Hochstadl Wildalpen

Characteristics

Fitness

The tour in numbers

Level of difficulty challenging

Route 18,7 km

Time 9:50 h

Uphill 1322 hm

Downhill 1320 hm

Highest point 1911 m

Holzäpfeltal - Christerbauer - Reiterbauer Alm (unbew.) - Buchsattel - vorbei an Hühnerkogel - Hochstadl

The Kräuterin, as the whole mountain range is called, is truly not called Kräuterin for nothing. Nearby is the Dürrenstein wilderness area (protected area). The steep alpine mountain hike is suitable for fit mountain hikers and leads through rustic, wild countryside.

The steep alpine mountain hike is suitable for fit mountain hikers and leads through rustic, wild countryside. This tour has more of a hunting trail character. Partly sloping, steep terrain.

Best season

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

More information

Travelling to Wildalpen by car:

From Vienna: A1 Westautobahn exit Ybbs via Wieselburg, Scheibbs and Lunz/See to Göstling an der Ybbs continue in the direction of Palfau, at the Erzhalden junction turn off to Wildalpen.

From Vienna, Eisenstadt: Semmeringschnellstraße S6, near Mürzzuschlag onto the B23 Mariazeller Bundesstrasse and Mürzsteg and Wegscheid to Gusswerk and on the Hochschwab Bundesstrasse B24 to Wildalpen.

From Linz: A1 to Voralpenkreuz junction, A9 to Windischgarsten, Unterlaussa, Altenmarkt, Grossreifling, Palfau and Wildalpen

From Salzburg: A1 on A9 to exit Ardning/Admont, Gesäusebundesstrasse and B24 to Wildalpen

From Graz: A9 Pyhrnautobahn, exit, Traboch (near Leoben) via Präbichl/Eisenerz, Hieflau, Landl, Gams to Palfau at the Erzhalden junction turn off to Wildalpen.

Drive to the Barbara church and continue over the campsite bridge, past the campsites and then turn right into the Holzäpfeltal and drive to the last house or barrier.

This is a very difficult and steep ascent that requires a lot of physical effort and is only recommended when the weather is very good and dry. Starting from Holzäpfeltal at the barrier, follow the forest road past Christerbauer until the road ends below Reiterbaueralm. You branch off onto a small alpine path which is quite well overgrown with fodder, the path leads quite steeply up to Buchsattel. Some crossings are not without danger. You walk steeply between ridges and cross exposed slopes overgrown with meadow. The terrain is rather sloping and gravelly. A head for heights is a prerequisite. Passing the Friedrichshütte hut, you reach a wonderful alpine plateau of the Kräuterin between Fadenkamp and Hochstadl after a difficult ascent. From the signpost junction, you hike rather leisurely to the summit of the Hochstadl.

At the Hochstadl summit cross, it is recommended to continue a little further to the little summit booklet; a magnificent view of the Hochschwab mountains awaits you there.

Stop for refreshments before or after the tour in Wildalpen: Jausenstation Astrid in Holzäpfeltal in Wildalpen.

Stop for refreshments if you extend the tour: Kräuterinhütte (open in summer).

Sturdy hiking boots or good trekking shoes
Hiking backpack
Water bottle
First aid kit including blister plasters
Hiking map and smartphone
Snacks
Sunglasses
Sunscreen

You should also be well prepared for changeable weather.

Packing your backpack correctly makes things much easier:
Pack heavy items first. Your water bottle should always be easily accessible in a side pocket. Everything you need frequently, such as sunglasses, your smartphone, or hiking map, should be packed on top.

From the summit of Hochstadel, hike a little further out to the summit book; there are great views here!

Tip: As a tour extension, we recommend a descent to Rotmoos, trail number 286 to Weichselboden. This is much easier to walk. Perhaps organise the local taxi in advance because of the sometimes poor mobile reception.

With the Verbundlinie BusBahnBim app, finding timetable information has never been easier: all bus, train, and tram connections in Austria can be searched for by entering locations and/or addresses, stops, or important points. The app is available as a free app for smartphones (Android, iOS) on Google Play and in the App Store.

Gesäuse Tourism Association
Hauptstraße 35, 8911 Admont, Austria
t: +43 3613 2116010
www.gesaeuse.at
Email: info@gesaeuse.at