Wide views over Austria’s Dachstein Massif – Panorama Trail 100

Your long-distance hike starts at the train station in Mandling in the green Enns Valley, surrounded by majestic mountains. If you want to arrive the day before, you can stay in one of the accommodations in town. At the beginning of the first stage, it goes flat along the main road until you turn left into the forest. At Warterdorf, the path becomes steeper and takes you up the first hill of your seven-day circular hike.You reach a wide plateau, from which you can enjoy a fantastic view of the rocky Dachstein massif. Even in summer there can still be snow on the peaks. If you need a break, you can indulge in Styrian delicacies at Jausenplatzl Astlhof - as everyone knows, seed oil makes every dish better.Strengthened you march on and come past colorful fields and traditional courtyards. Your destination today is Ramsau am Dachstein, where you will find many accommodation options. At the end of the first day you can jump into the Ramsau bathing pond or visit the evangelical church.

The next day begins as the first one ended - with a breathtaking view of the Dachstein massif. You leave Ramsau am Dachstein to the south and follow the course of the Knollbach. After a few minutes' walk you hike through the picturesque town of Kulm with its rustic, flower-decorated houses. You always have the Dachstein in view.After almost five kilometers you can take a first break in the small Sattelberghütte, a coffee and a piece of strudel can't hurt. With new strength we continue downhill through the forest to Weißenbach. In the Kneipp facility just outside the village, you can cool your warmed up feet and enjoy the view.Then you follow the road to Aich, where the leisure lake invites you to a swim. Via Assach you get to the banks of the Enns, which here flows a little wider through the landscape than in Mandling. Following the Enns, you will reach your destination in Pruggern, which has a train station.

A demanding climb awaits you right at the start of the third stage: From Pruggern, you climb the mountain in serpentines. You can reach the highest point at over 1,100 meters at the refuge at the junction to the summit of Freienstein. If the 21 kilometers of today's stage are not enough for you, you can take a detour to the promising summit.Otherwise it goes on shady forest paths down to Stoderstrasse. There the rustic Gröbminger Alm invites you to a well-deserved break. After a short rest you hike through the varied landscape - through small towns, quiet forests and past wide meadows.After eleven kilometers you will reach Groebming. The market town enchants with its historical buildings and the beautiful spa park. With a view of the Sölktal, you march above the Enns towards Öblarn and pass the stately Gstatt Castle. After you have crossed the Enns, you will reach your destination Öblarn, which has a connection to the train network. Here you will find a good selection of inns and hotels.

After a night in Öblarn you walk past the parish church and follow the tracks to Bach. There you turn onto the Moarzreiterweg and hike through the wonderful forests of the Sölktäler Nature Park. You will soon reach the striking Stein an der Enns branch church, which towers on a hill above the village. The Hubertus restaurant is ideal for a refreshment before heading uphill again. The Gelsenbergweg leads you up a wooded slope.After you have crossed the Tunzendorfer Bach, the trees clear and you enter an open area with several manors. Past the handsome courtyards you dive into the forest again and reach Michaelerberg a little later. You enjoy a wide view of the Enns Valley and the Schladminger Tauern. Today's destination is the cozy Michaelerberghaus, which will spoil you with Styrian dishes at the end of the fourth stage of the panorama trail.

The fifth stage starts with an impressive view from the Michaelerberghaus. From there, the path winds down to the Sattentalbach and then climbs again immediately. You zigzag up to the Pirklalm, where you can enjoy wonderful views of the Stoderzinken and the lunch peak.Through shady forests and over wide alpine meadows it goes through the hilly landscape. You can look forward to a lot of rest and wonderfully fresh mountain air. After 16 kilometers you will reach the first stop: You can relax on the terrace of the tranquil Schmiedalm and try a delicious snack. There is a small pond behind the hut, which reflects the surrounding mountains.Strengthened you follow the path to the cable cars at Hauser Kaibling. You hike under the cable car and then down along the Hauserbach to Haus im Ennstal. In the village, summer and winter, mountain lovers and athletes frolic and enjoy the great panorama.

The sixth stage, at almost 17 kilometers and 720 meters in altitude, is the most demanding of the 100 Schladming-Dachstein panorama trail. From Haus im Ennstal you climb the Ernest-Reitzner-Weg at the beginning of this day. Follow the shady paths through the forest below the Tauern cable car until you reach the small Salleitner pond. The water, surrounded by lush greenery, is an important habitat for insects and amphibians.Afterwards, the tour continues to the unmanaged Gföllalm. You leave the colorful alpine meadows, dive back into the forest and cross babbling brooks where you can refresh yourself. After ten kilometers, the trees clear and the route takes you along the Schladming local mountains, where the famous ski area is in winter.If you need a refreshment, you can take a detour to the nearby Wieslech Alm. From the terrace you can see Schladming and the surrounding mountains. Accompanied by beautiful valley views, you hike under cable cars and finally reach the village of Untertal. On the idyllic Untertalbach you can end the day in the Landalm restaurant.

The last stage already begins, which leads you back to the starting point of the long-distance hiking trail: After a night in the tranquil Untertal, you hike steadily uphill and pass meadows and pastures. You will be accompanied by breathtaking views of the Dachstein massif with its peaks up to 2,995 meters high.After you have crossed Rohrmoosstraße, the fairytale path awaits you with its charming wooden figures and stations. You walk past Frau Holle and Schneewittchen and reach the highest point of this stage at the Alpenhof reservoir. From here it only goes downhill. Curved paths and side streets lead you down into the Enns valley, where you march over green meadows that are used as ski slopes in winter.In Gleiming you can take a break in one of the inns. You hike the last section of the Panoramaweg 100 Schladming-Dachstein along the Enns and return to Mandling. If you don't want to go home straight away, I recommend the short ascent to the quaint snack station in Mandlberg.