Salzburger Almenweg - Stage 18: Zauchensee – Gnadenalm – Südwiener Hütte

Logo Salzburger Almenweg - Stage 18: Zauchensee – Gnadenalm – Südwiener Hütte
long-distance walking trail
Logo Salzburger Almenweg - Stage 18: Zauchensee – Gnadenalm – Südwiener Hütte
Tour data
18.92km
1,279 - 1,797m
Distance
891hm
601hm
Ascent
07:00h
 
Duration
Brief description

Uphill, downhill and uphill again in the Niedere Tauern Mountains 

Difficulty
medium
Rating
Technique
Fitness
Landscape
Experience
Starting point

Zauchensee (1,350 m)

Route
Zauchensee
Tauernkaralm
3.8 km
Tauernkarleitenalm
3.8 km
Vordergnadenalm
7.1 km
Gnadenalm
7.3 km
Hintergnadenalm
9.0 km
Südwiener Hütte
12.3 km


Best season
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Description
The Radstädter Tauern Mountains have been one of the most important Alpine crossings in SalzburgerLand since pre-Christian times. Even the Romans used this route intensively, expanded it and maintained a post and horse changing station, a so-called "Mansio", at the top of the pass. Today's stage always leads from the World Cup Town of Zauchensee to the south and said Radstädter Tauern. Numerous managed alpine huts are located along the trail, which leads past sinkholes, wet meadows, through mountain pines and larches to the Gnadenalm, which was until the 17th century owned by the Salzburg Prince-Archbishops. Today, alpine huts invite you to stop for a bite to eat and a themed trail offers exciting insights into alpine life from then and now. A stop is worthwhile everywhere, especially to taste the famous "Radstädter Kas" (cheese), but make sure to be well rested! Because the ascent from the Gnadenalm to the Südwiener Hütte in Obertauern at the very end of the stage is once again quite challenging with around 500 metres altitude.

 

Alpine Trail History 

Again and again, hikers in the Alps come across mountain huts and refuges whose names have little to do with the environment in which they are located, such as the Südwiener hut or the Niedersachsenhaus in Gastein. Where this comes from is quickly explained. The respective names refer to the section affiliation of the huts. For example, the Niedersachsenhaus is a refuge of the Hanover section of the German Alpine Club. The Südwiener hut was opened in 1828 and is a refuge of the Vienna Alpine Club "Gebirgsverein". The huts refer back to the beginnings of “Alpinism”, when movement in nature became fashionable, especially among the urban population, and the Alps became a stated destination. 

 

Along the trail

Sinkholes, wet meadows and mountain pines - all these alpine peculiarities are on the trail today. But what exactly is this? Sinkholes are so-called sink caves, which occur in Karst areas, which in turn are typical of the Northern Limestone Alps in which you are currently located. And sinkholes are not to be underestimated, so be sure to stay on the trail! Wet meadows, on the other hand, are habitats for special plants such as woolly grass or wet meadow orchids. In Pongau, mountain pines are the trees from which the highly effective mountain pine oil is also produced.

  

Alpine Trail Refreshment 

The Tauernkarleitenalm is managed by dairyman Michael Haym and his wife Veronika. Here, they serve special alpine delicacies such as the famous "Radstädter Kas", a kind of sour cheese, homemade bread and much more. 

Directions
After a hopefully wonderful night at over 1,350 metres above sea level, we continue on the Salzburger Almenweg towards the south and Radstädter Tauern. From Zauchensee, the unserviced Oberzauchenseealmen (1,556 m) can be reached in just over half an hour's walk via trail no. 85, which runs south along the valley floor. From here, the goods road (now with path no. 84) continues towards the head of the valley and after about 500 metres the footpath to the Stubhöhe (1,793 m) branches off to the left: Once there, several long-distance hiking trails such as the Arnoweg, the Harfeicht Tour or the Strimskogel circuit meet. The Almenweg leads over a larch meadow interspersed with mountain pines and limestone boulders to the left (to the east, path no. 84) down to the managed Tauernkarleitenalm (1,653 m), which is also a certified alpine summer hut. Here a fantastic panorama opens up to the southeast, which can be enjoyed with a little refreshment.

From here, the path leads downhill on a well-developed goods road to the Gnadenalm, which is reached after a good two and a half hours of walking time and is the lowest point of today's stage. Here you follow the goods road branching off to the right for a good 2 kilometres, which leads through the flat and wide valley basin to the south to the Hinterngadenalm. This alpine pasture does not only consist of an alpine hut, but offers several places to stop for refreshments, such as the Weißenhof Almhütte, the Gschwendthofhütte, Palfenhütte and Huberhütte. But beware: the tour is not over yet! It is now uphill: almost 500 meters of altitude have to be covered to reach the stage finish. At the fork in the road directly at the Hintergnadenalm, take the right-hand path (no. 28) and reach today's stage destination, the Südwiener Hütte at 1,802 metres above sea level, first on a forest road, later on a footpath.

 

Refreshment and accommodation options 

Tauernkarleitenalm (1,653 m), (after approx. 1.5 hours), mid-June to the end of September T. +43 669 11 45 9224 refresh.

Restaurant Wirtshaus Gnadenalm / Vordergnadenalm (1,278 m) (after approx. 2 hours), end of May to end of October, T. +43 6456 7351 refresh.

Gschwendthofhütte/Hintergnadenalm (1,336 m) (after approx. 2.5 hours), Whitsun until the end of October, T. +43 664 5252 847 refresh. / Alpine summer hut

Palfenhütte/Hintergnadenalm (1,336 m) (after approx. 2.5 hours), Whitsun to mid-September, T. +43 664 2062292, refresh.

Huberhütte/Hintergnadenalm (1,336 m) (after approx. 2.5 hours), beginning of June to the end of September, T. +43 664 3003223, refresh.

Südwiener Hütte (1,802 m) (after approx. 4.5 hours), beginning of June to the end of October, T. +43 664 3436342 refresh. / accomm. / Accomodation Partner Salzburger Almenweg Information and Booking Centre powered by Trail Angels

Highest point
1,797 m
Endpoint

Südwienerhütte (1,802 m)

Height profile

Safety instructions
To make sure your day in the mountains is an unforgettable experience, here you can find some tips to keep you safe in the mountains.
Tips

At the Gnadenalm you find the themed trail "Alles Alm" with ten entertaining theme stations that offer exciting insights into alpine life from then and now. A beautiful photo opportunity is also the 60 metre high Johannes Waterfall.

Additional information
For further information about the Salzburger Almenweg click here.

 

Altenmarkt-Zauchensee Tourism

Sportplatzstraße 6

A-5541 Altenmarkt-Zauchensee

Tel: +43 6452 5511

E-Mail: info@altenmarkt-zauchensee.at  

www.altenmarkt-zauchensee.at  www.facebook.com/altenmarkt-zauchensee

 

www.salzburger-almenweg.at


Directions

Tauernautobahn A 10, exit Altenmarkt (EXIT 63), exit Altenmarkt West, along Oberndorfer Straße, at the intersection (BP petrol station) turn left on the Bundesstraße (B 163), turn right at the market square direction Zauchnesee.

Public transportation
Zauchensee is easily accessible by public transport with the nearest train station at Radstadt, from where you take the Postbus to the stop Weltcuparena Zauchensee.
Parking

Free parking is available in the center of Altenmarkt. For your own safety, please do not forget to leave the Salzburg Alpine Trail parking disc from the brochure in your car. In Zauchensee there is no public parking, here please ask the accommodation business if longer parking is possible.


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