Open

Steinplan via Kleinlobming

Characteristics

Skill

Fitness

The tour in numbers

Level of difficulty medium

Route 11,5 km

Time 5:30 h

Uphill 835 hm

Downhill 835 hm

Highest point 1664 m

"The Cozy One": Climb the Steinplan (≈ 1,670 m) from Kleinlobming on snowshoes – a steadily ascending trail through forests, meadows, and alpine pastures with magnificent views of the Seetal Alps. Over a distance of around 11.5 km and 835 m of elevation gain, you will experience pure nature and find peace and cozy places to stop for refreshments along the way at the Steinplan refuge.

With the snowshoes on Knittelfeld's local mountain. Starting from the small village of Kleinlobming, in the municipality of Lobmingtal, in the district of Murtal, a well-marked hiking trail (trail no. 525) leads to the 1670 m high Steinplan. Basically, numerous summer trails lead to the popular local mountain of Knittelfeld, and this evenly ascending trail is a wonderful combination of forest, meadow and alpine pastures for snowshoers. Already during the ascent you have beautiful views of the surrounding mountains of the Seetaler Alps, the peaks of the Stubalpe and the Judenburg-Knittelfeld basin. When there is little snow, this trail is recommended as a winter trail, although for safety's sake you should take Grödel (light crampons) with you. In the immediate vicinity of the summit area is also the Naturfreundehaus Steinplan, which invites you with a heated winter room - especially on cold days - for a cozy break.

Best season

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

More information

From Vienna (approx. 2.5 hours):

Take the A2 towards Graz.
At 161-St. Michael junction, switch to the S36 towards Judenburg.
Exit at Knittelfeld-West.
Follow the signs to Großlobming.
Continue through Großlobming to Kleinlobming (village center).

From Graz (approx. 1 hour):

Take the A9 towards Linz/Salzburg.
Exit at Köflach/Voitsberg.
Drive via Köflach to Großlobming.
Continue to Kleinlobming.

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 Knittelfeld-West.
Follow the signs via Großlobming to Kleinlobming.

There are plenty of parking spaces available at the designated ski touring and winter parking area.

From the parking lot (1), 850 m, go up the road slightly. After a few meters there is a bridge, after which we shorten the road to the right, across the meadow. Now we go along the road for a few minutes until a forest path branches off to the left. The yellow signpost with the inscription "Naturfreundehaus Steinplan 1670 m" is easily recognizable. For the next 2.5 kilometers, the trail goes continuously slightly uphill, and we can easily find our way along the forest path along the stream. After passing a small wooden house on the right, we continue straight ahead for the time being and then follow the main path, which now makes a left turn. Soon we already have a beautiful view of the Seetaler Alps and the peaks Grössing and Amering. Nice and slowly we leave the forest areas and come to the meadow areas with a great view and to the organic farm Oberkamper (3) at 1210 m above sea level. Directly at the house a yellow hiking sign shows us the direction. Now we hike slightly right upwards across the meadow to the fence, where there is also a wooden cross. Continue slightly diagonally up to the left until you reach the next house and farm. First pass the buildings on the left and then immediately turn right upwards. Now we keep in a line always uphill, first through sparse forest stands, then across an open alpine pasture until we reach a fence (4), 1380 m, and a forest road. We cut the road short here by staying straight and then following the road to the right. A row of larch trees growing on the left edge of the path serves as orientation. We go along the path until we come to a wooden shed on the right, where there is a white board (Steinplan 1671 m) and a red-white-red trail marker. Immediately after that we again cut the road, branch off to the left and hike slightly diagonally up to the right across the meadow. Depending on the snow situation, you can easily see the trail markings from the summer. When we reach the road again, the trail now enters the forest. The entrance can be recognized by a step-over and further on the markings on the trees are easy to see. It goes comfortably uphill until we come to a yellow hiking sign "Naturfreundehaus Steinplan 1670 m", which points to the left. Here we leave the summer marker, keep straight on and after a few meters we come to the alpine pasture, which now leads left uphill directly to the summit. For orientation, the summer hiking trail leads here only a few meters away parallel in the forest and comes a little further up also on the alpine pasture area. When we reach the ridge, the summit cross is located on the left side just a few meters away. We have reached the Steinplan (5) at 1670 m above sea level, with the shelter also in the immediate vicinity. For a rest, especially when it is very cold, the slightly heated winter room is excellent. The way back is via the ascent route, whereby you can use some meadows as a shortcut.

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

Recommended inns with good home cooking and a grocery store in Kleinlobming. Heated winter room at the Naturfreundehaus Steinplan.

This tour can be reached by public transport.

Timetable information: Verbundlinie Styria
Tip: Always check the latest bus and train schedules before departure.

Refreshment and overnight accommodations:

Naturfreundehaus Steinplan, Tel.: +43 3512 72210, Hintertal 77, 8734 Kleinlobming, www.steinplan-schutzhaus.naturfreunde.at , winter room always open.

Gasthof Landhotel Hubmann, Tel.: +43 3516 2238, Meranstraße 9, 8734 Kleinlobming, www.gasthof-hubmann.at

Gasthof Lobmingerhof, Tel.: +43 3516 2364, Liftstraße 13, 8734 Lobmingtal, www.lobmingerhof.at

Shopping possibility:

Grocery store ADEG Hörbinger, Tel.: +43 3516 2217, Dorfstraße 28. 8734 Lobmingtal,

Freytag & Berndt (2017): Seetaler Alpen, Seckauer Alpen, Judenburg, Knittelfeld. WK 212 Wander-, Rad-, Freizeitkarte; 1:50000

More information about snowshoeing on our homepage www.murtal.at/schneeschuhwandern

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