Stage 05 From Glacier to Wine North Route Tauplitzalm - Hochmölbinghütte

Characteristics

Skill

Fitness

The tour in numbers

Level of difficulty medium

Route 15,0 km

Time 6:00 h

Uphill 646 hm

Downhill 612 hm

Highest point 1765 m

Following a section of the Salzsteig Trail (Long-Distance Hiking Trail 09), this stage leads through the southern part of the Totes Gebirge range towards the Ennstal valley. At the beginning of the route, hikers cross the Tauplitzalm, including a visit to Europe's largest alpine lake plateau. The stage concludes at the Hochmölbinghütte, beautifully situated high above the Ennstal and offering magnificent views of the surrounding mountains.

The crossing of the Totes Gebirge provides a striking contrast to the Tauplitzalm, with its numerous lakes encountered at the beginning of the stage. The mountain range is thought to owe its name to the heavily karstified landscape of its largely vegetation-free high plateau.

In the western part of the range, extensive mountain forests dominated by pines, larches, and Swiss stone pines cover the high valleys between 1,400 and 1,600 metres above sea level. Further east, the mountains become higher, more rugged, and increasingly barren.

Rainwater and meltwater quickly disappear into the extensive karst system, leaving very little surface water. As a result, the Totes Gebirge is often regarded as one of the driest mountain regions in the Eastern Alps.

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More information

Detaillierte Informationen zur Anreise finden Sie hier.

At the beginning of the stage, we hike eastwards past the Tauplitzsee, gradually leaving behind the bustle of the Tauplitzalm village centre. Shortly before reaching the Steirersee, it is well worth making a short detour to one of the most beautiful viewpoints in Steiermark – the Steirerbankerl above the lake.

After visiting this popular photo spot, the trail passes the Steirerseehütten and the lake itself before soon reaching the easternmost lake of the Tauplitzalm, the Schwarzensee. The lake is said to owe its name to the fact that its surface turns remarkably dark in cloudy weather or when thunderstorms approach.

Via the Leistalmhütte, where we continue straight ahead, the Interhüttenalm, and the Hanslhütte, this stage of the "From Glacier to Wine" hiking trail continues towards Wörschach (Tourist Information Tel. +43 3682 23999) and the Hochmölbinghütte on the Niederhüttenalm.

As this route clearly demonstrates, much of the stage follows beautiful alpine pastures. Another advantage is that the elevation gain remains relatively moderate, as the route between the Tauplitzalm and the Hochmölbinghütte (Tel. +43 676 9003909) stays between 1,409 and 1,759 metres above sea level.

After arriving at the hut, a well-earned refreshment awaits before it is time to relax and begin planning the next stage to Wörschach.

Please note that mountain huts may occasionally have closing days. Careful planning is therefore essential, as certain sections of the route may only be hikeable on specific days of the week due to possible hut closing days.

Many long-distance hikers also like to spend an extra day or two on the Tauplitzalm, as this lake plateau with its numerous attractions such as the 6-lake hike or a climb up the Lawinenstein or Großes Tragl lookout mountains is a particularly attractive stopover.

Detailed information about arriving by ÖBB (Austrian Federal Railways) can be found at www.oebb.at or on the Verbundlinie Steiermark website www.busbahnbim.at

With Verbundlinie’s BusBahnBim route planner app, planning your journey has never been easier: simply enter towns and/or addresses, stop names or points of interest to check all bus, train and tram connections in Austria. The app is available free of charge for smartphones – on Google Play and in the App Store

In Tauplitz at the valley station are numerous parking spaces available. The chairlift takes us comfortably up to the Tauplitzalm. Another option is the toll road to the parking lot below the Hollhaus on the Tauplitzalm.

Steiermark Tourismus, Tel. +43 316 4003
www.steiermark.com

Kompass WK 68 Ausseerland, Ennstal, Tauplitz www.kompass.at

Freytag & Berndt WK082 Bad Aussee · Totes Gebirge · Bad Mitterndorf · Tauplitz www.freytagberndt.at