Ice Age Nature Trail (Eiszeitlehrpfad)

Characteristics

Skill

Fitness

The tour in numbers

Level of difficulty medium

Route 2,8 km

Time 1:20 h

Uphill 220 hm

Downhill 220 hm

Highest point 1788 m

On this hike along the Ice Age educational trail along the "Roman Road" at the Sölk Pass, you will trace the Ice Age witnesses and learn more about the landscape formed by the Ice Ages at the Sölk Pass. You will also learn a lot about the plants and their strategies for adapting to the harsh climate.

As recently as 15,000 years ago, the Sölktäler Nature Park was covered by an almost 1,000 m thick ice sheet, before the ice masses melted after gradual warming and the devastated landscape was initially covered by sparse tundra vegetation. In the Sölk Pass area in particular, many glacial landscape forms can be recognized.

Best season

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

More information

Turn off the Ennstalstraße B320 at Pruggern (west) or Espang (east) in the direction of the Sölktäler Nature Park.

In Stein/Enns turn off towards Sölkpass, and after about 23 km you will reach the parking lot at Kaltenbachkehre.
Parking lot at the Kaltenbach bend.

In the area of the Sölkpass you can meet free-roaming grazing cattle. Caution is required, especially with dogs.

Weather changes, rapid drop in temperature, thunderstorms, wind, fog and snow fields are objective dangers and require the right behavior on the way. Hut keepers are experienced mountain connoisseurs, they can give good tips on the weather and the course of the trail. Lack of equipment, overestimation of one's own abilities, carelessness, poor physical condition and a wrong assessment can lead to critical situations. During thunderstorms: avoid peaks, ridges and rope belays at all costs.

GPS data and orientation aids: Available GPS data - as well as hiking maps - are only an orientation aid, since they can never represent an exact image or the richness of detail of a path in reality. Especially in the case of danger spots, it must therefore always be decided in the end on the basis of the conditions on site whether and how the further course of the path looks like.

In case of emergency, please dial the following emergency numbers:
No. 140 - for alpine emergencies - Austria-wide
No. 112 - Euro emergency call GSM emergency call service

Take rainproof and warm clothes and enough water, possibly also a snack, wear shoes with non-slip profile soles. A first aid kit should also be in your backpack.

SummitLynx- Your digital summit and hut book - available worldwide and always with you!

In summer, the Sölkpassalmen are open to the public and invite you to take a break.
Hansenalm
Mautneralm
Winkleralm
Kaltenbachalm

Arrival at Stein/Enns train station with ÖBB.
Cab Stefan Mayer: +43 676 54 09 858

Valley bus from July 11 to September 13, 2026 - this makes crossings in the Sölktäler Nature Park possible. You can also travel comfortably by train and the valley bus will take you to the starting point of your hike. Click here for the timetable.

Mountain guides from the region: www.schladming-dachstein.at/mountainguides

For more information, please contact the Schladming Dachstein Tourist Office - Sölktäler Nature Park Information Center:
Phone: +43 3687 23310 501
mailto:info@schladming-dachstein.at
Stein an der Enns 107
8961 Sölk

The brochure “Schladming-Dachstein Hiking” is available in all information offices in the region.