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Kalkalpen Trail – a new destination every day
© TVB Pyhrn-Priel Habe
Staring from Reichraming in the Enns valley, the route leads over the Sengsengebirge mountains to Windischgarsten, on to Spital am Pyhrn and via the Tote Gebirge mountain range to Hinterstoder. The trail leads over mountains and through valleys passing the most beautiful spots of the region. Some of the highlights are the heights of the Gamsstein and Kleinerberg mountains, the Gowialm pasture with stunning panoramic views and the natural spectacle of the steep Dr. Vogelgesang-Gorge as well as the Strumboding waterfalls.
The stages in overview:
1| Visitors Centre Enns Valley – Ennser Alpine Hut
Theme: The River Enns
Walking time: 4:30 hours
Length of tour: 11,70 km
Ascent: 920 m
Descent: 20 m
The first stage leads from the national park visitors centre in Großraming in the depth of the forest of the Upper Austrian Kalkalpen mountain range to the Reichraminger Hintergebirge mountain range. The route leads through the heart of the former „Eisenwurzen“ , a former industrial area on iron production, up to the cosy Ennser Hut.
2| Ennser Hut – Anlaufalm Pasture
Theme: Cultural Landscape
Walking time: 6:30 hours
Length of tour: 17,20 km
Ascent: 850 m
Descent: 1.120 m
The second part presents the cultural landscape at the edge of wilderness. The path leads from the viewpoint of the Gamssteins (1.275m) via the idyllic Gschwendtalm pastures to the isolated wood cutter’s village Brunnbach to the area of the Anlaufalm pastures, where the second base of the Kalkalpen trail is situated.
3| Anlaufalm Pasture – Ebenforstalm Pasture
Theme: Wilderness and Wild Animals – Tracks
Walking time: 5:00 hours
Length of tour: 15,40 km
Ascent: 635 m
Descent: 520 m
Nr 3 of the verstatile trail could also be under the motto of “Water, Forest and Wilderness”. Across the Reichraminger Hintergebirge mountain range, which was saved from intended large power stations, the trail leads to the hospitable Ebenforstalm pasture.
4| Ebenforstalm Pasture - Windischgarsten
Theme: The Eagle
Walking time: 7:00 hours
Length of tour: 18,50 km
Ascent: 650 m
Descent: 1.140 m
At the eastern end of the Sengsengebirge mountain range you will find a dense forests surrounding the spring area of the “Krumme Steyrling”. Once you get to the 21m high Panorama Tower at the Wurbauerkogel situated above the Windischgarsten valley, you can enjoy best views of the entire region, with 21 peaks of 2000 m and more. Also worth visiting is the interesting exhibition “Fascination Rock“.
5| Windischgarsten – Gowilalm Pasture
Theme: Geology
Walking time: 4:00 hours
Length of tour: 11,90 km
Ascent: 800 m
Descent: 20 m
Day 5 presents you with details on the alpine world. During your ascent to the Gowilalm pasture, at the foot of the Small Pyhrgas mountain, you will find some interesting geological details – like the „rip-marks“, the fossilized wavey tracks of primeval beaches. Todays destination, the Gowialm pastrue 1.375m of altitude is known as a culinary inside tip!
6| Gowilalm Pasture - Spital am Pyhrn
Theme: Pastures – Water Gorges
Walking time: 5:00 hours
Length of tour: 14,50 km
Ascent: 460 m
Descent: 1.090 m
Over mountains and into gorges! After you have strolled along Upper Austria’s most beautiful “alpine balcony”, you will walk down the second longest accessible gorge in Upper Austria, the Dr. Vogelgesang-Gorge to Spital am Pyhrn. The former hospice at the foot of a mountain pass houses great art treasures.
7| Spital am Pyhrn – Dümlerhütte Alpine Hut
Theme: 2 Millionen Years in 2 Hours
Walking time: 6:00 hours
Length of tour: 16,80 km
Ascent: 990 m
Descent: 180 m
At the foot of the 2.388 m high Warscheneck mountain you will visit the largest high and low moor of the eastern Kalkalpen mountain range – the Wurzeralm. You will quickly reach the mountain station with Europe’s fastest funicular, where the new Theme Trail „2 Mio. Years in 2 Hours“ is waiting to be explored. After a short side trip to the Brunnensteiner lake your descent leads you to the Dümlerhütte alpine hut in stunning position.
8| Dümlerhütte Alpine Hut – Zellerhütte Alpine Hut
Theme: Alpine Animals – Hunting & Game
Walking time: 3:30 hours
Length of tour: 10,70 km
Ascent: 550 m
Descent: 460 m
Along the 8th stage of the Kalkalpen trail, passing the Windhager lake close to Vorderstoder to the Zellerhütte alpine hut at the northern drop of the Warscheneck mountain, you can listen to over 80 bird species. You might also be able to detect one of the tracks of the over 50 mammal species living in the area.
9| Zellerhütte Alpine Hut – Edtbauernalm Pasture
Theme: Rock & Panorama
Walking time: 4:30 hours
Length of tour: 12,80 km
Ascent: 600 m
Descent: 810 m
The view onto the alpine prominent shapes of the Tote Gebirge mountain range, with the Small Priel, Large Priel and Spitzmauer peak, is a highlight for all hikers at heart. While a swim at the Schafferteich pond could be a welcome refreshment after your descent, the culinary stop at the Steyrsbergerreith hut during your ascent to the Edtbauernalm pasture at the Hütterer Höss offers a welcome rest. With the “alpine prominence” of the Tote Gebirge mountain range in view, you continue along one of Upper Austria’s highest alpine villages - Vorderstoder – to the Edtbauernalm pasture and hut at the Hutterer Böden.
10| Edtbauernalm pasture - Hinterstoder
Theme: Alpinism
Walking time: 4:30 hours
Lenght of tour: 15,70 km
Ascent: 160 m
Descent: 920 m
The development of the 10th base is the theme of today’s stage. The World-Cup-Village Hinterstoder lies at the centre of tradition and tourism. All of which is well documented at the Alpineum, a modern museum. Situated in front of the impressive backdrop of the Tote Gebirge mountain range, you will end your day at the Schiederweiher pond. The 10th stage leads from the Hutterer Böden down via the Weißenbach valley, past the Polsterlucke and Schiederweiher, into the world cup village of Hinterstoder.
11| Hinterstoder - St. Pankraz
Theme: Flötzersteig
Walking time: 3:00 hours
Length of tour: 12,60 km
Ascent: 60 m
Descent: 150 m
The finale of the Kalkalpen trail leads along the Flötzersteig in the Stoder valley. Past relicts of wood cutter’s times, along the Strumboding water fall, you will walk along the river Steyr until you reach the country inn Steyrbrücke in St. Pankraz. The unique poacher’s museum situated next to the inn is an appropriate end for the 150 km long distance trail.
For detailled informationen on the Kalkalpen trail, got to www.kalkalpenweg.at.
The stages in overview:
1| Visitors Centre Enns Valley – Ennser Alpine Hut
Theme: The River Enns
Walking time: 4:30 hours
Length of tour: 11,70 km
Ascent: 920 m
Descent: 20 m
The first stage leads from the national park visitors centre in Großraming in the depth of the forest of the Upper Austrian Kalkalpen mountain range to the Reichraminger Hintergebirge mountain range. The route leads through the heart of the former „Eisenwurzen“ , a former industrial area on iron production, up to the cosy Ennser Hut.
2| Ennser Hut – Anlaufalm Pasture
Theme: Cultural Landscape
Walking time: 6:30 hours
Length of tour: 17,20 km
Ascent: 850 m
Descent: 1.120 m
The second part presents the cultural landscape at the edge of wilderness. The path leads from the viewpoint of the Gamssteins (1.275m) via the idyllic Gschwendtalm pastures to the isolated wood cutter’s village Brunnbach to the area of the Anlaufalm pastures, where the second base of the Kalkalpen trail is situated.
3| Anlaufalm Pasture – Ebenforstalm Pasture
Theme: Wilderness and Wild Animals – Tracks
Walking time: 5:00 hours
Length of tour: 15,40 km
Ascent: 635 m
Descent: 520 m
Nr 3 of the verstatile trail could also be under the motto of “Water, Forest and Wilderness”. Across the Reichraminger Hintergebirge mountain range, which was saved from intended large power stations, the trail leads to the hospitable Ebenforstalm pasture.
4| Ebenforstalm Pasture - Windischgarsten
Theme: The Eagle
Walking time: 7:00 hours
Length of tour: 18,50 km
Ascent: 650 m
Descent: 1.140 m
At the eastern end of the Sengsengebirge mountain range you will find a dense forests surrounding the spring area of the “Krumme Steyrling”. Once you get to the 21m high Panorama Tower at the Wurbauerkogel situated above the Windischgarsten valley, you can enjoy best views of the entire region, with 21 peaks of 2000 m and more. Also worth visiting is the interesting exhibition “Fascination Rock“.
5| Windischgarsten – Gowilalm Pasture
Theme: Geology
Walking time: 4:00 hours
Length of tour: 11,90 km
Ascent: 800 m
Descent: 20 m
Day 5 presents you with details on the alpine world. During your ascent to the Gowilalm pasture, at the foot of the Small Pyhrgas mountain, you will find some interesting geological details – like the „rip-marks“, the fossilized wavey tracks of primeval beaches. Todays destination, the Gowialm pastrue 1.375m of altitude is known as a culinary inside tip!
6| Gowilalm Pasture - Spital am Pyhrn
Theme: Pastures – Water Gorges
Walking time: 5:00 hours
Length of tour: 14,50 km
Ascent: 460 m
Descent: 1.090 m
Over mountains and into gorges! After you have strolled along Upper Austria’s most beautiful “alpine balcony”, you will walk down the second longest accessible gorge in Upper Austria, the Dr. Vogelgesang-Gorge to Spital am Pyhrn. The former hospice at the foot of a mountain pass houses great art treasures.
7| Spital am Pyhrn – Dümlerhütte Alpine Hut
Theme: 2 Millionen Years in 2 Hours
Walking time: 6:00 hours
Length of tour: 16,80 km
Ascent: 990 m
Descent: 180 m
At the foot of the 2.388 m high Warscheneck mountain you will visit the largest high and low moor of the eastern Kalkalpen mountain range – the Wurzeralm. You will quickly reach the mountain station with Europe’s fastest funicular, where the new Theme Trail „2 Mio. Years in 2 Hours“ is waiting to be explored. After a short side trip to the Brunnensteiner lake your descent leads you to the Dümlerhütte alpine hut in stunning position.
8| Dümlerhütte Alpine Hut – Zellerhütte Alpine Hut
Theme: Alpine Animals – Hunting & Game
Walking time: 3:30 hours
Length of tour: 10,70 km
Ascent: 550 m
Descent: 460 m
Along the 8th stage of the Kalkalpen trail, passing the Windhager lake close to Vorderstoder to the Zellerhütte alpine hut at the northern drop of the Warscheneck mountain, you can listen to over 80 bird species. You might also be able to detect one of the tracks of the over 50 mammal species living in the area.
9| Zellerhütte Alpine Hut – Edtbauernalm Pasture
Theme: Rock & Panorama
Walking time: 4:30 hours
Length of tour: 12,80 km
Ascent: 600 m
Descent: 810 m
The view onto the alpine prominent shapes of the Tote Gebirge mountain range, with the Small Priel, Large Priel and Spitzmauer peak, is a highlight for all hikers at heart. While a swim at the Schafferteich pond could be a welcome refreshment after your descent, the culinary stop at the Steyrsbergerreith hut during your ascent to the Edtbauernalm pasture at the Hütterer Höss offers a welcome rest. With the “alpine prominence” of the Tote Gebirge mountain range in view, you continue along one of Upper Austria’s highest alpine villages - Vorderstoder – to the Edtbauernalm pasture and hut at the Hutterer Böden.
10| Edtbauernalm pasture - Hinterstoder
Theme: Alpinism
Walking time: 4:30 hours
Lenght of tour: 15,70 km
Ascent: 160 m
Descent: 920 m
The development of the 10th base is the theme of today’s stage. The World-Cup-Village Hinterstoder lies at the centre of tradition and tourism. All of which is well documented at the Alpineum, a modern museum. Situated in front of the impressive backdrop of the Tote Gebirge mountain range, you will end your day at the Schiederweiher pond. The 10th stage leads from the Hutterer Böden down via the Weißenbach valley, past the Polsterlucke and Schiederweiher, into the world cup village of Hinterstoder.
11| Hinterstoder - St. Pankraz
Theme: Flötzersteig
Walking time: 3:00 hours
Length of tour: 12,60 km
Ascent: 60 m
Descent: 150 m
The finale of the Kalkalpen trail leads along the Flötzersteig in the Stoder valley. Past relicts of wood cutter’s times, along the Strumboding water fall, you will walk along the river Steyr until you reach the country inn Steyrbrücke in St. Pankraz. The unique poacher’s museum situated next to the inn is an appropriate end for the 150 km long distance trail.
For detailled informationen on the Kalkalpen trail, got to www.kalkalpenweg.at.
