With snowshoes from hut to hut

Characteristics

Skill

Fitness

The tour in numbers

Level of difficulty medium

Route 13,8 km

Time 5:00 h

Uphill 577 hm

Downhill 575 hm

Highest point 1913 m

A snowshoe hike in the Murtal adventure region with great refreshment stops.

This snowshoe hike takes us to an area that is known for its large, closed pine tree population and therefore also has the name, the Zirbenland Styria. Its center and extremely popular destination for sports enthusiasts who storm it in summer and winter is the 2396 m high Zirbitzkogel. The goal of our tour is not the summit, but the path across the wide alpine pastures, through the soothing stone pine forest and to the well-known refreshment stops, Waldheimhütte and Alpengasthof Sabathy. In addition, above the tree line, a magnificent view of the Obdacher Sattel, the Stubalpe, the Judenburg-Knittelfeld basin and the Seckau Alps towering behind it awaits us. A wonderful snowshoe area on the eastern side of the Seetaler Alps in the Murtal adventure region, which promises a lot and keeps it.

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, change to the S36 towards Judenburg/Knittelfeld.
Exit at Zeltweg-West/Obdach.
Drive along the B78 Obdacher Straße to Obdach.
In the village, follow the signs to the Sabathyalm.
Continue on the mountain road up to the Alpengasthof Sabathy (parking available).

From Graz (approx. 1.5 hours):

Take the A9 towards Linz/Salzburg.
At 161-St. Michael junction, switch to the S36 towards Judenburg/Knittelfeld.
Exit at Zeltweg-West/Obdach.
Follow the B78 to Obdach.
In the village, follow the signs to the Sabathyalm.
Drive up the mountain road to the Alpengasthof Sabathy.

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/Knittelfeld.
Exit at Zeltweg-West/Obdach.
Drive along the B78 to Obdach.
In the village, follow the signs to the Sabathyalm and take the mountain road up to the Alpengasthof Sabathy.

Large parking lot at the Alpengasthof Sabathy.

access to the car park

From our starting point, the parking lot at Alpengasthof Sabathy (1), 1620 m, we follow the slightly ascending Zirbitz hiking trail 316 to the Linderhütte (2), 1733 m. Immediately after the hut we turn slightly left onto trail 47. The rarely tracked trail through a pine forest leads first slightly downhill to the stream, over a wooden bridge and then briefly steeply uphill. We continue to follow the path, which after a right-hand bend leads left uphill to a forest road. From here we already have a wonderful view. When we reach the crossing point (3), 1880 m, on the ridge, we are already above the timberline and can see the Rothaidenhütte directly below us. The trail now leads slightly uphill along the eastern slope until we reach the junction (4), 1900 m, with trail 320, which leads us to the lift station of a drag lift and from there, along the edge of the slope, to the Waldheim Hut (5), 1614 m. Here is a good place for a break before we climb back up to the top station of the lift and pass the lift house on the right to reach a signpost in the direction of Rothaidenhütte. On this well-marked route we finally reach the Rothaidenhütte (6), 1836 m, in a sheltered hollow. After a short ascent towards the ridge, we meet the wooden signpost that shows us the way back.

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

Snowshoe rental: Alpengasthof Sabathy

Unfortunately, this tour cannot be reached by public transport.

Recommendation: Travel by car or organize a carpool.

Alpengasthof Sabathy, Tel.: +43 3578 8230, 8742 Obdach, Granitzen 32, www.alpengasthof-sabathy.at

Waldheimhütte, Tel.: +43 3578 8205, 8742 St. Anna am Lavantegg, Lavantegg 57,

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