Long-Distance Hiking Schladminger Tauern High Trail | 5-days-tour - Touren-Impression #1 | © Gerhard Pilz Long-Distance Hiking Schladminger Tauern High Trail | 5-days-tour - Touren-Impression #1 | © Gerhard Pilz

Schladminger Tauern High Trail | 5-days-tour

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This tour is a multiple day hike through the Schladminger Tauern mountain range. and partially part of Central Alpine Trail 02, which traverses the entire Alpine region.

Due to its unique geological features, the wealth of plant and animals species, and the special character of the surrounding mountain world, this particular section of the Central Alpine Trail through the Schladminger-Tauern is one of the most beautiful hiking tours to be found anywhere in the Alps.

Dozens of tarns and waterfalls of the Niedere Tauern range, you will find a majority of those in the valleys, basins and coombes of the Schladminger Tauern. Pristine, untamed streams with thunderous waterfalls and countless small rivulets flowing from springs beneath the Tauern mountains add to the appeal and charm of this region. In addition, some truly rewarding mountain destinations, such as the Hochgolling, the highest mountain in the Niedere Tauern, along with the Höchstein, Hohe Wildstelle, Steirische Kalkspitze and many more, all lie directly along the path.

Particularly unique impressions await you during a tour through the Klafferkessel and on the shores of the lakes there. An arctic-style lakescape, with flora you would normally only find at more northern latitudes, always guaranteed to captivate each and every alpine hiker.

This multiple-day tour is suitable for hikers aged 15 years and older. For younger kids (8 to 14 years) we recommend the easier "4-day-hike Obertal".

Characteristics

Skill
Fitness
Experience
Scenery

Best season

January
February
March
April
May
June
October
November
December

The tour in numbers

challenging
Level of difficulty
42,7 km
Route
27:00 h
Time
3935 hm
Uphill
4624 hm
Downhill
2618 m
Highest point
1651 m
Lowest point

Map & downloads

More information

From Schladming into the direction of Rohrmoos, at the roundabout Rohrmoos straight ahead to the Hochwurzen cable car.

We recommand to leave the car in Schladming at the Kraiter car park (100 m above the white church) - take the Planai-Hochwurzen bus from Lendplatz to the Hochwurzen cable car (bus timetable: www.planai.at)

Stage 1 - 6 to 7 hours Hochwurzen High Trail to the Giglachseen Lakes

Start out from the Hochwurzenhütte (accessible on the Hochwurzen cable car or via hiking path No. 60 from Rohrmoos). From the Hochwurzen car park, the trail takes us after just a few minutes via a newly laid-out path up the extended grassy ridgeline of the Rossfeld. From this easily reached scenic mountain, we can hike down to the south to the depression of the Leiterfußsattel with a sign for several different trails. Our path now takes us on trail #773 which originates in Obertal, leading us out of this alpine saddle through a battle-zone forest interspersed with numerous pine trees up to a popular scenic peak, the Guschen (elev. 1,983 m). From the summit cross on the Guschen, our path now takes us over the Schneidergipfel, and across the western flank of the Hochfeld and the striking Schiedeck mountain (2,339 m). The Klammsee and the Brettersee, as well as the eastern wall of the Kammspitze with its dramatically shaped toothed ridgeline, represent the heart of this magnificent path. The hike concludes with numerous small switchbacks, which meander down a steep mountainside to the Ignaz-Mattis-Hütte.

Variant 1: By public bus from Schladming and Rohrmoos to the Ursprungalm (or by private vehicle from Pichl or Schladming-Rohrmoos. From the Ursprungalm in around 1 hour to the Giglachseehütte or 11/4 hours to the Ignaz-Mattis-Hütte (hut run by the Alpine Association).

Variant 2: From the Ursprungalm up the so-called “Kranz”. Descent via the Brotrinnl to the Oberhütte. From the Oberhütte, path No. 702 to the Akarscharte (elev. 2,315 m). Opportunity to climb to the summit of the Steirische or Lungauer Kalkspitze (from the Akarscharte ca. 1/2 hour). Followed by a descent via the Znachsattel to the Giglachseehütte or Ignaz-Mattis-Hütte .

Stage 2 - 4 hours To the Giglachseen and the Keinprechthütte

Variant 1 - via the Rotmandlspitze: Setting out from the Giglachseehütte or the Ignaz-Mattis-Hütte, path No. 702 leads us to the eastern end of the Giglachseen lakes. From here the trail takes us on a moderate climb to the outer Knappenkar, then ascends very steeply in parts to the Rotmandlspitze (2,453 m). From there we continue to the Kruckeckscharte (2,303 m). Here the trail takes us downhill through a series of large hairpin bends until we again come to the beautifully situated Keinprechthütte at 1,872m above sea level.

Variant 2 - past Duisitzkarsee lake: From the Ignaz-Mattis-Hütte or Giglachseehütte across the Murspitzsattel on path No.775 to the shore of the Duisitzkarsee (1,648 m) with its two famous huts, the Duisitzkarhütte and Fahrlechalm .

Stage 3 - 6 to 9 hours Keinprecht-Hütte - Gollinghütte (long stage)

Departing from the Keinprechthütte, we follow path No. 702 through a large alpine cirque until we reach a fork in the trail. We continue alongside an area of pine trees to the Trockenbrotscharte (2,237 m). Two trail variants are now open to us: either a high trail – which begins at the Landawirtseehütte, or via the regular path to the inner Göriachwinkel. From here the trail goes to the Gollingscharte (2,326 m). From the Gollingscharte there is an opportunity to climb to the summit of the Hochgolling (2,963 m). Any ascent on this summit requires surefootedness, a head for heights, along with alpine experience. From the Gollingscharte, down across a field of ice and scree to the Gollingwinkel. In a quarter of an hour we will make our way across the Götterplatz and come to the Gollinghütte.

Stage 4 - 6 to 8 hours Gollinghütte - Klafferkessel - Preintalerhütte

Immediately after the Gollinghütte we cross the Steinriesenbach. In a series of serpentines, path No. 702 takes us up the Greifenberg. At an elevation of around 2,300 meters, the views open up to all sides. Before us lies Greifenbergsee lake and the summit cross of the Greifenberg (2,618 m). The summit affords us the best views of the Klafferkessel. A steep alpine trail now takes us downhill to the upper Klafferscharte. We continue across fields of snow and scree down to the actually heart of this tour, the Klafferkessel. We now pass countless tarns and pools on the way to the lower Klafferscharte. At this point, a trail takes us in a series of broad loops downhill to the outer Lämmerkar. After crossing the Waldhornbach, we will reach the Preintalerhütte and Waldhornalm.

5th stage | 5-6 hours via Höfertsteig and Neualmscharte into the Seewigtal

From the Preintalerhütte it goes past the backdrop of the Hochwildstelle (2,747 m) over the »Höfertsteig« in the direction of Neualm. At the Höfertsteig crossroads, before the Neualm, follow path no.782 to the Neualmscharte (2,347 m). During the ascent you can enjoy the view of the Riesachsee, which lies deep below, and the breathtaking view of the Seewigtal from the saddle. After a short rest, you now begin the rather steep descent. First you reach the Obersee, the banks of which are wonderfully suitable for another rest. About 40 minutes later you will reach the Hans-Wödl-Hütte above the Hüttensee, where you have truly earned a long rest. Then it's a good hour downhill to the Steirischer Bodensee and the Seewigtal car park, from where the hiking bus route 976 takes you back to Schladming. When booking the package, the hiking bus is included with the Sommercard.

Schladminger Tauern High Trail is a multiple day tour requiring experience in alpine terrain (on all stages). Thus, surefootedness, a head for heights and a good level of stamina are a requirement. On average you have to cover 1,000 m in vertical ascents (up and down) each day, requiring several hours of walking time! This multiple-day tour is suitable for hikers aged 15 years and older.

Although there is no need for equipment like crampons, ropes or via ferrata sets, this multiple day tour takes you along alpine trails (having steel ropes for additional security on short sections) in steep and exposed terrain.

The blog post of Moon & Honey Travel gives a great overview and tips about the tour.

With the Planai buses from Schladming (Planet-Planai, Lendplatz) or Rohrmoos (Rohrmoos-Zentrum) to the valley terminal of Gipfelbahn Hochwurzen. Alternatively take the bus to Ursprungalm chalets in Preuneggtal valley.

From Planai you can take the cable-car back to the town of Schladming or hike down to the mountain village via WM-Pfad trail (another 2 hours).

Kraiter car park- 100 m beyond the white church or car parking at the valley terminal of Gipfelbahn Hochwurzen.

Gallery

What the weather will be like

Mariazell (860m)

Morning
foggy
4°C
95%
5 km/h
Noon
slightly cloudy
11°C
10%
10 km/h
Night
weather.icon.66
6°C
75%
5 km/h
Light rain in the early morning, rain towards evening, and some sunshine in between.
Morning
very sunny
3°C
0%
0 km/h
Noon
slightly cloudy
15°C
0%
10 km/h
Night
slightly cloudy
12°C
0%
10 km/h
The day starts sunny, but will be partly cloudy in the afternoon.
30.03.2024
sunny
5°C 19°C
31.03.2024
slightly cloudy
5°C 18°C
01.04.2024
cloudy
5°C 17°C
Naturpark-Bank | © Alpengasthof Moser - ArisMedia

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