Kaiserkrone: Kaiser Little Crown

You will begin your Kaiserkrone adventure in Going am Wilden Kaiser, where you can do your final shopping to be fully prepared to set off. The Kaiserkrone is a tough tour when you look at the altimeters and that starts right on the first day. In total you have to overcome more than 1.000 altimeters (3.280 feet) but fortunately you start quietly. The first 3 kilometers (1,9 miles) you walk on a relatively flat path to Hütting, the most common starting point for the route. Right after the first steps you can already enjoy the beautiful view of the Kaiser mountains.

From Hütting begins a steady climb that, after you pass Graspoint Niederalm, slowly gets steeper. Once you reach 1.550 meters (5.085 feet), you descend to Gaudeamushütte where you can take a short break before starting today's final ascent. After 1,5 kilometers (1 mile) and about an hour and a half you will arrive at the Gruttenhütte, a real mountain hut with beautiful views of the valley. Welcome to the Austrian Alps!

Today you will mainly descend towards the Hintersteiner See. After a good breakfast in the hut you will pack your backpack and take your first steps westward. After a short descent, you will walk for 3 kilometers on fairly level ground around the Treffauer Spitze, one of the peaks of the Wilder Kaiser Mountains that lies at an altitude of 2,306 meters.

From here it's another 2 kilometers on narrow roads, wooden steps and along steel cables until the trail begins to descend significantly. After descending 200 meters in altitude you will arrive at the Steiner Hochalm. If you have time, enjoy a break here and a delicious kaiserschmarrn. The last half of your hike takes you on trails where you constantly alternate between ascending and descending. Don't forget to look to your left to enjoy the beautiful view of the impressive Hintersteiner See. Your last 3.5 kilometers climb to the top of the Hochegg (1,470 meters). From here you have views of many peaks that make up the Wilder Kaiser Mountains. After you've had your fill here, descend toward the Kaindlhütte. In this cozy hut you will be spoiled with a good meal before you crawl into bed on time.

Today the tour continues towards Kufstein, the end point of the Kaiser's Little Crown. This day has relatively few hiking hours and therefore you have plenty of time to start your return trip or travel back to the starting point. For 8 kilometers you will descend almost alone and if you leave on time, you will be in the middle of Kufstein by noon. One of the sights of this town that should not be missed is the Kufstein Fortress located in the middle of town. Because it is located on a hill, it is almost impossible to miss. Once you have seen it towering above the other buildings, your Kaiser's Little Crown adventure is over. Well done and time to rest!