On the hill above Rattenberger Graben

From the Gasthof Hotel Perschler (1), 702 m, we walk through the village of Rattenberg, following the asphalt road that runs slightly uphill to the right of the stream. After approx. 1.3 km we come to a forest road junction and a larger turning area, which is also used for parking. We continue uphill along the ditch until we see the entrance (2), 1012 m, to the hiking trail on the right at the start of a sharp left-hand bend. From here, we leave the wide forest road to continue along the old path. Even if this section of the trail seems a little "wild" at times, as the path is not cut out regularly, it is a beautiful natural experience to hike uphill right next to the stream bed. After approx. 1.4 km we reach the exit (3), 1117 m, of this old path and continue uphill on the wide forest road until we reach a gate (4), 1228 m. For cyclists, the tour ends here, but we pass the gate on the right and follow the road, which winds uphill in serpentines. Although we repeatedly pass junctions, we follow the marked main path until we reach a saddle or crossroads at 1422 m above sea level. From here, we are on the main hiking trail (trail no. 998), which leads across the entire ridge in a west-east direction. We keep to the right and see the start of the marked path. The path climbs a little steeper for a short while and then flattens out along the ridge. After walking downhill for a while, we come to a fence and an overpass and now reach our destination, the clearing or pasture area Auf der Höh' (5), 1464 m. The way back is via the ascent route.

For a conflict-free coexistence on alpine pastures and meadows it is important to observe a few rules, especially when traveling with dogs. (Source: www.sichere-almen.at - 06/2021)

• Avoid contact with grazing animals, do not feed them, keep a safe distance!
• Keep calm, do not frighten grazing animals!
• Mother cows protect their calves. Avoid encounters between mother cows and dogs!
• Always keep dogs under control and on a short leash. If an attack by a grazing animal is foreseeable: Immediately unleash!
• Do not leave hiking trails on alpine pastures and meadows!
• If grazing animals block the way, avoid them as far as possible!
• When grazing animals approach: Stay calm, do not turn your back, avoid the animals!
• Leave the grazing area quickly at the first sign of restlessness of the animals!Fences must be respected!
• If there is a gate, use it, then close it well and cross the pasture quickly!
• Treat the people working here, nature and the animals with respect!

A few tips for correct and fair behavior in the forest: (Source: www.bundesforste.at - 6/2021)

• Hikers should avoid visits to the forest about 1.5 hours before sunrise and after sunset, as wildlife is especially active during this time.
• Plastic bottles, handkerchiefs, cigarette butts & Co have no place in the forest! Please make sure that you do not leave any trash in the forest.
• Camping and making fire - is strictly forbidden in the forest!
• In principle, each person is allowed to collect 2 kg of mushrooms and berries per day for personal use in the forest. It is only forbidden if the forest owner expressly forbids it.

Alpine emergency call:

Mountain rescue emergency number: 140

EU emergency number: 112

Weather service: www.zamg.ac.at 

Direct link mountain weather Styria: https://www.zamg.ac.at/cms/de/wetter/produkte-und-services/bergwetter/steiermark 

•  Backpack with rain cover
• Telescopic / hiking poles
• Mountain / hiking boots
• Gloves: waterproof and warming
• Headgear / sunglasses
• Outerwear: Onion layer system, T-shirt, sweater, jacket and winter jacket with hood
• Hiking pants
• Seat pad
• Drinking bottle / thermos flask (on cooler days a warming drink is pleasant)
• Snack
• First aid kit with blister plaster and tick tongs

Other important equipment

• Route descriptionDetailed
• plan of the hike
• Hiking map: For overview a map in scale 1 : 50 000 of the respective region
• GPS device
• cell phone

A very nice option for the descent is to choose the route via the Hammerleck / Hölzelkogel 

Rattenberg is easy to reach by bus. The nearest train stations are Judenburg, Zeltweg and Knittelfeld.

General information about public transportation in the region: www.verbundlinie.at 

Murtal Taxi, Tel.: +43 660 1018101, 8740 Zeltweg, www.murtal-taxi.at 

Hotel Restaurant Perschler, Tel.: +43 3573 34204, Landstraße 14,  8753 Rattenberg, www.gasthof-perschler.at 

Region Murtal: www.murtal.at  

Freytag & Berndt (2017): Seetaler Alpen, Seckauer Alpen, Judenburg, Knittelfeld. WK 212 Wander-, Rad-, Freizeitkarte; 1 : 50 000 C. und M. Hlatky, (2017): Murtal – Rund um Spielberg – Seetaler Alpen und Seckauer Alpen. Kral Verlag, S. 160