Filzmoos, Salzburg, Austria: Summer and Fall Hiking Guide

Filzmoos is a down-to-earth alpine town in the state of Salzburg in Austria.

Set below the stunning Gosaukamm mountain range of the Dachstein, Filzmoos is an excellent base for hiking in summer and fall. 

Filzmoos perfectly encapsulates everything we love about hiking in Salzburg: charming alpine pasture huts, soaring limestone mountains, and dreamy alpine scenery.

There’s a wide selection of trails around Filzmoos that are accessible, scenic, and utterly enchanting. Some of our favorite day hikes in Austria start in Filzmoos including the Rötelstein peak hike and the Hofpürgl Hut to Sulzenalm circuit hike. 

Furthermore, Filzmoos is well-positioned for day trips to Ramsau am Dachstein (15-minute drive), Schladming (30-minute drive), and Mühlbach am Hochkönig (35-minute drive).

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Filzmoos Map

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Where is Filzmoos

Filzmoos is located in the state of Salzburg, below the Gosaukamm mountain range, in the Austrian Alps.

This alpine town is 83 km (1 hour drive) from Salzburg City, 27 km (30 minutes) from Wagrain, 13 km (15 minutes) from Ramsau am Dachstein, and 21 km (30 minutes) from Schladming.

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When to Visit

The hiking season in Filzmoos starts in early June and ends in early-late October, depending on weather/snow conditions. 

Summer is busy and vibrant. Cows graze freely in the mountain pastures. Everything is open. 

If the weather is stable, October is a beautiful and quiet month to hike in Filzmoos. The surrounding hillsides are covered in larches, which turn vibrant shades of gold and amber in mid-October. 

In late October, many restaurants close and don’t open back up until the winter season (early-mid December). That can make finding a place to eat difficult. The Filzmoos tourist office provides a list of huts, restaurants, and hotels that are open during shoulder-season. 

Related | Summer in Austria and Autumn in Austria

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Where to Stay

Midrange | Bauernhof Krahlehenhof is a traditional farm with double rooms, family rooms, and apartments. Set in an idyllic location, this lovely accommodation offers a wonderful breakfast, a welcoming and authentic atmosphere, and cozy interiors. We ate a delicious dinner here during our last visit to Filzmoos.

Midrange | Das Anja Alt Filzmoos offers rooms and apartments in the heart of Filzmoos. Stay here for the intimate setting, excellent location, and lovely rooms. Guests receive the Filzmoos Sommer Card. 

Top Choice – Luxury | meiZeit Lodge is a tastefully-furnished boutique hotel in the town center of Filzmoos. Stay here for the generous breakfast buffet (included in rate) and relaxing wellness facilities (Finnish pine sauna, bio herbal sauna, infrared relaxation loungers, relaxation zone, and vital drink bar). This charming accommodation also serves a complimentary afternoon cake selection between 3:00 and 5:00 pm. 

Luxury | Hotel Neubergerhof is located on a plateau in the Ski Amadé Ski Area, 6 km from the town center (10-minute drive). The room rate includes breakfast & dinner (half board). Stay here for the quiet surroundings, mountain surroundings, rich breakfast buffet and outstanding multi-course dinner, and friendly staff. Guests have access to an indoor swimming pool, family sauna, and adults-only wellness area (Finnish sauna, bio sauna, steam bath, relaxation room). 

More accommodations in Filzmoos | Haus Ratgeb (budget), or B&B Landhaus Vierthaler (midrange)

Look for accommodation in Filzmoos. 

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4 Best Hikes in Filzmoos

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1. Hofpürgl Hut to Sulzenalm Circuit Hike

This scenic day hike is the ultimate excursion in Filzmoos. It’s a grand circuit tour which runs along the base of Bischofsmütze and Gosaustein in the Dachstein Mountains. 

The hike starts at Hofalm, accessible by bus, or car via the Hofalm toll road.

Hofpürglhütte (1705 m) is a mountain hut located beneath the Bischofsmütze twin peaks.

As you gain elevation, the Gosaukamm/Dachstein range seems to spread its wings like a butterfly. After ascending to Hofpürglhütte (50 minutes), the route follows the Linzerweg (Linzer Steig) across the boulder/rock-filled Kesselwand beneath Bischofsmütze.

The undulating path continues east across graben, spurs, and boulder fields to Rinderfeld, a huge expanse of grass sprawling below the soaring limestone walls. After crossing this gorgeous pasture, the trail drops below the treeline and then zigzags up to the Sulzenschneid Spur. 

After cresting the spur, continue to the highest point, Eiskarlschneid, marked by a summit cross.

The trail descends to the Sulzenhals saddle and wanders through dwarf pine and later larches to reach the rolling pasture area of Sulzenalm. 

Sulzenalm is home to two enticing huts, Wallehenhütte and Krahlehenhütte, which serve delicious meals throughout the day. 

From Sulzenalm, it’s a 45-minute descent to Hofalm. 

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Trail Stats

Trailhead | Hofalm

Distance | 12.9 km circuit

Time Needed | 5:15 hours

Elevation Gain/Loss | 912 meters

Difficulty | Moderate – Moderately Difficult

Learn More: Hofpürgl Hut to Sulzenalm Circuit Hike

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2. Rötelstein Peak Hike

Rötelstein (2247 m), also called Rettenstein, is a mountain northeast of Filzmoos. It stands just south of the Dachstein massif and thus offers one of the most riveting views of the Gosaukamm and Dachstein South Face.

The Rötelstein summit hike is thrilling and demanding. Hikers must be comfortable scrambling and tackling broken rock and scree terrain. 

Starting at the Rettensteinhütte (only open in winter), the trail ascends continuously up forest and pastureland to reach the southwest slope of Rötelstein. For an hour, the trail follows the main crest to the summit, alternating between scrambling and hiking passages. 

It’s an exciting and lengthy approach with great views along the way. The final stretch to the summit unfolds rather magnificently, as you come face to face with Torstein (2948 m), Mitterspitz (2925 m), and Hoher Dachstein (2995 m). 

The hike continues north across the summit of Rötelstein. 

The soft grassy trail turns to loose rock as the path drops steeply down the northeast side of the mountain. Waymarks steer hikes through scrambling passages and across broken rock and scree to the Sulzenhals saddle. 

From the saddle, it’s an easy jaunt to Sulzenalm, where you can grab a bite to eat at Wallehenhütte or Krahlehenhütte. The Kaiserschmarrn is sensation at both huts.

At the trail junction across from Krahlehenhütte, turn left. The trail wraps around the Mandlinghofalm pasture, backed by the iconic Bischofsmütze – the twin peaks shaped like a bishop’s hat/mitre. 

The way to Rettensteinhütte passes easily through forest and meadows. The final leg follows a forest road and ultimately a paved road back to the starting point. 

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Trail Stats

Trailhead | Rettensteinhütte car park

Distance | 9.8 km circuit

Time Needed | 5 hours

Elevation Gain/Loss | 937 meters

Difficulty | Difficult

Learn More: Rötelstein Peak Hike

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3. Bachlalm and Neustattalm Circuit Hike

This blissfully easy circuit trail meanders through forest and across dreamy pastures at the foot of the Dachstein South Face. 

It’s a great option for arrival and departure days, when you’re craving fresh air but nothing too strenuous. 

The hike starts at the Bachlalm car park, which is located along the Filzmooser Strasse, between Filzmoos and Ramsau am Dachstein. 

Follow the private Bachlalm access road up to Schaidlalm mountain pasture. Detour to Bachlalm and then continue through patches of forest and wide-open meadows to reach the Neustadtalm mountain pasture. 

The circuit continues to Glösalm restaurant/inn and then follows the Dureggrundweg trail down to Dachsteinruhe and the Bachlalm car park. 

Tip: You can also hike to Neustadtalm from Ramsau am Dachstein via the 5 huts trail.

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Trail Stats

Trailhead | Bachlalm Car Park

Distance | 10.4 km circuit

Time Needed | 3:45 hours

Elevation Gain/Loss | 588 meters

Difficulty | Easy

Learn More: Bachlalm to Neustattalm Circuit Hike

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4. Papagenobahn to Radstädter Hütte

From the village center, take the Papageno gondola (Papageno-Gondelbahn) to Schörgi Alm.

The Papageno-Gondelbahn ride is included in the SalzburgerLand Card, which is a 6-day or 12-day tourist card that grants guests free or discounted access to 190 attractions across the state of Salzburg. 

From the gondola summit station, walk one hour to the mountain hut Radstädter Hütte (1770 m). As you hike along the trail, it looks like the whole Gosaukamm / Dachstein mountain range is a magazine layout, and you’re walking across it.

From the mountain station, you can either take the wide dirt road or a narrow forest trail in the direction of Radstädter Hütte. The views are better from the road, but the forest trail is more interesting. We hiked this as a loop, opting for the road at first.

After about 20 minutes, you’ll reach a signed intersection, where a hiking path departs from the main road. Take the trail. From Radstädter Hütte, you’ll be met with sublime views of the Radstädter Tauern mountain range, Schladminger Tauern, Dachstein, and more.

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Trail Stats

Trailhead | Papageno Gondola mountain station

Distance | 7 km out-and-back

Time Needed | 2:10 hours

Elevation Gain/Loss | 185 meters

Difficulty | Easy

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More Austria Hiking and Travel Guides

Salzburg Hiking:

• Lake Tappenkarsee Hike
• Mühlbach High Trail 
• Hochkeil and Troiboden Lake
• Taghaube Peak Hike
• Liechtenstein Gorge

Austria Hiking:

• Best Day Hikes in Austria

Hiking-Themed Road Trips:

• 1 Week Austria Road Trip – starting in Salzburg or Munich 
• 10-Day Bavarian Alps & Tyrolean Alps Road Trip – starting in Munich 

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