Giant rocks & alpine meadows – discover Austria’s Kalkalpen Trail
Hiking Collection by Nadine
11
days
3-7 h
/ day
107 mi
26,900 ft
25,250 ft
The Kalkalpen National Park is incredibly rich – giant rocks tower above green alpine meadows covered with wildflowers, rare flora and fauna blankets moorland and steep ascents and descents reveal unforgettable panoramas. With 170 kilometres (105.6 miles) of distance and 8,000 metres (26,250 feet) of elevation gain, the 11 stages of the Kalkalpen Trail are a magnificent adventure.
In this Collection, you hike to the most beautiful spots in and around the Kalkalpen National Park within the Northern Limestone Alps mountain range in Upper Austria. The long-distance Kalkalpen Trail leads from the municipality of Reichraming in the Enns Valley to the Tote Gebirge mountains near Hinterstoder municipality. It heads over the Sengsengebirge mountains to Windischgarsten municipality and via Spital am Pyhrn municipality to the Wurzeralm winter sports destination. Finally, the trail leads to Hinterstoder municipality and the Flötzersteig before arriving in Sankt Pankraz municipality.
The themed trails immerse you in the geological history of the region and information boards en route teach you about the formation of the mighty limestone mountains. Following gentle forest trails and rocky paths, you pass mystical lakes and experience pristine nature and ultimate relaxation with every step. You also trace the tracks of the Trift, which was once used to transport wood down into the valley. On the way, there are many opportunities to stop for refreshments and enjoy a delicious meal.
Each of the stages ends either at a mountain hut or in a village with numerous accommodation options. I recommend booking your overnight stays in advance to guarantee a cosy place to sleep. Both the starting point in Enns and the endpoint in Sankt Pankraz are connected to the railway network.
You can also easily shorten some of the stages by taking the cable car to save yourself some metres of ascent or descent. I’ve included details about this in each of the stage descriptions. Some legs of the journey include long distances and a lot of climbing so good fitness and surefootedness are essential for this long-distance hike. Hiking poles, sun protection and sufficient drinking water are also recommended. You can combine the stages as you wish or simply walk one stage as a day Tour. Look forward to unforgettable days in the Limestone Alps National Park in Upper Austria!
On The Map
Do it yourself
Plan your own version of this adventure in the multi-day planner based on the stages suggested in this Collection.
Tours & Highlights
- 06:0510.7 mi1.8 mph4,225 ft825 ftExpertExpert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
The first stage on your long-distance hiking adventure Kalkalpenweg starts relaxed at the train station in Großraming. Your today's destination is the cozy Ennser Hütte, which you will reach after a sporty 17.2 kilometers and 1,290 meters of altitude. Ascending across meadows and forests, you first hike…
by Nadine
- 07:3813.7 mi1.8 mph3,100 ft3,925 ftExpertExpert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.
The second stage takes you from the Ennser Hütte over the Gamsstein to the Gschwendt-Alm and on via Brunnbach to the Anlaufalm in the Kalkalpen National Park. After a hearty breakfast, it starts at the Ennser Hütte on the Danzersteig in the direction of Gamsstein. The first ascent for today begins below…
by Nadine
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- 04:579.64 mi1.9 mph2,175 ft1,800 ftIntermediateIntermediate Hiking Tour. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
On the third stage it gets historic, because it goes deep into the Kalkalpen National Park and you hike in the footsteps of the former Trift economy. Your destination for the day is the cozy Ebenforstalm after just 15.5 kilometers and an altitude of 660 meters. You can also relax a little on the way…
by Nadine
- 06:2611.8 mi1.8 mph2,200 ft3,750 ftExpertExpert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
The fourth stage leads from the Ebenforstalm in the Kalkalpen National Park via the Bodinggraben and Steyrsteg to the Wurbauerkogel and to Windischgarsten. The tour has it all: At 25.7 kilometers and more than 1,300 meters in altitude, it is one of the longer stages of the tour. First it goes through…
by Nadine
- 03:426.68 mi1.8 mph2,425 ft25 ftIntermediateIntermediate Hiking Tour. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
The fifth stage is almost eleven kilometers and 740 meters in altitude a pleasant walk compared to the previous day. From Windischgarsten you hike to Spital am Pyhrn and on to the Gowilalm. After only a few hundred meters you should stop for a moment and look around: At this point you can enjoy a special…
by Nadine
- 04:066.75 mi1.6 mph1,050 ft3,375 ftIntermediateIntermediate Hiking Tour. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
Up up and down! The sixth day leads from the panoramic Gowilalm over the Dr. Vogelgesang-Klamm in the Abbey of Spital am Pyhrn. After a hearty breakfast, you start with a view of the mighty mountain range and hike down to the Holzeralmboden. We continue to the Hofalmhütte at 1,305 meters above sea level…
by Nadine
- 05:088.86 mi1.7 mph3,425 ft700 ftExpertExpert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
On the seventh stage, things are getting stronger again. More than 1,000 vertical meters are on the program today - which you can also skillfully shorten by 600 vertical meters. You hike from Spital am Pyhrn over the highest raised and low moor in the northern Limestone Alps on the Wurzeralm to the D…
by Nadine
- 04:586.72 mi1.4 mph2,875 ft2,600 ftIntermediateIntermediate Hiking Tour. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
The eighth stage is a bit more leisurely again, but although you only cover eleven kilometers, you are still five hours on the road. You walk past the idyllic Windhagersee near Vorderstoder to the Zellerhütte on the northern slope of the Warscheneck Mountains.
From the Dümlerhütte it goes down to the…
by Nadine
- 05:459.25 mi1.6 mph2,550 ft3,250 ftExpertExpert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
On the ninth stage, your mountaineering heart will beat a beat faster. Today you can enjoy breathtakingly beautiful views of the surrounding mountains, which with its bright rock stand out from the lush green surroundings. With a view of the most beautiful peaks of the Dead Mountains, you hike over one…
by Nadine
- 06:0212.0 mi2.0 mph1,550 ft3,425 ftExpertExpert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
The tenth and penultimate stage is on the program today, with an ascent of just 500 meters in altitude really humane. It leads you from the Hutterer Boden over the Weissenbachtal, past Polsterlucke and Schiederweiher to the Ski World Cup location Hinterstoder. After a delicious breakfast you say goodbye…
by Nadine
- 05:1910.8 mi2.0 mph1,350 ft1,575 ftExpertExpert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
The eleventh stage is also your last stage on the Kalkalpenweg. After a leisurely breakfast in Hinterstoder, you hike along the Steyr, past a mill and the Strumboding waterfall and finally to Sankt Pankraz. First you hike on the Flötzersteig. After a short time you will reach the Kneipp area, where you…
by Nadine
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Collection Stats
- Tours11
- Distance107 mi
- Duration60:05 h
- Elevation26,900 ft25,250 ft
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