Kaiserkrone

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 the altimeters turn around and you will mainly descend towards the Hintersteiner See. After a good breakfast in the mountain hut you will pack your backpack and take your first steps westward. After a short descent you will walk for 4 kilometers (2,5 miles) 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 (7.565 feet).

From here it is another 2 kilometers (1,2 miles) on narrow roads, wooden steps and along steel cables until the trail begins to descend significantly. After descending 500 meters (1.640 feet) in altitude you will arrive at the start of the Hintersteiner See. If you have the time, you can enjoy the sun on a large lawn in front of the Seestüberl and possibly cool off in the water. However, keep in mind that you still have to walk 3 kilometers (1,8 miles) along the lake before you reach your accommodation.