alps while remaining approachable for well-prepared mountain walkers.

Below its northern slopes lies the Brandner Glacier, and at its eastern foot spreads the Lünersee, one of Vorarlberg's largest and deepest mountain lakes. The terrain varies dramatically depending on approach: northern routes cross rocky, occasionally demanding ground with snowfields lingering well into summer, while the southern flank is gentler and popular with ski tourers in winter. From the summit, marked by a striking 9.5-metre cross, views stretch to Lake Constance, the Tödi, the entire Bernina massif, and on clear days even the Dufourspitze in the Monte Rosa group, nearly 190 km away.

• From Brand via the exposed 'Böser Tritt' passage, the Douglass Hut at Lünersee, and the Totalp Hut — demanding route, occasional rockfall risk
• From Switzerland via the Schesaplana Hut and the Schesaplana saddle (the 'Schweizersteig') — demanding route
• Easier option: from Lünersee via the southern ascent, with several cable-secured sections above 2750 m

• The Lünersee cable car shortens the approach from Brand to roughly 3.5 hours
• Five staffed summer huts lie along the various routes, including the Totalp Hut, just 2 hours from the top
• The summit sits exactly on the Austrian-Swiss border, marked by a boundary sign
• A popular ski touring destination in winter, though safe snow conditions are essential

A charming detail: the summit cross was built in 1949 by Catholic youth from Hörbranz, who hauled 2 tonnes of material to the top — after lightning struck it down in 1971, they rebuilt it two years later.