Schmelzhütte - Hohe Ranach

Characteristics

Skill

Fitness

The tour in numbers

Level of difficulty medium

Route 9,0 km

Time 3:30 h

Uphill 450 hm

Downhill 450 hm

Highest point 1981 m

“The Fleet": This popular family tour is ideal as a beginner's mountain tour, offering a fantastic panoramic view of the region.

A popular panoramic trail in the Murtal adventure region in Styria, which is maintained by the Austrian Armed Forces. Due to the exposed location of the extensive summit area, you have a wonderful view of the Judenburg-Knittelfeld-Aichfeld basin and the surrounding mountain regions. Here you are hiking in the immediate vicinity of a restricted military area, which is why the hiking trail to the Hohe Ranach is closed during live-fire exercises. The closed times can be found on the army's homepage. There is also an INFOPOINT board opposite the Soldiers' Church and in the bend at the access road to the Schmelz with a digital display that provides information about the current closure times of the hiking trails. If you would like to extend the hike a little, you can head west to the Erslstand (2124 m) and enjoy the view of the extensive cirque (Fleischhackerboden - restricted military area). It would also be possible to continue to the Kreiszkogel and even to the weather radar station and the Zirbitzkogel.

Best season

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

More information

From Judenburg via Oberweg and Ossach, the Seetalstraße leads directly to the grounds of the Schmelz military training area and thus to the large car park opposite the Soldiers' Church. (16 km, approx. 25 minutes).

From Wolfsberg via the B78 to Obdach and then via St. Wolfgang to the starting point (50 km, approx. 50 minutes).

Schmelz car park opposite the Soldiers' Church

The first short section leads along the MTB route 19a and connects to the hiking trail, which leads in several hairpin bends through the forest, over the Brandriegel and the Mühlbacher Sattel to the summit of the Ranach. On the way back, skip the MTB route and take the road that leads almost exactly to the Schmelzhütte, where you can enjoy a well-earned refreshment.
Tip: On the left-hand side before the summit cross, there is a small closed military hut with a bench for resting. As it is often very windy on the Hohe Ranach, you can eat your snack there, a little more sheltered from the wind.

To ensure conflict-free interaction on alpine pastures and meadows, it is important to observe a few rules, especially when travelling with dogs. (Source: www.sichere-almen.at - 09/2020)

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 contact between suckler cows and dogs!
Always keep dogs under control and on a short leash. If an attack by a grazing animal is foreseeable: Immediately unharness!
Do not leave hiking trails on alpine pastures and meadows!
If grazing animals are blocking the way, avoid them as far as possible!
If grazing animals approach: Stay calm, do not turn your back, avoid the animals!
Leave the grazing area quickly at the first sign of restlessness!
Respect fences! 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 behaviour in the forest: (Source: www.bundesforste.at - 9/2020)

Hikers should avoid visits to the forest about 1.5 hours before sunrise and after sunset, as wild animals are particularly active during this time.
Plastic bottles, handkerchiefs, cigarette butts etc. have no place in the forest! Please make sure that you do not leave any rubbish in the forest.
Camping and making fires - strictly forbidden in the forest!

Alpine emergency call:

Mountain rescue emergency number: 140

EU emergency call: 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 warm
Headgear / sunglasses
Outerwear: Onion layer system, T-shirt, pullover, jacket and winter jacket with hood
Hiking trousers
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 description
Detailed map of the hike
Hiking map: For an overview, a map on a scale of 1 : 50 000 of the respective region.
GPS device
Mobile phone

On the left side in front of the summit cross is a small closed Bundesheerhütte (army hut) with a bench for resting. As it can be very windy on the Hohe Ranach, you have the opportunity to eat your snack there, sheltered from the wind.

Take the ÖBB to Judenburg. There is a public transport connection to the starting point of the tour itself from May to All Saints' Day on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. Bus number 873 from Judenburg railway station.

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

More information at www.murtal.at/wandern