Hike to the Rosskogel

This panoramic hike in Ausseerland leads through a diverse mountain landscape with alpine pastures, clear mountain lakes, larch forests and flowering alpine meadows. The destination is the 1,890-metre-high Rosskogel, which offers magnificent panoramic views of the Tauplitzalm lake plateau, the Tote Gebirge mountains and the Dachstein. The moderate gradient makes this extended tour manageable even for experienced pleasure hikers. However, surefootedness is required.

Route description

Start at the mountain station of the 4-seater chairlift or at the parking lot on the Tauplitzalm. The trail descends slightly in an easterly direction to the Naturfreundehaus. Shortly afterwards, a footpath branches off to the left from the asphalt road and leads slightly downhill to Lake Tauplitz. In early summer, the surrounding meadows are transformed into a colorful sea of flowers with alpine rush, gentian, hellebores and stonecrops.

Passing the northern shore of Tauplitzsee, you reach the Grazerhütte, where Heinrich Harrer worked as a hut warden in the 1930s. From there, the trail continues eastwards across the alpine pastures to the Steirersee lake. A short detour to the Steirerseebankerl is worthwhile - the view of the Sturzhahn is unforgettable.

The route now follows a gently sloping alpine road through a narrow valley to the Steirerseehütten. The Salzsteig then leads north-eastwards through a sparse larch forest. The golden shimmer of the larch needles is particularly impressive in the fall. At almost the same altitude, the Salzsteig leads to a small mountain saddle below the Sturzhahn, with a view of the Schwarzensee.

On the southern shore of Lake Schwarzensee, continue along trail 218/209A towards Leistalm. The trail now leads across an alpine meadow to the south-east, crosses trail 218 again and climbs gently through sparse larch forest. The summit of the Rosskogel is finally reached above the tree line.

At the summit at 1,890 meters, you can take an extended break with a panoramic view of the surrounding mountain peaks, the Tauplitzalm lake plateau and far into the Ausseerland region.

You can choose to return via the south side of Lake Styria. If you want to avoid the asphalt road, change to the gravel road just before the Naturfreundehaus and follow the meadow path back to the parking lot.

Emergency reporting tip - provide answers to the six W questions:

• What happened?
• How many injured?
• Where did the accident happen? (possibly GPS coordinates)
• Who is reporting? (callback number)
• When did the accident happen?
• Weather at the accident site?

• pack heavy things first.
• The water bottle should always be within easy reach in a side pocket.
• All things that are often needed, such as sunglasses, camera or hiking map, belong on top.
• An emergency kit including blister plaster belongs in every backpack and a clothing according to the "onion system" is always recommended!

The Rosskogel is part of the largest lake plateau in Central Europe. This tour is one of the most beautiful panoramic hikes in Ausseerland. For further tour suggestions, use the free Ausseerland hiking map or find detailed maps in the hiking map store.

• Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB)
• www.busbahnbim.at

From Tauplitz train station, the valley station of the 4-seater chairlift can be reached in about 20 minutes on foot.The bus stop is located directly at the valley station.