Edelrautehütte - marked snowshoe trail in Hohentauern

Characteristics

Skill

Fitness

The tour in numbers

Level of difficulty medium

Route 7,8 km

Time 3:00 h

Uphill 464 hm

Downhill 464 hm

Highest point 1703 m

“The Fairytale”: Experience a true winter fairytale in Hohentauern: on the 7.8 km snowshoe trail, you will ascend gently from tranquil forests to the Edelrautehütte at 1,703 m. Here you can make your way back on snowshoes or by sledge.

Under the motto "A little closer to heaven", the Große Scheibelsee near the Edelrautehütte was chosen as one of the "7 heavenly places" in Hohentauern in the Murtal adventure region. So on this snowshoe tour we get a little closer to heaven. The hike to the Edelrautehütte is also one of the snowshoe classics in the Murtal region, as there is the option of snowshoe RODELING here: Up with the snowshoes and back to the starting point by sled. The trail leads mainly through the forest and is also known as the fairy tale trail "Gretl and the Bösenstein". In the winter of 2021/22, the trail was re-marked as a snowshoe trail. For experienced snowshoe hikers, there is still the possibility to continue the tour from the Edelrautehütte to the Hauseck, 1982m. The information about this can be found as tour 26 in the Rother Snowshoe Guide Styria.

Best season

January

February

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More information

From Vienna (approx. 2.5 hours):

Take the A2 towards Graz.
At exit 161-St. Michael junction, change to the A9 towards Linz/Salzburg.
Exit at 100-Trieben.
Continue on the B114 towards Judenburg/Hohentauern.
Follow the B114 to the Hohentauern Pass summit.

Alternative:
Instead of the A9, you can take the S36 towards Judenburg at St. Michael, then join the B114 in Judenburg and follow it via Trieben to Hohentauern.

From Graz (approx. 1.5 hours):

Take the A9 towards Linz/Salzburg.
Exit at 100-Trieben.
Continue on the B114 towards Judenburg/Hohentauern.
Follow the B114 to the Hohentauern Pass summit.

From Salzburg (approx. 2.5 hours):

Take the A10 towards Villach.
At exit 63-Altenmarkt, change to the B320 towards Radstadt.
Continue via Schladming to Liezen.
Join the A9 towards Graz.
Exit at 100-Trieben.
Continue on the B114 towards Judenburg/Hohentauern.
Follow the B114 to the Hohentauern Pass summit.

Large parking lot at the cross-country skiing center in Hohentauern.

We start from the parking lot at the cross-country skiing center (1), 1235 m, where we see the first pink signpost. Following the road, we pass Hotel Sonnhof and a few houses until we see the entrance to the trail and the pink signposts on the right. Now we strap on our snowshoes and follow the pink-marked snowshoe trail, which is led on hiking trails and forest roads. Again and again we meet the toll road, which is also the toboggan run. Up to the parking lot below the Edelraute hut, the entire trail leads through a partly very dense forest. From the parking lot it is only a few meters in altitude to our destination, the Edelrautehütte (2), 1706 m. The way back follows the ascent route, although there is also the option of borrowing a toboggan from the hut and returning the five kilometers along the toll road. At the end of the toboggan run (beginning of the toll road) we turn right and reach our starting point.

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

From the Edelraute hut you can continue hiking to the Hauseck (1982 m). You can find more information in the Rother Snowshoe Guide Styria - Tour 26.

Unfortunately, this tour cannot be reached by public transport.

Recommendation: Travel by car or organize a carpool.

Edelraute hut (AV hut), 1706 m, Tel.: +43 3618 21014, Edelrautestraße 5, 8785 Hohentauern
Freytag & Berndt (2017): Wölzer Tauern - Sölktal - Rottenmanner Tauern. WK 203 Wander-, Rad-, Freizeitkarte; 1:50000

Information about the region on - www.murtal.at

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