Hut hopping in the Raxalpe area (Number 4: mountain station - Ottohaus - Seehuette)

Travel up on the Rax aerial cableway, which opened in 1926, and is the oldest cable car system in Austria. A special feature of the Ottohaus, which is the hut nearest to the summit station, is a large Alpine garden which covers 4000m2, and boasts around 200 region-specific Alpine plant species. The name of the next station, the Seehütte, is derived from the name of a small lake, which was drained shortly after the 1st World War. Without having to overcome any great difficulties, you can “hop” from hut to hut in the Rax. Due to its short length, this variation of the popular Rax hiking route is suitable for families. However, the conditions must be suitable!

We will start by taking the Rax aerial cableway. Just a few minutes later, we will arrive at the  summit station at 1547m above sea level. From the summit station, we will follow the red signs to the Gatterlkreuz (Gatterl cross), and then back to the Ottohaus. The journey to the first hut of the tour takes 45 minutes, and involves an ascent of 100m. The lakeside route then gently descends, leading to the Neu Seehütte,  which is situated in a valley. The route leads back past the Preiner Wand Kreuz (Preinerwand cross) and over the well-known Preiner Wand climbing paradise, before the ridgeway leads through the mountain pine route and back to the Ottohaus. Anyone who wants to reach another summit can climb the Jakobskogel (1737m), which is located near to the Ottohaus.  Finally, we will return to the Ottohaus, and head back to the summit station.

A2 to Knoten Seebenstein – S6 to Gloggnitz – B27 to Hirschwang an der Rax, the valley station of the Rax aerial cableway (just outside Hirschwang)