Schneckenloch

Useful Information

Location:	Schönebach, Bregenzerwald, Vorarlberg. At Bezau turn off towards Moorbad Reuthe and Bizau (681 m asl). Small toll-road to Schönenbach (1025 m asl), parking. 90 min walk. (Katasternummer 1126/1) (47.3744426, 10.0680248)
Open:	Self-guided: APR to SEP not restricted. Aktiv-Zentrum Bregenzerwald: APR to SEP after appointment. [2025]
Fee:	Self-guided: free. Aktiv-Zentrum Bregenzerwald: Adults EUR 74, Children (10-17) EUR 64. [2025]
Classification:	Karst Cave. Wettersteinkalk
Light:	bring full caving gear
Dimension:	L=3,558 m, VR=148 m, T=0-8 °C, A=1,270 m asl.
Guided tours:	D=5 h, MinAge=10.
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:	Hubert Trimmel (1955): Das Schneckenloch (1270 m) bei Schönenbach In: Vorarlberger Landesmuseumsverein (Hrsg.): Jahrbuch VLMV 1955. Bregenz 1956, S. 87–104. Walter Krieg (1974): Das Schneckenloch – größte Höhle Vorarlbergs In: Heimatbuch Egg. Bregenzerwald/Vorarlberg, Ruß, Bregenz 1974, S. 23–28. Richard Fumy (2000): Die Höhlen des Gottesacker-Hochifen-Gebietes In: Karst und Höhle 2000/2001: Hochifen und Gottesacker, eine Karstlandschaft zwischen Bregenzer Wald und Allgäuer Alpen. Verband der deutschen Höhlen- und Karstforscher, München 2000, S. 89–158, ISSN 0342-2062.
Address:	Aktivzentrum Bregenzerwald Büro, Lutz Schmelzinger, Neugut 43, A-6882 Schnepfau, Tel: +43-676-7837878. E-mail:
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

1900	first mentioned in a newspaper article.
1955	declared a natural monument.

Description

Climbing spot to reach the further passages.

The Schneckenloch (snail’s hole) is a spacious karst cave which is rather popular for cave trekking tours. The cave is comparably easy, but it still is a wild cave, not a tourist cave. There are several groups organizing cave trekking trips. The visit is very popular among boy scouts, other youth clubs and school classes. The cave can be reached on foot from the hamlet of Schönenbach. This is a so-called Sommerdorf (summer village), which means it is only inhabited during the summer months. The high pastures are used to graze livestock, and the people who live here do things like caring for the cows, milking and making cheese. Today tourism is a second income, so the village has three restaurants. The walk to the cave is 3.5 km long and 250 m uphill, and takes about 75 minutes.

The cave is rather spacious, but several narrow passages and some slopes make the tour demanding. So if you are not an experienced caver, you should definitely book a tour with a cave trekking operator. The cave is not suitable for beginners without experienced company.

This is the longest cave in Vorarlberg, about 3.5 km long, with mostly spacious passages. The entrance is 40 m wide and 10 m high, the following entrance hall is 120 m long. The cave has the shape of a Y. The Schneckenloch is located in the Bregenzer Wald, but it is in the Wetterstein limestone of the Ifen plateau.

There are signs telling that the cave may only be visited with guided tours. This is nonsense but intended to keep stupids out of the cave to prevent accidents. This is the big disadvantage of the cave’s popularity: it is visited by many different groups and vandalism and accidents are unfortunately commonplace. The speleothms the cave once had has been largely destroyed or looted. On a summer weekend you usually meet several other groups in the cave. Unfortunately, there are always some who are inadequately equipped and trained. This is definitely not a cave for a sunday afternoon trip. It requires preparation, caving gear, and a group of at least three. We strongly recommend booking a tour with one of the operators. As is customary in Austria, these tours are led by a state-certified cave guide. Equipment and transport from the centre of Bizau are also included.

Schneckenloch Gallery