The Schladminger Tauern High Trail (Hรถhenweg in German) is an epic multi-day hike in the Austrian Alps in Austria. The trail runs along the summits and ridges of the Schladminger Tauern mountains and drops into idyllic valleys and alpine cirques.
Itโs a challenging hut-to-hut hike that rewards you with panoramic views of alpine lakes, near and far mountains, picturesque meadowscapes, and cascading waterfalls.
This hut-to-hut hike in Styria (Steiermark in German) is typically completed in 5, or 7 days.
During the trek, youโll stay in charming mountain huts in either a Lager (dormitory-style room), or a private room. Each hut serves hearty Austrian cuisine for lunch and dinner as well as a simple buffet breakfast.
This trail begins with the Gipfelbahn Hochwurzen cableway ascent and ends with the Planai Seilbahn cableway descent. You do not need to purchase cableway tickets in advance.
Our 5-Day Schladminger Tauern High Trail Trek
Day 1 | Hochwurzen Cableway Mountain Station โ Giglachseen โ Ignaz-Mattis Hรผtte or Giglachseehรผtte (11.3 km, 6:30 hours)
Day 2 | Giglachseen โ Keinprechthรผtte (6.3 km, 3:30 hours)
Day 3 | Keinprechthรผtte โ Gollinghรผtte (9.1 km, 6 hours)
Day 4 | Gollinghรผtte โ Preintalerhรผtte (7.7 km, 6 hours)
Day 5 | Preintalerhรผtte โ Planai Seilbahn Mountain Station (11.3 km, 7 hours)
Note | The Schladming-Dachstein Tourist Office have re-routed stage 5 to Hans-Wรถdl-Hรผtte in Seewigtal valley via the Hรถfertsteig trail. We think they did this for two reasons; it’s an easier route and they wanted to include the Hans-Wรถdl-Hรผtte in the official trail. Honestly, we loved the original stage 5, which follows the challenging Planai Hรถhenweg.
We wrote this Schladminger Tauern High Trail trekking guide based on our personal experience. Keep in mind that things can change over time: trail difficulty, accessibility, and routing (due to rock falls, landslides, avalanches) and hut management (reservation system, hospitality, payment, food quality, etcโฆ). Please do your due diligence before tackling this route.

- When to Hike: July, August, or September
- Weather Forecast and Webcam: Bergfex Weather Schladming
- Where to Stay: Mountain Huts only. Camping is strictly prohibited.
- How to Book the Schladminger Tauern High Trail: Independently (Instructions below) or Schladminger Tauern High Trail Hiking Package. If you want to book a self-guided trek, check out these alternative trails: 6-Day Hut to Hut Light in the Austrian Alps (kid-friendly), 8 Day Culinary Delight Hut Hiking Tour, and 3 Day Culinary Delight Extended Weekend Hiking.
- Overnight Hut Discounts: Discounts are administered to guests with Alpine Club ID cards on which the logo of the reciprocal rights agreement is printed. Learn more about alpine club membership in Tips for Hiking in the Alps.
- What to Pack: Cash, sleeping bag liner (e.g. Sea to Summit liner). Read our Hut to Hut Hiking Packing List.
- Trail Map: KOMPASS Set 293 Schladminger Tauern 1:25 000
- Tips for Hut Hiking in Austria: Read Hut to Hut Hiking in Austria: Essential Tips and Visiting Austrian Mountain Huts
- Vocab:ย German Hiking Vocabulary
- Where to Stay Before/After the Trek: TUI BLUE Schladming (budget-midrange), or Stadthotel Brunner (luxury) in Schladming
Schladminger Tauern High Trail Map
TREK STAGES
Where to Stay
Alternative Stage 1
Stage 1
Stage 2
Stage 3
Stage 4
Stage 5
How to Book the Schladminger Tauern High Trail Hut-to-Hut Hike
You can book the Schladminger Tauern High Trail independently, whereby you must book each mountain hut along the trail individually.
Alternatively, you can book the complete trek with the Schladming Tourist Office here.
Itโs important to make reservations for overnight stays in huts several months in advance. You may be able to book more short-term, if you have a flexible start date.
For more information about booking huts, read our guide to visiting Austrian Mountain Huts. For information about pricing, hut etiquette, joining the Austrian Alpine Club, helpful German phrases to know for hiking in Austria, read hut to hut hiking in Austria.
Arrival Day | Stay in Schladming at TUI BLUE Schladming (budget-midrange), or Stadthotel Brunner (luxury).
Stage 1 | Ignaz-Mattis Hรผtte – Online Reservation via hut-reservation.org, or Giglachseehรผtte – Reservation Request Form
Stage 2 | Keinprechthรผtte – Online Reservation via hut-reservation.org
Stage 3 | Gollinghรผtte – Online Reservation via hut-reservation.org
Stage 4 | Preintalerhรผtte – Online Reservation via hut-reservation.org
Stage 5 | The trek ends at Planai Seilbahn Mountain Station. We recommend staying in Schladming after the trek: TUI BLUE Schladming (budget-midrange), or Stadthotel Brunner (luxury).

Arrival Day in Schladming, Styria
How to Get to Schladming
Schladming (1036 m) is a ski resort town in the Austrian State of Styria.
If youโre flying, Salzburg Airport is the closest airport to Schladming, followed by Graz.
The best way to get to Schladming is by train.
From Vienna, itโs a 4-hour train ride.
Buy your train ticket to Schladming.
Where to Stay in Schladming



Itโs a good idea to spend the night in the town of Schladming, or Rohrmoos, before and after this hike. Thatโll make your experience more relaxing.
If you stay in the Schladming-Dachstein holiday region, before the trek, you’ll receive the Schladming-Dachstein Summer Card from your accommodation. With this complimentary card, you can use all cableways in the region for free.
We have personally stayed in all of the hotels listed below and can wholeheartedly recommend all of them.
Budget-Midrange | TUI BLUE Schladming is an all-around excellent accommodation in Schladming offering guests a bountiful breakfast (included), spa facilities (saunas), and a great location (located across from the Planai-Cable Car).
Midrange-Luxury | Thalers Mariandl is an alpine modern guesthouse featuring bright, beautifully designed rooms, an extensive spa area, and a quiet location in Rohrmoos (hamlet between Schladming and Hochwurzen Gipfelbahn gondola).
Luxury | Stadthotel Brunner is a dazzling modern and barrier-free hotel situated in the heart of Schladming. If you appreciate clean, yet creative interior design, youโll love staying here. Moreover, Stadthotel Brunner is the perfect retreat for anyone who wants to integrate wellness, yoga, and Ayurvedic cuisine into their vacation. If you visit between mid-May and mid-October, the Schladming-Dachstein Summer Card is included in the hotel rate. This guest card offers many free benefits and discounts, including free use of local cable cars and buses. Learn more about this hotel in our Schladming Hiking Guide.
Look for accommodation in Schladming.

Schladminger Tauern High Trail Stage 1: Hochwurzen – Giglach Lakes
Stage 1 Trail Stats
Distance | 11.3 km
Time Needed | 6 โ 6:30 hours
Elevation Gain | 830 meters
Elevation Loss | 720 meters
Difficulty | Moderate
Minimum Elevation | 1745 meters
Maximum Elevation | 2618 meters
Route | Hochwurzen (1852 m) โ Rossfeld โ Hochfeldmandl (2082 m) โ Giglachseen (1921 m)
Lunch Option | None. Bring a snack.
Hochwurzen Cableway Mountain Station to Giglach Lakes (6:30 hours)

This segment of the tour is called Hรถhenweg Giglach, or Giglach High Trail.
The traditional starting point for the Schladminger Tauern High Trail is Hochwurzen, accessible by the Gipfelbahn Hochwurzen cableway.
The Hochwurzen Cableway Valley Station is located in Rohrmoos, the plateau above Schladming. If you’re staying in the Schladming town center, you can either take a bus, or a taxi to the cableway valley station (20 minutes).
If youโre arriving in Schladming via train, you can hop on a bus to Hochwurzen Gipfelbahn Talstation, directly from the Schladming train station (16 minutes). Check schedule here.
From Hochwurzen, there are sweeping views of the Dachstein massif.
The Giglach High Trail passes several beautiful lakes, including Klammsee and Brettersee.
The final stretch of the hike offers epic views of the Giglachseen lakes. As you descend further, youโll see the mountain hut Ignaz-Mattis Hรผtte (1,986 m).
Poor Weather Alternative: Ursprungalm to Giglachseen
There is a shorter way to reach the Giglach Lakes if needed. Take a bus from Schladming, or Rohrmoos to Ursprungalm (1604 m). These buses have limited departures, so plan ahead.
The 3.3 km hike from Ursprungalm to the Giglachseen (Giglach Lakes) takes 1 hour. These two mountain lakes are a popular destination for day hikers, so youโll see more people on this segment of the trail than any other.
Youโll first arrive at Giglachsee Hรผtte (1950 m). Follow the trail for another 20 minutes to Ignaz-Mattis Hรผtte.
Stay in Giglachseehรผtte, or Ignaz-Mattis Hรผtte

Giglachseehรผtte (1950 m) is located close to Oberer Giglachsee (Upper Giglach Lake).
Ignaz-Mattis Hรผtte (1986 m) is perched above Unterer Giglachsee (Lower Giglach Lake). This is where we stayed. The mountain hut has a sunny terrace with heart-expanding views of the Lower Giglach Lake.
The interior is rustic, warm, and cozy. We slept in the lager (dormitory), which was really comfortable. The food was excellent!

Schladminger Tauern High Trail Stage 2: Giglach Lakes – Keinprechthรผtte
Stage 2 Trail Stats
Distance | 6.3 km
Time Needed | 3:30 hours
Elevation Gain | 564 meters
Elevation Loss | 690 meters
Difficulty | Moderately Difficult
Minimum Elevation | 1853 meters
Maximum Elevation | 2453 meters
Route | Giglachseen (1921 m) โ Rotmandlspitze (2453 m) โ Keinprechthรผtte (1872 m)
Lunch Option | None. Bring a snack, or request a packaged lunch at Ignaz-Mattis Hรผtte, or Giglachseehรผtte. The stage is quite short, so you can also eat lunch at Keinprechthรผtte.
Giglachseen โ Rotmandlspitze – Keinprechthรผtte (3:30 hours)

The Schladminger Tauern High Trail continues to the eastern end of the Lower Giglachsee Lake, past a few unmanaged wooden huts. The trail then begins the ascent to Rotmandlspitze peak (2,453 m).
After traversing scree and a series of switchbacks, youโll summit the peak. The trail then quickly descends to the perfectly situated Keinprechthรผtte, which is located in an alpine cirque.
We hiked day 2 in rain and fog. Given the slippery rocky terrain, it was a very difficult hike. Though our views were obscured most of the day, we were able to make out our destination during the final stretch.
Rock-walls form the dramatic backdrop of Keinprechthรผtte (1872 m). Horses dot the high meadow surrounding the hut. The wooden hut looks like something out of a storybook.
Stay in Keinprechthรผtte

Lovely, warm and cozy. We slept in the lager, which was very comfortable. Keinprechthรผtte (1872 m) also offers private rooms. There are free charging areas in the sleeping quarters.
The hut owner and staff were extremely convivial. We spent the evening eating and playing games with fellow hikers in the dining area (Gastzimmer). The Gastzimmer has 6 large wooden tables and encourages visitors to relax and engage in conversation.
The food was exceptional. For dinner, we ate the Bergsteiger meal, goulash, and Kaiserschmarrn.

Schladminger Tauern High Trail Stage 3: Keinprechthรผtte – Gollinghรผtte
Day 3 requires stamina since you have to hike over two mountains. Luckily thereโs a mountain hut in the middle of the trek, where you can take a break and eat a yummy lunch on a sunny terrace.
Stage 3 Trail Stats
Distance | 9.1 km
Time Needed | 6 โ 6:30 hours
Elevation Gain | 930 meters
Elevation Loss | 1114 meters
Difficulty | Moderately Difficult
Minimum Elevation | 1663 meters
Maximum Elevation | 2326 meters
Route | Keinprechthรผtte (1872 m) โ Trockenbrotscharte (2237 m) โ Landawirseehรผtte (1985 m) โ Gollingscharte (2326 m) โ Gollinghรผtte (1651 m)
Lunch Option | Landawirseehรผtte
Keinprechthรผtte to Gollinghรผtte (6:30 hours)

After departing Keinprechthรผtte, the trail begins to ascend ever so gently. We passed a number of grazing cows, before starting the vigorous climb to Trockenbrotscharte (2237 m) ridge.
At Trockenbrotscharte, you can see the welcoming sight of Landawirseehรผtte as well as the two lakes situated above the hut in an alpine cirque. The descent to the hut is relatively easy.

After a filling meal of Bauernpfandl (Farmer Pan โ egg, potatoes, sausage) at Landawirseehรผtte (1985 m), we decided to take a detour to see the Unterer and Oberer Landawirseen lakes (also spelled Landawierseen). Allow an extra 45 minutes for this detour.
The Schladminger Tauern High Trail continues to Gollingscharte.
After following the wide dirt road from the hut for about 15-20 minutes, youโll veer left and start the second steep climb of the day to Gollingscharte saddle (2326 m).
At Gollingscharte, you have the opportunity to hike all the way to the top of Hochgolling (2862 m).
At Gollingscharte, we took a 20-minute break, before starting the long descent through scree to Gollingwinkel.
When the trail finally plateaus, youโll arrive in Gollingwinkel, a glorious natural amphitheater at the foot of Hochgollingโs north face.
Next, the trail continues through a meadow and along a river to the Gollinghรผtte mountain hut. The flat grassy footpath feels like heaven beneath your feet.
Stay in Gollinghรผtte

Located on a river, the charming Gollinghรผtte is a busy mountain hut that is situated at the crossroads between the Schladminger Tauern High Trail and the valley trail that leads to Schladming in 4:30 hours (or Parkplatz Riesachfall in 2 hours).

Schladminger Tauern High Trail Stage 4: Gollinghรผtte – Preintalerhรผtte
Each day of the Schladminger Tauern High Trail is glorious, but day 4 might be the most impressive. After climbing to the summit of Greifenberg, youโll descend into Klafferkessel, a high alpine plateau dotted with 30 mountain lakes
Stage 4 Trail Stats
Distance | 7.7 km
Time Needed | 6 โ 6:30 hours
Elevation Gain | 1032 meters
Elevation Loss | 1024 meters
Difficulty | Difficult
Minimum Elevation | 1646 meters
Maximum Elevation | 2618 meters
Route | Gollinghรผtte (1651 m) โ Greifenberg (2618 m) โ Klafferkessel (2311 m) โ Preintalerhรผtte / Waldhornalm (1656 m)
Lunch Option | None. Bring a snack, or request a packaged lunch at Gollinghรผtte.
Gollinghรผtte to Preintalerhรผtte (6:30 hours)

The trail gets down to business in no time. Before you know it, youโre climbing uphill for three hours.
The unrelenting trail plateaus at Greifenbergsattel, where thereโs a small lake at the mountain saddle. We took a break here before tackling the final stretch to the top of Greifenberg.
Greifenberg peak (2618 m) is marked by a large cross. From the summit, youโll have terrific views of the water-inundated landscape of Klafferkessel.
The rocky descent is a bit tedious, but youโll soon arrive in an alpine wonderland full of lakes of varying sizes. This unique landscape is a relic of the Ice Age.

The trail continues along numerous pools of water, offering a visual paradise and a respite for tired legs. Eventually, the trail nears the edge of the tarn landscape and plummets in the direction of Preintalerhรผtte.
Preintalerhรผtte (1656 m) is located next to the dairy farm Waldhornalm. For those who want to try fresh buttermilk, Waldhornalm is the place to indulge.
Stay in Preintalerhรผtte

Located next to the river and overlooking a valley, Preintalerhรผtte (1656 m) is a large mountain hut, which marks the last night of the 5 stage journey.
We arrived in Preintalerhรผtte and immediately treated ourselves to Kuchen (cake) and Kaffee (coffee). Their Nuss-Schoko Kuchen and Apfelstrudel were both excellent.
We spent the afternoon relaxing in the sun across Waldhornalm. The rustic wooden hut serves fresh dairy products as well as snacks.
Dinner here was excellent. We tried the Kรคsespรคtzle with regional Styrian cheese as well as Schweinsbraten. Yum!

Schladminger Tauern High Trail Stage 5: Preintalerhรผtte – Planai Seilbahn Mountain Station
Stage 5 of Schladminger Tauern is also called the Planai Hรถhenweg. Itโs indeed a high trail. If youโre scared of heights or have trouble with exposure, head back to Schladming through the valley.
Many areas of the trail are secured with steps and ropes, but some areas could use some more assistance.
Itโs dramatic, itโs challenging, and itโs long.
The hike ends with a cableway descent from Planai to the Schladming town center. Check Planai Seilbahn summer opening times.
Stage 5 Trail Stats
Distance | 11.3 km
Time Needed | 7 โ 7:30 hours
Elevation Gain | 1125 meters
Elevation Loss | 973 meters
Difficulty | Challenging
Minimum Elevation | 1663 meters
Maximum Elevation | 2266 meters
Route | Preintalerhรผtte (1656 m) โ Neualm โ Spielbรผhel (2210 m) โ Planai Seilbahn Mountain Station (1906 m)
Lunch Option | None. Bring a snack, or request a packaged lunch at Preintalerhรผtte. We ate at the very end of the stage at Schafalm, close to the Planai Seilbahn Mountain Station.
Planai High Trail: Preintalerhรผtte to Planai Seilbahn Mountain Station (7:30 hours)

Itโs important to start the hike early. We suggest starting no later than 7:30 am. The last gondola down to Schladming is at 5 pm and you absolutely donโt want to rush the last 2 hours of the trail.
After 1:30 hours, youโll reach Neualm, a high alpine meadow with a deserted mountain hut and view of Riesachsee lake.
The hike continues uphill for a few hours and plateaus at Spielbรผhel (nice place for a break). Unlike the previous days, thereโs more variance in the ascent, so youโre not going uphill continuously.
After Spielbรผhel (2210 m), youโll descend and then follow the footpath just below the ridge.
The views of the valley and mountains remain mostly constant. As the trail progresses, youโll see the imposing peaks of the Dachstein massif.
The last segment of the trail is on a wide, even path. Eventually, youโll reach an intersection, where you can go right or left via the Panorama-Weg to the Planai Mountain station (1906 m).
When you finally reach Planai, you can celebrate your success with lunch and a Schnaps at Schafalm.
Remember that the gondola that connects Planai with Schladming closes at 5 pm.
Stay in Schladming
Budget-Midrange | TUI BLUE Schladming
Midrange-Luxury | Thalers Mariandl
Luxury | Stadthotel Brunner
Look for accommodation in Schladming.
More Styria Hikes + Hut to Hut Hiking Trails
Styria Hikes:
- Schladming Summer Hiking Guide
- 5 Huts Trail, Ramsau am Dachstein
- Bachlalm to Neustadtalm Circuit Hike, Ramsau am Dachstein
Skiing:
Hut to hut hiking in Austria:
- Best Treks in Austria
- Rรคtikon High Trail, Vorarlberg
- Montafon Hut to Hut Circuit, Vorarlberg
- Emperorโs Crown (Kaiserkrone) Trek, Tyrol
- Eagle Walk, Tyrol
- Berlin High Trail, Tyrol
- Karwendel High Trail, Tyrol
- Venediger High Trail, Tyrol
Hut to hut hiking in Slovenia:
- Hut to Hut Hiking in Slovenia
- Mountain Huts in Slovenia
- Triglav National Park Hut to Hut Hike
- Kamnik Alps Hut to Hut Hike
Hut to hut hiking in Italy:
- Hut to Hut Hiking in the Italian Dolomites
- Alta Via 1 Trek, Italian Dolomites
- Tour du Mont Blanc Trek: France, Italy and Switzerland
- Ortler High Trail, Italy
Multi day hikes in Europe:
- Best Treks in Europe
- Liechtenstein Panorama Trail, Liechtenstein
- Alpstein High Trail, Appenzell
- Fishermanโs Trail, Portugal

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Hi Sabrina and Kati,
Thank you very much for the wonderful blog and very helpful information. It is extremely valuable in trip preparation.
Could you tell me if it’s logistically possible to stay in Landawirseehรผtte instead of Keinprechthรผtte? Keinprechthรผtte does not respond to my calls or emails, and I’m not sure how to book them for this August.
How exposed is the Schladminger Tauern High Trail? Is it possible to do for someone with a slight fear of heights but good hiking experience? Are there a lot of sheer drops without protection?
Thank you in advance for the help!
Inga
Hi Inga,
The Schladminger Tauern High Trail has exposure, especially day 5 (Planai Hรถhenweg). Also, the descent into Klafferkessel may have some exposure as well…it’s rugged, partially secured, and requires careful footing. Our description lacks detail and perspective, because it was the very first hut-to-hut hike we did, and as such, we didn’t have a point of comparison. I would ask the Schladming Tourist Office for help getting in touch with Keinprechhรผtte, since they also book the tours. The hike from the Giglach Lakes to Landawirsee Hรผtte isn’t especially dramatic on paper (10.6 km, 984 meters of elevation gain/loss), but it’s still high-alpine hiking. It should be doable with stable conditions.
Best of luck!! Please tell us about your experience.
Sabrina
Hi! I’m headed to Austria to complete this hike, inspired by this blog post. Do you have any information about cell reception along the trail, or reception/wifi at the huts? My mother will be worried sick if I hike for 5 days without contact.
Appreciate all the info provided here!
Hi Tamar,
When we hiked this trail, there was intermittent reception along high points of the route. There was no WIFI at the huts. Perhaps the Schladming tourist office can offer more insight.
Have a wonderful and safe hike!
Hi! Love your posts, and I constantly made reference to them when planning for my recent hike in Dolomites. My friends and I plan to travel to Austria in mid-May and do the first 3 stages of this trail. I’ve been reading that the hiking season starts mid-June, and so was wondering: (1) would huts be opened at this trail in mid-May? (2) would snow still be thick on the trails such that it requires specific snow equipment and probably not too safe to hike at that altitude? Thanks much!
Hi Mark,
Thank you so much for reading our blog! It will not be possible (nor safe) to trek this trail in May, due to snow. The best time to hike any high trail in Austria is (end of June) July to early September, when trails are mostly free of snow and huts are open.
Kindly,
Sabrina
Hi Sabrina and Kati,
Thank you for the wonderful guide! I plan on doing this trail in the beginning of July. You mentioned that stage 4 is the most impressive, so I thought maybe if I stay in Preintalerhรผtte for two nights, I can use an extra day to explore that area, hiking to Klafferkessel platter and spending some extra time there, or is one day enough ?
Hi Irusya,
Preintalerhรผtte is located on a crossroads of several trails, so there would definitely be more to explore like Sonntagskarseen Lakes and the Trattensee to Hochwildstelle alpine circuit.
Have a great hiking trip!
Sabrina
Hi! Thank you so much for all the information on your blog. It is very helpful! My husband and I are planning on doing this trail at the end of August. Ideally we would like to combine 2 stages to make it 3 days/4 nights. Are there 2 stages you would recommend combining? We don’t mind a long hiking day but we want to make sure we are able to eat breakfast beforehand and arrive at the next hut before the kitchen closes for the night. Thank you!
Hi Sarah,
You’re welcome!! Stage 2 is on the shorter side, but I personally wouldn’t combine it with either stages 1 or 3. The best thing to do is cut out one stage. For example, you could start the hike at Ursprungalm and hike to Keinprechthรผtte on day 1.
Best of luck,
Sabrina
Hi both, thanks for the great blog. My partner and I are thinking of doing this hike in August and were wondering whether it would be possible to do it in reverse due to the availability of the huts โ we would appreciate your thoughts on this, thanks!
Hi Will,
Yes, you can!!
Wishing you an unforgettable experience.
-Sabrina
Hi Sabrina,
Wonderful blog as always! We are thinking of starting this trail on June 27th. This is our latest possible start date. Do you think this is still feasible? I realize there is always a chance of unforseen weather complications.
Thanks,
Katey
Hi Katey,
Thank you!!
There’s always a risk of lingering snow on high alpine trails in late June (even early-mid July). It’s impossible to know now what the conditions will be now. I would reach out to the mountain huts 1-2 weeks in advance to confirm that the trails are mostly snow-free/safe to hike.
Best of luck!
Sabrina