The hike from Arthurhaus (mountain hotel/restaurant) to Erichhütte (mountain hut) is a leisurely excursion at the foot of the Hochkönig Mountains in Salzburg, Austria.
Locals call this trail the Mühlbach High Trail (Mühlbacher Höhenweg in German). It’s also stage 2 of Salzburg Almenweg long-distance trail.
The trail traverses mountain pastures and pockets of forest, passing several Almhütten (alpine pasture huts) along the way, including the “Vier Hütten” (Four Huts).
You can start the hike at either Arthurhaus (paid car park/bus stop) high above Mühlbach am Hochkönig, or at the Erichhütte car park (free car park/bus stop) along the Hochkönigstraße road in Dienten am Hochkönig.
We parked at the Erichhütte car park and took Bus 593 to Arthurhaus and then hiked back to our car. The bus takes 40 minutes and costs 5.10 EUR per person. You can pay the bus driver directly with either cash or card.
You can extend this hike by hiking to the Hochkeil summit and/or the Mitterfeldalm hut from Arthurhaus, or to the Taghaube Peak from Erichhütte.
- Starting Point: Arthurhaus, Mühlbach am Hochkönig | Google Maps
- Ending Point: Erichhütte Car Park | Google Maps
- Distance: 11.2 km point-to-point
- Time Needed: 3:30 hours
- Elevation Gain: 226 meters
- Elevation Loss: 377 meters
- Difficulty: Easy-Moderate
- Minimum Elevation: 1346 meters
- Maximum Elevation: 1593 meters
- Route: Arthurhaus – Windrauchegg Alm – Vier Hütten – Erichhütte – Erichhütte Car Park
- Where to Stay in Mühlbach am Hochkönig: Landhaus Rieding (midrange) Das Grünholz Aparthotel & Restaurant (luxury), Hotel Bergheimat (luxury)
- Where to Stay in Dienten am Hochkönig: The Peak Hochkönig (luxury)
- Where to Stay in Maria Alm: Apartments-Pension Renberg (midrange), or Hotel Eder (luxury)
- Recommended Trail Map: WK 2103 Hochkönig 1:25 000 (Freytag + Berndt)
- Travel Itinerary: 7-Day Austria Road Trip
Arthurhaus to Erichhütte Trail Map
Where to Start the Mühlbach High Trail
You can start this hike at either Arthurhaus or Erichhütte car park. Both destinations have car parks and are accessible by bus. Look up regional bus timetables on Salzburg Verkehr.
Arthurhaus
Parkplatz Arthurhaus is located at the end of the Mandlwandstrasse, high above Mühlbach am Hochkönig.
The Arthurhaus bus stop is located at Arthurhaus.
Car Park Location | Google Maps
Parking Fee | 3 EUR for 1-2 hours, 4 EUR for 2-3 Hours, 6 EUR for 4-5 hours, and 7 EUR for 5-6 hours.
The rate increases by 1 EUR for each hour. The maximum parking fee is 12 EUR for 24 hours.
Payment | Cash Only
Erichhütte Car Park
Parkplatz Erichhütte is located just off the Hochkönigstraße road in Dienten am Hochkönig.
The Erichhütte bus stop is located directly across from the car park.
Car Park Location | Google Maps
Parking Fee | None
Arthurhaus to Erichhütte Hike Description
Arthurhaus to Windrauchegg Alm (25 minutes)
Walk towards the Mandlwand, the gorgeous southeastern flank of the Hochkönig massif.
After passing the Sennerei Schweizerhütte alpine dairy, turn left on the wide gravel track in the direction of Vier Hütten, Windraucheggalm (25 minutes), and Erichhütte (3:30 hours).
The wide track leads west along an enclosed alpine pasture. The main focal point is the limestone Hochkönig peaks, which rise proudly above a belt of forest and rolling pastureland.
Follow the level track through patches of spruce forest and sprawling meadows to the Windrauchegg Alm (1460 m). This charming 135-year-old alpine pasture hut serves homemade meals during the hiking season.
Windrauchegg Alm to Vier Hütten (50 minutes)
The trail continues along the right side of the hut.
Keep hiking west in and out of patches of forest to the mountain pasture above Riedingalm in Riedingtal Valley. Off to the right, you’ll see the Riedingtal waterfalls.
When you reach the crossroads, ignore the road to Riedingalm and head straight in the direction of Vier Hütten (30 minutes) and Erichhütte (2:45 hours).
After crossing a stream bed, the path steadily ascends to a line of beech trees.
Via a turnstile, enter another mountain pasture. The path, now level, crosses a meadow to the Widdersbergalmen. This area is known as the Vier Hütten, which simply means “four huts.”
Follow the road to Schartenalm (private), Molterauhütte (managed), and Brandstatthütte (managed).
The latter two huts serve homemade food throughout the day during the hiking season.
Vier Hütten to Erichhütte (2 hours)
From the Brandstatt hut, follow the narrow trail across the grassy slopes.
The traverse brings you to a basin beneath a formidable wall of limestone. When the path divides, take the upper trail to Erichhütte.
Proceed across the basin covered in thick dwarf pine and bisected by rivers of rock.
The traverse continues through forest and beneath Taghaube.
Views of Hochkönig are lost, but along the way you’ll see the distant peaks of the Grossglockner Group of the Hohe Tauern range, including Grosses Wiesbachhorn (3564 m), Hoher Tenn (3368 m), Bauernbrachkopf (3125 m), and Kitzsteinhorn (3,203).
Finally, a hilltop Gipfelkreuz (summit cross) signals that Erichhütte (1540 m) is nearby. This refuge is usually open from mid/late May until mid/late October.
Cross the pasture down to the hut.
Erichhütte to Erichhütte Car Park (20 minutes)
Follow the gravel road down to the car park.
Where to Stay in the Hochkönig Region
The Hochkönig holiday region encompasses the towns of Mühlbach am Hochkönig, Dienten am Hochkönig, and Maria Alm am Steinernen Meer. Most accommodations provide the Hochkönig Card at no extra charge (June – October).
This guest card gives you free rides on regional transit and cable cars and more. Some accommodations have a minimum stay (2-4 nights depending on the season).
Mühlbach am Hochkönig
Budget | Landhaus Rieding is a guesthouse located on the Riedingalm mountain pasture at the foot of the Hochkönig mountains. If you want to wake up in the mountains, surrounded by beautiful peaks and idyllic pastureland, stay here.
Midrange-Luxury | Das Grünholz Aparthotel & Restaurant is located on Mandlwandstrasse, about halfway between the town center of Mühlbach and Arthurhaus. This family-run aparthotel boasts stunning modern apartments, excellent breakfasts, and spa facilities.
Luxury | Hotel Bergheimat is another hillside hotel between the town center of Mühlbach and Arthurhaus. The room rate includes breakfast, an afternoon snack and dinner. This traditional Austrian hotel offers spacious and comfortable rooms, an indoor swimming pool, and a spa with six saunas.
Luxury | AlpenParks Hotel & Apartment Hochkönig is an aparthotel situated in the town center of Mühlbach. Apartments are well-equipped and tastefully furnished. Perks: free underground parking garage with e-charging stations, free summer children’s program monday-friday (6 years old+), optional breakfast (extra charge).
Look for accommodation in Mühlbach am Hochkönig.
Dienten am Hochkönig
Midrange-luxury Apartments | The Peak Hochkönig is an aparthotel in the town center of Dienten. All apartments are decorated in an alpine-modern style and have fully-equipped kitchens, dining areas, seating areas, and washing machines. Some apartments have saunas. Extra perk: underground parking.
Midrange All-Inclusive | Hotel-Gasthof Salzburger Hof is an all-inclusive, family-friendly hotel in Dienten. Stay here for the excellent food, friendly staff, and children’s facilities and programs (e.g. kid-friendly dinner, supervised summer program for kids ages 4+, play area, library, etc…).
Look for accommodation in Dienten am Hochkönig.
Maria Alm am Steinernen Meer
Luxury | Berg & Spa Hotel Urslauerhof is located in Maria Alm-Hinterthal
Luxury | We stayed at the Eder – Lifestyle Hotel, which is located directly in the village center of Maria Alm. We loved the hotel’s atmosphere, innovative cuisine, and creative design. Here’s our Hotel Eder Review.
Luxury | Jufenalm BOHO Hotel & Restaurant is a stylish hotel with a “boho meets alpine” design concept. Stay here for the interior design, dreamy mountain setting, views of Steinernes Meer, and natural bathing pond and spa. Breakfast is included and you can dine in the hotel’s à la carte restaurant.
Look for accommodation in Maria Alm.
More Salzburg Hiking Trails
Salzburg Hiking Trails:
- Salzburg Hiking Guide
- Filzmoos Hiking Guide
- Lake Tappenkarsee Hike
- Rötelstein Peak Hike
- Hofpürgl Hut to Sulzenalm Circuit Hike
- Bachlalm to Neustadtalm Circuit Hike
- Liechtenstein Gorge
Hiking in Austria:
Austria Hiking-Themed Itineraries:
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How would you get back to your car at the end of the hike? It looks like the buses don’t connect one car park to the other, though each is individually accessible by bus. I would love to do this as a day hike in early September, but me and my significant other are relatively new to hiking, and it’ll be our first time in Austria. Are there no options other than simply turning around? This looks like a lovely hike, and I’m excited to try it!
Hi Dana,
We parked at the Erich hut parking lot and took Bus 593 to Arthurhaus to start the hike and then hiked back to our car following this trail.