> Hike through Austria’s wildest national park at your own pace
> Sleep in Oberst-Klinke-Hütte, Haindlkarhütte, and Mödlingerhütte
> We book your huts, you bring the smiles
Ever heard the sound of silence? The real kind—broken only by the wind in the trees and the rush of alpine rivers? That’s the Gesäuse for you: Austria's wildest national park and a paradise for hikers who like their mountains rugged, their paths uncrowded, and their adventure authentic.
Your Gesäuse adventure begins in the quiet village of Johnsbach and gently leads you into the lush green heart of Austria’s wildest national park. The trails are smooth, the scenery spectacular—think alpine meadows, curious marmots, and crystal-clear mountain streams. Each day brings a new highlight, with just the right mix of challenge and ease. Perfect for trekkers who love to take their time and savour the journey.
The Intermediate Gesäuse Trek is your ticket to four days of pure mountain magic. Picture yourself hiking through deep valleys carved by the Enns River, crossing panoramic ridges with jaw-dropping views, and sleeping in traditional Austrian mountain huts where the beer is cold and the hospitality is warm.
From the hut you descend fast on meadow trails and forest tracks, dropping almost 900 metres to the farms and church of the Johnsbach valley. The route then eases along lanes and riverside paths on the valley floor, with views back to the ridge and forward to the dark north walls ahead.
From the Haindlkar car park the final climb begins, gaining about 500 metres through rooty forest and rocky steps. Shortly before the hut there is roughly 1 kilometre of T3/T4 trail. Above the trees the walls of Hochtor and Großer Ödstein close in and the Haindlkarhütte appears on its grassy balcony, a snug place to drop your pack and unwind.
From the hut a steep, sometimes loose trail drops around 500 metres through pine and forest to the flat Enns valley. You follow riverside paths, gravel tracks and short roadside sections past picnic spots and benches with sweeping views to Großer and Kleiner Buchstein. Near Gstatterboden the character changes and a sustained climb of roughly 900 metres begins, first on forest roads, later on narrower zigzags through spruce and pasture.
Emerging above the trees you reach the balcony of the Ennstalerhütte with wide views over the Enns valley and the limestone towers of the Gesäuse. The hut sits just below the ridge that leads to the Tamischbachturm, and often feels pleasantly detached from the world. It is an easy place to linger on the terrace, share stories with other hikers and watch the light fade from the peaks.
You’ll receive access to our trekking app, which serves as your complete digital travel guide for the Gesäuse Trek . Inside, you’ll find everything you need for your trek: route descriptions, hiking maps, navigation support, payment information, and all the key details specific to your journey.
During the trek, you’ll stay overnight in mountain huts. Accommodation is booked in dormitories (Lager) by default. Some huts offer private rooms (€50 per room, per night) or Mehrbettzimmer / small shared rooms (€12.50 per person, per night), subject to limited availability. If you’d like an upgrade, you can leave a comment while booking or email us immediately after booking. If a private room isn’t available, your booking will be placed in a Mehrbettzimmer or dormitory instead.
Accommodation in the huts includes dinner and breakfast, unless otherwise indicated in the exclusive list. This allows you to travel lighter and not have to worry about an extra meal. Please note, however, that lunch is not included, but can be purchased at the huts.
Our trekking app also includes built-in navigation support. With GPS-based maps and offline access, you can follow the trail confidently and stay on route even without mobile signal.
You have to make your own way to the starting point. The total amount does not include personal transport.
Should you need any form of (public) transport on location, this is not part of the trekking package. This includes the use of taxi, bus, cable cars, gondolas, ferries, etc.
Half-board is included in the price of this trek. Lunch, however, is not. Many huts offer packed lunches, which can usually be requested the night before. Alternatively, you can stop for lunch at mountain huts along the way.
Your international travel insurance is your own responsibility. Discuss your itinerary with the insurance company before your trek.
Personal expenses on such as souvenirs, drinks, and other similar expenses are for your own account.
The Mödlingerhütte only accepts cash payments on site. Bookatrekking.com takes care of your reservation but you will need to complete the payment on arrival. The reservation includes your stay plus half board and costs approximately €75 per person. Make sure you bring enough cash.
