Hiking Collection by Mareike
4-8
days
3-6 h
/ day
48.1 mi
7,500 ft
9,625 ft
The Kristall Trail connects the Stubalm and Koralm mountain ranges. Here, in southern Styria, the term alpine doesn’t just refer to mountains, but to colourful meadows too. So don't be surprised if you read about the Stubalpe or the Koralpe. The area has fascinating geology, wildlife and plants. You will pass marble, quartz and special rock formations called ovens. You might want to bring along a botanical book or download an app on your phone to identify the plants en route. With a bit of luck, you will find pretty mountain anemones, alpine avens and auricula. There are also two plants endemic to this region, which was largely unaffected by the last Ice Age: doronicum cataractarum and a unique kind of erigeron.
You will hike between 1,100 and 2,140 metres (3,600 and 7,020 feet) as you follow the trail. The paths are generally gentle, but some parts are a bit more demanding and rocky. If you are speedy, you can complete the 75-km (45-mile) route in four days. However, feel free to adjust the itinerary to suit you – there are plenty of huts along the way to spend the night. The stages are all fairly long, so you can always split them up.
The trail is open from June to September. Make sure you check the opening hours of the huts along the way. This also determines the days that you have to bring your own lunch. You should also book your overnight stays in advance as some of the cabins have limited places.
Although there’s parking at the start in Gaberl, I wouldn’t recommend driving to the hike. The hike finishes in Soboth, which is a 24-hour mission to get back to Gaberl with public transport. Instead, take the bus line 733 to Gaberl. It leaves from Köflach in the morning on Sundays and public holidays. Then you return home directly from Soboth after the hike.
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Last updated: November 3, 2021
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On the first day of the Koralm Crystal Trail you hike across the meadows where the young Lipizzaner graze in summer. The area in the south of Styria is known for breeding this horse breed. Then you climb the highest mountain of the Stubalm, the Rappoldkogel, which rises 1,928 meters into the sky. Above…
by Mareike
The second stage is a tough one too, with a distance of 20 kilometers. It's a good thing that the path is varied. You walk through forests and cultural landscapes. A raised bog and impressive rock ovens provide for diversion along the way. You can find these striking rock formations on the meadows or…
by Mareike
Get recommendations on the best single tracks, peaks, & plenty of other exciting outdoor places.
On this comparatively short stage you can take your time and relax a little. Nevertheless, with the Großer Speikkogel, the highest peak of the Koralm and the entire Kristall Trail is on the program. It measures 2,140 meters and is therefore a bit larger than the Kleine Speikkogel (2,117 m) right next…
by Mareike
On this day, a decent descent back to the valley awaits. You walk down 1,000 meters to Soboth. Enjoy the view again at the Dreieckkogel before you descend, because from there a large part of the path leads through the forest. But that was not always so. Around 200 years ago there were far fewer trees…
by Mareike
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