Stage 16 From Glacier to Wine South Route Salzstiegl - Pack

Characteristics

Skill

Fitness

The tour in numbers

Level of difficulty medium

Route 19,1 km

Time 6:00 h

Uphill 391 hm

Downhill 816 hm

Highest point 1879 m

This stage of the Hiking Trail From Glacier to Wine is a panoramic high-altitude hike with only moderate elevation changes. Together with the following stage, it marks the transition from the alpine landscapes of Hochsteiermark to the rolling wine country of southern Steiermark.

While the route initially traverses wide alpine pastures and open mountain terrain, the scenery gradually begins to change. Step by step, the rugged Alpine landscape gives way to gentler hills and cultivated countryside, offering the first glimpses of the Styrian wine country that awaits further south.

Perhaps the best-known ambassadors of the Lipizzanerheimat region, through which the route now passes, are the world-famous Lipizzaner horses bred at the Federal Stud Piber.

Here is a special tip for those with an extra day to spare: stay an additional night at the Moasterhaus (Tel. +43 3141 2160) on the Salzstiegl and visit the young Lipizzaner stallions on their summer pastures on the Stubalm.

To reach them, follow the North–South Trail 05 for just under 6 kilometres northwards to the Gasthof Altes Almhaus on the Stubalm. From early June until early September, around 50 young stallions, aged between one and three years, spend the summer months grazing on the alpine pastures at an altitude of 1,500 metres above sea level.

Their time on the mountain pastures is an important part of their development, helping them build the surefootedness, strength, and stamina required for their future role at the Spanish Riding School and the Federal Stud Piber.

Please note: When observing the horses, keep a respectful distance and allow the animals the peace and space they need in their natural surroundings.

Best season

January

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More information

Detaillierte Informationen zur Anreise finden Sie hier.

The first few hundred metres of this stage of the Hiking Trail From Glacier to Wine follow the same route as the previous stage from Obdach to the Salzstiegl. At the junction on the Hahnsattel, we continue straight ahead on the North–South Trail 05 and cross a shallow mountain basin before reaching the Peterer Sattel at 1,745 metres above sea level.

From here onwards, the route follows the border between Styria and Carinthia, accompanied by magnificent views across both provinces in southern Austria.

The trail skirts the Peterer Riegel (1,967 metres) to the east and, after just under two hours, reaches the Bartholomäalm, a beautiful place to pause for a rest and the highest point of today's stage. From there, the route continues gently downhill along the Styrian–Carinthian border towards the Hirscheggeralm.

One of the highlights of this section is the remarkable Stone Ovens (Steinöfen), a collection of unusual rock formations shaped by natural forces over thousands of years. Along the way, the Bernsteinhütte (Tel. +43 676 6851267) and the Knödelhütte (Tel. +43 664 2449643) provide welcome opportunities for refreshments.

From here, only about 3 kilometres remain to the stage destination, the idyllic village of Pack, a popular destination for outdoor recreation. In addition to numerous hiking opportunities, the nearby Packer Stausee offers a refreshing place to swim during the summer months.

As an alternative, hikers can arrange a pick-up service from the Moasterhaus (Tel. +43 3141 2160) at the Salzstiegl and spend another night there. The following morning, a complimentary shuttle service can bring guests either back to Pack or directly to the Hebalmsee, if desired. This option shortens the next stage to approximately 12 kilometres.

In the Thermen- & Vulkanland region of Styria, Eastern Styria and Southern and Western Styria, the GenussCard opens the door to over 200 excursion destinations when you stay overnight in one of the approximately 100 GenussCard partner establishments. Countless of these GenussCard excursion destinations, ranging from culinary manufactories to bathing lakes and museums, are located directly on the hiking route "From Glacier to Wine".

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

At the Salzstiegl there are numerous parking spaces available at the central hiking starting point.

Steiermark Tourismus

Tel. +43 316 4003

info@steiermark.com

www.steiermark.com/en

If you would like to hire a tour operator, simply book with Steiermark Touristik, the official travel agency of Steiermark Tourismus:

Tel. +43 316 4003 450,

www.steiermark-touristik.com

The Steiermark Touren app, available free of charge on Google Play and the App Store (Android, iOS), offers detailed first-hand information: brief facts (length, duration, difficulty, ascent and descent/elevation gain, ratings), map, route descriptions, altimeter, compass, peak finder, navigation along the tour. You can also create your own personal lists of favourite tours and sites, store tours and destinations offline, use social media channels, and much more.

Gratis Pocket Card Wanderroute "Vom Gletscher zum Wein" finden Sie auf www.steiermark.com

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

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

Rother Wanderführer "Vom Gletscher zum Wein": auf 160 Seiten mit 80 Farbabbildungen 60 Höhenprofile, 60 Wanderkärtchen im Maßstab 1:75.000, zwei Übersichtskarten, GPS-Tracks zum Download, Format 11,5 x 16,5 cm, kartoniert mit Polytex-Laminierung, ISBN 978-3-7633-4550-2, www.rother.de