On old paths through Styria – Austria’s Salt Trail
Hiking Collection by Valerie
7
days
4-7 h
/ day
81.0 mi
18,775 ft
21,450 ft
Many know Styria primarily for its endless vineyards, the plump grapes and the delectable juice that’s created from them. But the ‘green heart of Austria’ has more to it than its wine – it's not for nothing that its claim is ‘from glacier to wine’. With this Collection, I’d like to introduce you to the alpine side of the province. To do this, we embark on the Styrian part of the Salt Trail (Salzsteigweg).
On old paths that were important in Roman times – especially for transporting salt – the Salt Trail leads through the mountainous side of Styria. Opened in 1983, the entire long-distance trail now runs from the Mühlviertel in Upper Austria to the Wurzen Pass on the border with Slovenia, in other words: right across Austria.
In this Collection, I introduce you to the section that leads through Styria. Starting from the idyllic Tauplitzalm in the Ausseerland, you hike through the Ennstal, over the Planneralm into the Niedere Tauern and finally over the Stolzalpe into the Murtal. The historic town of Murau is your final destination after 130 glorious kilometres (81 mi). You can follow my suggested stages or choose your own. Just remember: proper planning is essential in such alpine environments!
At the end of each stage you spend the night in a hut or in a village and in either case you should secure your bed in advance. You can reach Tauplitzalm, the starting point of your Tour, by chairlift from Tauplitz, which is comfortably accessible by train. There’s also a train station at the end point, in Murau.
As mentioned, this is only the Styrian section of the Salt Trail. The complete long-distance trail also leads through the two federal states of Upper Austria and Carinthia. If you want to find out more and maybe even walk the entire trail, check out these two Collections: komoot.com/collection/1807568 and komoot.com/collection/1807563.
On The Map
Do it yourself
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Last updated: October 13, 2022
Plan your own version of this adventure in the multi-day planner based on the stages suggested in this Collection.
Tours
- 05:209.31 mi1.7 mph1,825 ft1,675 ftExpertExpert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
Stage 1 of the Salzsteigweg through Styria starts on the idyllic Tauplitzalm and then leads you via the Leistalmhütte to the Hochmölbinghütte, your stage destination. The Tauplitzalm is the ideal starting point for the Styrian part of the Salzsteigweg for several reasons: On the one hand, with its picturesque…
by Valerie
- 06:2712.8 mi2.0 mph975 ft4,325 ftExpertExpert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
Stage 2 of the Salzsteigweg through Styria starts in front of the gates of your accommodation and takes you via the BärenFeuchtennalm, the Spechtenseehütte and Stainach to Aigen im Ennstal, your destination today.
On the way there are enough rest stops that are ready to entertain you. But first you can…
by Valerie
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- 07:1313.2 mi1.8 mph4,300 ft1,150 ftExpertExpert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
From Aigen im Ennstal we go to the Planneralm, the highest mountain village in Styria. Before you reach the place of power, you pay a visit to the Ranzenkaralm and climb the 1,996 meter high Plannerknot.
But let's start at yesterday's stage destination, from where you make your way out of the town center…
by Valerie
- 04:458.39 mi1.8 mph1,550 ft3,650 ftIntermediateIntermediate Hiking Tour. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
Today you hike from the idyllic Planneralm to the Donnersbachwald, which is at least as picture-perfect. The small village in the middle of the mountains of the Niedere Tauern welcomes you with a lot of untouched nature and peace. To reach it, you have to climb a nice mountain first...
You leave the Planneralm…
by Valerie
- 07:5013.4 mi1.7 mph4,600 ft2,800 ftExpertExpert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
With the fifth stage of the Styrian Salzsteigweg you leave the idyllic Donnersbachwald behind and head back into the mountains! Via the Mörsbachhütte and the highest point of the tour, the Gstemmerscharte, you will reach your stage destination, the Erzherzog-Johann-Hütte, after almost 22 kilometers.
Today…
by Valerie
- 06:5312.6 mi1.8 mph2,375 ft4,500 ftExpertExpert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
Good news: Today it's more downhill than uphill - your calves will thank you! Starting from the Erzherzog-Johann-Hütte, stage 6 of the Salzsteigweg takes you down to St. Peter am Kammersberg after a small climb to the Haseneckscharte.
And the strenuous part is waiting right at the beginning: You hike…
by Valerie
- 06:4611.3 mi1.7 mph3,150 ft3,325 ftExpertExpert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
The final stage of the Salzsteigweg (or at least its Styrian part) takes you up to the Stolzalpe and down again over a total length of around 18 kilometers - until you are finally in the heart of Murau.
It starts in St. Peter am Kammerberg, from where the path leads directly out into nature and starts…
by Valerie
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Collection Stats
- Tours7
- Distance81.0 mi
- Duration45:13 h
- Elevation18,775 ft21,450 ft
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