Snowshoe hike to the Winterleiten lakes with tobogganing experience

Characteristics

Skill

Fitness

The tour in numbers

Level of difficulty easy

Route 3,2 km

Time 2:00 h

Uphill 304 hm

Downhill 301 hm

Highest point 1846 m

“The happy one": Experience a real winter adventure with the whole family: you hike leisurely with snowshoes to the Großer Winterleitensee lake and then whizz back down on a sledge. The tour leads slightly uphill and offers breathtaking views, two mountain lakes as places of power, and a well-deserved rest at the Winterleitenhütte hut.

In the Murtal adventure region there are two ways to hike uphill on snowshoes, borrow a toboggan and then whiz back to the starting point on a groomed toboggan run. Once in Hohentauern and here in the Seetaler Alps from the parking lot Gasthof Schmelzhütte to the Winterleitenhütte, which is located directly at the lower Winterleiten lake at 1800 m above sea level. The hike to the Winterleitenhütte is rather short, so you can take the opportunity to continue to the Great Winterleiten Lake and get to know the impressive karst landscape below the Kreiskogel (2306 m). This hike is suitable for the whole family. Even if a small piece in the ascent is a bit steeper, especially children enjoy the challenge. In addition, the anticipation of a cozy hut stop and the toboggan ride mobilizes unimagined strength in young and old.

Conclusion: Snowshoe tobogganing - really cool!

Best season

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

More information

From Vienna (approx. 2.5–3 hours):

Take the A2 towards Graz.
At 161-St. Michael junction, switch to the S36 towards Judenburg.
Exit at Zeltweg-Ost/Obdach.
Follow the B78 Obdacher Straße to Obdach.
In the town, turn towards Amering/Schmelzhütte.
Continue along the road to the Schmelzhütte (parking available).

From Graz (approx. 1.5 hours):

Take the A9 towards Linz/Salzburg.
At 161-St. Michael junction, change to the S36 towards Judenburg.
Exit at Zeltweg-Ost/Obdach.
Follow the B78 to Obdach.
In the town, turn towards Amering/Schmelzhütte.
Continue along the road to the Schmelzhütte.

From Salzburg (approx. 3 hours):

Take the A10 towards Villach.
At exit 63-Altenmarkt, change to the B320 towards Radstadt/Schladming.
Continue via Schladming to Liezen.
Join the A9 towards Graz.
At 161-St. Michael junction, switch to the S36 towards Judenburg.
Exit at Zeltweg-Ost/Obdach.
Follow the B78 to Obdach.
In the town, turn towards Amering/Schmelzhütte.
Continue along the road to the Schmelzhütte.

There are plenty of parking spaces available at the Schmelzhütte and at the Soldatenkirche.

From the parking lot Gasthof Schmelzhütte (1), 1546 m, we walk a short distance along the asphalt road uphill. Passing the Infopoint of the Austrian Armed Forces, we keep to the right at the next intersection in the direction of Seetal (large green signposts). We continue along the road for a few minutes before we turn left onto the hiking trail after a double garage. You can't miss the entrance, as there is both a yellow sign and a green signpost with the inscription Winterleitenhütte. The path is very well marked and leads slightly uphill through the forest until we pass directly by the sledding and ice rink. Further on we keep slightly to the right, over a bridge, to then start with the steepest section for today's hike. From now on we go uphill in the forest via the "Sterngassl" aisle until we reach the Kleiner Winterleitensee (2), 1780 m, or Winterleitenhütte. We stay on the right side of the lake, pass a beep check point and follow the tracks along trail 08/315. The trail serpentines through the forest, then comes to a free slope area where we keep slightly right uphill. Our next landmark is a small hut (3), 1840 m, with the house number Ossach 47, which is already above the tree line. From here we have a beautiful view of the Großer Winterleitensee, which lies as a large snow-covered area directly in front of us. The way back we arrange depending on visibility and orientation, whereby the connecting slope between the two lakes, also called Karschwelle, is a nice alternative. Then it is only a few meters around the Kleiner Winterleitensee until we finish our hike at the Winterleitenhütte (4), 1782m. As a tip, use a backpack with a lid buckle so that you can secure the snowshoes well when it's time to go back to the starting point by sled.

Equipment for Snowshoe Hiking

Sturdy, waterproof hiking boots with good grip
Snowshoes & adjustable poles with winter baskets
Backpack with rain cover
Layering system: functional underwear, mid-layer, weatherproof winter jacket
Warm hiking pants, gaiters if needed
Gloves (plus a spare pair), hat/headband, scarf/buff
Sunglasses, ski goggles, and sun protection
Water bottle or thermos, snacks
First aid kit, emergency blanket, personal medication
Headlamp, mobile phone with emergency numbers, hiking map or GPS

Additional safety gear in alpine terrain:
When snowshoeing in unsecured alpine areas, an avalanche transceiver, probe, and shovel are essential. They are vital for quick companion rescue in case of an emergency.

Snowshoe tours in open terrain require both weather and avalanche updates:

Mountain weather Styria (including Murtal): wetter.ORF – Bergwetter Steiermark
Avalanche bulletin Austria: lawine.at
Emergency numbers: Mountain Rescue 140 | EU Emergency Number 112

This hike is also recommended in the moonlight, because you can borrow the sleds in the evening. It is important to check with the innkeeper beforehand about opening hours and sled rental.

Unfortunately, this tour cannot be reached by public transport.

Recommendation: Travel by car or organize a carpool.

Winterleitenhütte (Nature Friends House), Tel.: +43 3578 8210, 8750 Judenburg, Ossach 45, www.winterleiten.com. Sledge & snowshoes rental,

Schmelzhütte, Tel: +43 3578 8240 or +43 681 20 488 137, 8750 Judenburg, Ossach 37.

Freytag & Berndt (2017): Seetaler Alpen, Seckauer Alpen, Judenburg, Knittelfeld. WK 212 Wander-, Rad-, Freizeitkarte; 1:50000 Sarcletti S., Zienitzer E., (2. Auflage 2018): Schneeschuhführer Steiermark – Vom Dachstein bis zum Steirischen Weinland. Bergverlag Rother GmbH, München, S. 176.

Schneeweiß C., (2012): Schneeschuhgehen – Praxiswissen vom Profi zu Ausrüstung, Technik und Sicherheit. Bruckmann Verlag GmbH, München, S.192