The Arnoweg – a circular hike through the province of Salzburg

Hiking Collection by Valerie

Tours

354:14 h

586 mi

156,550 ft

One federal state, one long-distance hiking trail, 1,200 varied kilometres (745 miles) and a whopping 80,000 meters in elevation gain (262,467 feet) – welcome to the Arno trail.

Created by the Archdiocese of Salzburg (part of the Roman Catholic Church), the route takes you through Salzburg province in eight stages; Kalkberge, Pinzgauer Grasberge, Keesberge, Grasberge and Nockberge, Niedere Tauern, Kalkberge Ost, Voralpen and Alpenvorland. Your adventure begins and ends at an impressive fortress overlooking the city of Salzburg.

You can choose whether to take on this mighty hike all at once or in parts, as each section has its own charm. The first stage takes you through limestone mountains and impressive rocky landscapes whereas stage two, the Pinzgau Grasberge, leads through lush meadows to cozy alpine huts. On stage three, you will hike through the Keesberge mountains, exploring the impressive glaciers and green valleys. Stage four is a comfortable adventure in the Grasberge mountains, far away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Don’t be fooled by the seemingly-gentle natured Niedere Tauern on section five, you’ll need alpine experience for this section. On stage six and seven you will climb up to considerable heights once more until dropping back down to Salzburg old town on stage eight.

You should be sure-footed and have a head for heights for every stage in this Collection. I also recommend that you reserve your accommodation well in advance. In spite of the challenge, enjoy the silence, the wonderfully varied nature of the Salzburg countryside and the unforgettable moments on such a long-distance hike. On the way, there are a lot of great highlights waiting for you.

One thing is certain – at the end of this trail you will be incredibly proud of yourself, rightly so. Have fun!

On The Map

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Arnoweg: Rundwanderung durch das Bundesland Salzburg

577 mi

155,725 ft

Last updated: March 24, 2023

Tours & Highlights

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
Abschnitt 1: Kalkberge West – Arnoweg
Expert
63:32
98.3 mi
1.5 mph
28,025 ft
27,225 ft
Expert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.
Section 1 of the famous Arnoweg long-distance hiking trail takes you through the limestone mountains over a length of 160 kilometers. From the Untersberg to the Steinernes Meer and the Leoganger Steinberge, this section holds a lot of stone and little water, but lots of fantastic panoramic views of the…
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Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
Abschnitt 2: Pinzgauer Grasberge – Arnoweg
Expert
40:22
69.1 mi
1.7 mph
19,250 ft
18,200 ft
Expert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.
Have you successfully completed Section 1 and are you motivated to now venture onto the second part of the long-distance hiking trail? Or maybe you are just getting started and starting the Arnoweg adventure from Saalfelden. Either way, the landscape will be a little softer from now on.

You hike across…
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Abschnitt 3 (Teil 1): Keesberge – Arnoweg
Expert
52:39
83.6 mi
1.6 mph
23,925 ft
24,875 ft
Expert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.
The third Arnoweg section leads you towards the Keesberge. Their name is derived from the old high German "chees" for ice or glaciers. Because what distinguishes this section of the long-distance hiking trail is the constant change between green valleys and impressive glaciers.

From Krimml (1,076 meters…
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Abschnitt 3 (Teil 2): Keesberge – Arnoweg
Expert
39:57
57.6 mi
1.4 mph
21,025 ft
20,100 ft
Expert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.
The second part of the third Arnoweg section also goes up and down. You are still in the middle of the Keesberge. And the upcoming 92 kilometers and over 6,000 vertical meters make you suddenly aware of this. But don't worry - you can do it. And the effort will be rewarded with unbeatable highlights…
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Abschnitt 4: Gras- und Nockberge – Arnoweg
Expert
50:56
88.9 mi
1.7 mph
21,900 ft
21,675 ft
Expert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.
You ended up in the Gastein Valley. And with that you leave the Keesberge behind and hike further through the Grasberge. Section 4 of the Arnoweg takes you over a proud 143 kilometers and almost 7,000 vertical meters to the Salzburg Lungau. And what you find there may exceed your imagination of idyllic…
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Abschnitt 5: Niedere Tauern – Arnoweg
Expert
32:32
54.3 mi
1.7 mph
14,150 ft
14,725 ft
Expert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.
Section 5 of the Arnoweg lures you on the wrong track at the beginning: Although the Niedere Tauern (from Tamsweg) look like comfortably hikable grass mountains, you shouldn't underestimate them alpinistically. On the way you will always come across steep carts and rugged peaks. But this is absolutely…
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Abschnitt 6: Kalkberge Ost – Arnoweg
Expert
23:16
34.2 mi
1.5 mph
11,700 ft
12,125 ft
Expert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.
With a length of almost 55 kilometers, the Kalkberge Ost are the shortest section of the Arnoweg. But that doesn't make them any less uninteresting than the others. On the contrary: what is waiting for you on this stage is a lot of variety.

You start your hike in the medieval town of Radstadt, from where…
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Abschnitt 7: Voralpen – Arnoweg
Expert
28:38
51.2 mi
1.8 mph
11,425 ft
12,025 ft
Expert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.
Time for section 7 of the Arnoweg. You head towards the Prealps. The centerpiece is the Osterhorn group. And you will also climb a few of their peaks, such as the Hohe First (1,718 meters) and the Dürlstein (1,697 meters). In addition, you will enjoy the view from the Königsbergerhorn (1,621 meters…
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Abschnitt 8: Alpenvorland – Arnoweg
Expert
22:21
49.1 mi
2.2 mph
5,150 ft
5,500 ft
Expert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
The eighth and final section of your Arnoweg hike. You soon made it. And so much in advance: It goes much more comfortably. Even if you are still 80 kilometers ahead of you. What characterizes this section? Firstly, the elongated off-road waves in this area. Secondly, the great all-round view that results…
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