This spellbinding day hike is the ultimate excursion in Filzmoos, Salzburg, Austria. It’s a grand circuit tour which runs along the base of the Bischofsmütze and Gosaustein in the Dachstein Mountains.
Along this route, you will visit the Hofpürglhütte mountain hut, the Rinderfeld meadows, the Sulzenschneid/Eiskarlschneid spur summit, and the Sulzenalm mountain pasture. The whole hike is wondrous and unfolds beautifully.
This Filzmoos hike starts at Hofalm in Hinterwinkl valley. Hofalm is accessible by car via a toll road, or by bus (seasonal).
Though this hike is mostly a moderate one, it’s somewhat tiring because of the continuous rises and falls throughout. Hikers should be confident crossing boulder fields.
It’s possible to shorten the route by ascending from Hofalm to Rinderfeld via trail 617a/617 and then continuing on to Sulzenhals saddle.
- Trailhead: Hofalm | Google Maps
- Distance: 12.9 km circuit
- Time Needed: 5:15 hours
- Difficulty: Moderately Difficult
- Elevation Gain/Loss: 912 meters
- Minimum Elevation: 1259 meters
- Maximum Elevation: 1990 meters
- Route: Hofalm – Hofpürglhütte – Rinderfeld – Sulzenschneid/Eiskarlschneid – Sulzenhals – Wallehenhütte (Sulzenalm) – Hofalm
- When to Hike: June – October, depending on weather/snow conditions
- Weather Forecast and Webcam: Bergfex Weather Filzmoos
- Where to Stay in Filzmoos: Bauernhof Krahlehenhof (midrange), Das Anja Alt Filzmoos (midrange), or meiZeit Lodge (luxury)
- Recommended Trail Map: Dachstein WK 0281 1:50 000 (Freytag & Berndt)
- Recommended Itinerary: 2-Week Austria Road Trip
Hofpürgl Hut to Sulzenalm Trail Map
How to Get to Hofalm
Car
From Filzmoos, drive north to Hofalm via the Hofalm toll road.
At the toll booth (Mautstelle), someone will collect payment. If no one is operating the booth, use the machine to purchase the toll. Once the payment is processed, the gate automatically opens.
Toll Prices | Current toll fee
Payment | Cash Only
Drive to Hofalm | Drve 4.3 km to Hofalm. About 3 km from the toll booth, the road divides. You can either drive left to the Unterhofalm car park or right to the Oberhofalm car park. Both roads lead to Hofalm, but the Unterhofalm car park is closer to the trailhead.
Bus
The FIDIBUS Sommer bus (Wanderbus) connects Filzmoos with Hofalm.
Bus Ticket | You can purchase your ticket from the bus driver.
This bus is free for Filzmoos Sommer Card holders.
Timetable | The Fidibus (Wanderbus) is operating daily from May until late October. Download the current Fidibus Summer timetable, or ask the Filzmoos tourist office for the “Wanderbus Fahrplan.”
Hofalm – Hofpürglhütte – Rinderfeld – Eiskarlschneid – Sulzenalm Trail Description
Hofalm to Hofpürglhütte (50 minutes)
From the car park at Unterhofalm, pass the stables and follow trail 612 north to Hofpürglhütte.
After crossing a rocky stream bed, the trail ascends up grassy slopes and pockets of larch forest.
With elevation gain, the path wanders up dwarf pine and views open up to Sammetkogel (2049 m), Hohes Kreuz (2837 m), Hochkesselkopf (2453 m), and Torstein (2948 m).
Shortly before reaching the mountain hut, there’s a junction. Make a sharp right onto the Linzerweg (Linzer Steig).
Or, detour to Hofpürglhütte, the mountain hut which stands on a grassy ridge, for refreshments and/or toilets. This refuge is usually open from early June until early October.
Hofpürglhütte to Rinderfeld (1:30 hours)
Follow the Linzerweg/Linzer Steig northeast, in the direction of Rinderfeld (1:30 hours) and Sulzenhals (3 hours).
Below the Bischofsmütze, the trail traverses a large scree basin on its way up to Kesselwand, a minor hill.
The route takes you up and over a dwarf-pine-covered spur to reach the Kesselwand trail junction (1750 m). Ignore the trail to Steiglpass.
Continue on the lower trail to Rinderfeld, signed 1 hour (trails 601/617). After an easy jaunt across a meadow, the trail rises and falls continuously. You’ll cross several graben, which look like stone rivers tumbling down from the mountains.
After a stream crossing, the trail descends and then traverses grass and scree slopes. The trail then rolls down to a boulder slope. Cross this sea of rock to reach the grassy meadow area of Rinderfeld.
Unteres Rinderfeld to Eiskarlschneid (1:30 hours)
From the Unteres Rinderfeld (Lower Rinderfeld) junction, it’s possible to head down to Oberhofalm and Unterhofalm, signed 50 minutes.
Unless the weather takes a bad turn, ignore the turn-off and continue in the direction of Sulzenhals (Trails 601/617), signed 2 hours.
The trail crosses the meadow and then climbs up to the higher pasture area of Rinderfeld. At the Rinderfeld signed junction (1760 m), take the right trail to Sulzenhals.
Rinderfeld can be very muddy. The trail wanders off to the right, away from the cluster of boulders, gathered at the foot of the towering limestone walls.
After crossing the meadow, the trail descends amid larch, dwarf pine, and alpenrose. Fortunately, not too much elevation is lost.
When you emerge from the forest, you’ll see the Sulzenschneid spur.
The path zigzags up the spur slope for about 20 minutes.
When you crest, turn left and follow the grassy path to the Sulzenschneid junction (1950 m) and onwards to the Gipfelkreuz (peak cross) at Eiskarlschneid (1990 m).
The Sulzenschneid/Eiskarlschneid summit offers panoramic views of the Bischofsmütze and Gosaustein.
Eiskarlschneid to Sulzenhals (15 minutes)
Facing the north slope of the isolated Rötelstein mountain, hike down to the Sulzenhals saddle (1827 m). The Rötelstein summit is a riveting hike, though best tackled separately.
Sulzenhals to Sulzenalm (30 minutes)
At the saddle, turn right to Sulzenalm.
The trail gently descends through dwarf pine and larches to reach a sloping pasture area.
With views of Bischofsmütze, cross the meadow to the Wallehenhütte (1608 m) hut at Sulzenalm.
Eat lunch here, or at Krahlehenhütte, the alpine pasture hut just below.
These huts are cash only.
If the weather is stable, both huts stay open until the end of October. They usually open in June.
Sulzenalm to Hofalm (45 – 50 minutes)
Follow the gravel road in the direction of Filzmoos. Shortly after passing two private huts, the trail to Hofalm branches off to the right.
Cross the rolling pasture in the direction of Bischofsmütze.
The final leg twists down steeply to Hinterwinkl.
When you reach level ground, follow the wide track to the farm road. Turn left on the road.
At the next trail intersection, you can either turn left to Hofalm, or turn right in order to detour to the alpine chapel, Kapelle Maria am Steinegg’l, and Almsee Lake.
Where to Stay in Filzmoos
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), B&B Landhaus Vierthaler (midrange)
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