Steirersee lake, Schwarzensee lake and Gnanitz alp from Gretl-Hütte

You start from the Gnanitztal hiking portal at the Gretlhütte car park. Shortly follow the road out of the valley and then left on the T6 hiking trail to the Tauplitz waterfall, which you will reach after about 25 minutes. From the waterfall we now go up to the crossroads on the Gnanitzweg directly below the karst spring of the "Sagtümpel" ponds. Here you briefly take the road to the left out of the valley towards Tauplitz until you come to the intersection with the Salzkammergut Trail (path #215), which you follow uphill to the right. You go up through the Sagtümpelbach ditch and the Niederblas until the path finally winds up the left side of the ditch and you meet path #275 south of Steirersee lake. You can take a detour to the left to the Almrauschhütte west of Steirersee lake.

You continue eastwards on path #218, along the southern shore of the picturesque Steirersee and over a small saddle over to the somewhat smaller Schwarzensee lake. Shortly after the lake, path #216 joins path #218 from the south and soon after you reach the Leistalm. Here you can stop at the “Wie Dahoam Hittn”. From the Leistalm you continue on path #218 to the Interhütte (refreshments available) and from there down into the Grimmingtal, where you meet path #2. You now follow this out of the valley to the Gnanitzalm, where you can stop at the Johnsleitner Hut and the Hechl Hut. From there you head west out of the valley to the starting point of your tour. On the way you will also pass the Böhmhütte, where you can also stop off.

• Plan your tour in advance, taking into account walking time, route length, altitude difference, danger spots and weather forecast. Together is much more beautiful and at the same time safer in the mountains.
• Do not go alone, if possible, and adapt the tour to the ability of your group.
• Let someone know where you are going and when you want to be back. Also sign hut or summit books.
• Turn back in good time if the weather deteriorates. If you get caught in a thunderstorm, do not stay on the summit or ridge and stay away from individual trees. Wait out the storm, if possible in a crouching position.
• Stay on the marked trails and remember to close pasture fences again.

GPS data and orienteering

Available GPS data - just like hiking maps - is only a guidance for orientation and can never depict a trail exactly with all its details. Especially at dangerous spots it is essential to judge on site how to proceed.

In an emergency please call:

• 140 - for Alpine emergencies (all over Austria)
• 112 - European GSM emergency number

A well-packed backpack is helpful and especially when touring Alpine terrain a tuque, gloves, a windproof jacket and pants are standard equipment. Good, waterproof shoes, sun glasses, sun cream and sufficient beverages are essential too. Torch light, a map of the area, knie and a small first-aid kit should also be in the backpack.

From Leistalm, mountain enthusiasts can also take a detour to the Rosskogel (1,870 m).

The starting point is not directly accessible to the public by train or bus. However, you can get to the starting point with the Salzkammergut Shuttle Service:

• https://www.salzkammergutshuttle.at/ausseerland.html

SCHLADMING-DACHSTEIN summer experience map EAST, available at the information offices in the Schladming-Dachstein region.