Stage 15 From Glacier to Wine South Route Obdach - Salzstiegl

Accessible by public transport

Public bus (within 15 minutes walking distance from starting point)

Characteristics

Skill

Fitness

The tour in numbers

Level of difficulty medium

Route 17,6 km

Time 6:30 h

Uphill 1142 hm

Downhill 466 hm

Highest point 1993 m

This stage of the Hiking Trail From Glacier to Wine leads from the idyllic market town of Obdach in the Zirbenland region to the uplands of the Salzstiegl. Along the way, the route joins both the Koralm Crystal Trail and the North–South Trail 05, one of the ten official long-distance hiking trails maintained by the Austrian Alpine Association.

Along the Koralm Crystal Trail, which accompanies us at the end of this stage and throughout the following stages of the Hiking Trail From Glacier to Wine, we follow the traces of a former supercontinent.

Around 300 million years ago, the predecessors of today's continents were joined together to form the supercontinent Pangaea, and the Koralm lay at the very heart of these immense geological processes. The rocks that shape the Koralm today are even older. Over millions of years, they were repeatedly transformed and compressed as the landmasses that would later become Africa and Eurasia drifted apart and collided again. Finally, the glaciers of the Ice Age gave the landscape its present appearance.

These ancient rocks, shaped by enormous geological forces, have weathered into striking formations that can be found throughout the Koralm region. They not only fascinate geologists but also provide popular photo opportunities and offer a glimpse into the powerful natural processes that have shaped this landscape over hundreds of millions of years.

An excellent introduction to the geology of the region can be found at the Geopark Glashütten, which awaits at the end of Stage 17 on our journey from the Dachstein to the wine country of southern Steiermark.

Best season

January

February

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More information

Detailed information on how to get to Obdach can be found here.

Our stage begins in Obdach, which was first mentioned in historical records in 1190 and was granted market-town status in 1324. Today, the town is characterised by an attractive historic centre with several well-preserved buildings that bear witness to its former importance as a regional trading hub. Thanks to its location on the route across the Obdacher Sattel, Obdach once played a significant role in regional commerce. With its compact market square, the gate tower at the southern end of the town, and its broad historic houses, Obdach remains a culturally and historically fascinating medieval market town.

Leaving Obdach, we follow the same Styrian Circular Hiking Trail as the Hiking Trail From Glacier to Wine, passing farmsteads and secluded yet beautifully situated homes on our way to the Weißensteinhütte (Tel. +43 664 2439459; open from June to September, closed on Mondays and Tuesdays). After gaining a little over 800 metres in elevation, the hut provides a welcome opportunity for a well-earned break and refreshments.

A few hundred metres beyond the Weißensteinhütte, we reach a junction where we leave the Styrian Circular Hiking Trail and keep left towards the Speikkogel at 1,993 metres above sea level. This summit is considered one of the finest viewpoints between the Zirbenland and the Lipizzanerheimat region to the east.

From here, the remaining 3 kilometres of the stage are mostly downhill. East of the Speikkogel, we soon join the North–South Trail 05, which also forms part of the Via Alpina on this section.

To reach our destination, the Salzstiegl, we turn left and continue along a gently ascending path to the Salzstieglhaus (Tel. +43 3141 2248), located on the pass of the same name that connects the Murtal with the Lipizzanerheimat.

As an alternative to staying at the Salzstieglhaus, the nearby Moasterhaus (Tel. +43 3141 2160), a member of the Wanderhotels Steiermark network, offers accommodation for overnight stays as well as longer hiking holidays.

The following day, the route continues to Pack, our next stage destination.

Accessible by train and bus: 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 Obdach there are numerous parking spaces available in the center of the village.

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

Kompass WK219 Lavanttal, Saualpe, Koralpe www.kompass.at

Freytag & Berndt WK212 Seetaler Alpen · Seckauer Alpen · Judenburg · Knittelfeld www.freytagberndt.at