> Intensive hut-to-hut tour!
> Discover the Salzburger Sportwelt
> Staying in cozy mountain huts
Are you looking for a challenge and already have experience hiking in the mountains? In particular, Stage 18 (day 1) and Stage 21 (day 4) will put your fitness to the test. The average days are between 5 and 7 hours of hiking. Along the way you will stay in cozy mountain huts along the way. Mountain peaks, lakes, waterfalls and well-marked routes make a hike in the Salzburger Sportwelt a memorable adventure!
To start the trek, you need to take the cable car from Wagrain up to Grafenbergsee. This brings you straight into the heart of the mountains and avoids a long and strenuous climb on foot from the valley. Today's stage follows a path with a somewhat strenuous climb to the Kitzstein (also known as "Gabel") and a long descent to Kleinarl. After reaching the top of the Kitzstein, the trail descends along the western flank of the mountain. You take the footpath down into the valley where you eventually encounter the Kleinarler Hütte. This hut was completely demolished and rebuilt in 2022. Everything that could be preserved from the old hut was included in the new one. Specialty? Kaiserschmarren, of course.
Important: The cable car from Wagrain to Grafenbergsee does not operate on Mondays during high season. In the lower season, opening hours can be more limited. If you are starting your trek on a Monday, or if you simply want a shorter route for the first day, you can follow the route from Kleinarl instead.
Get ready for the toughest day of this trip. After the Waldgasthof, you will trek down through an enclosed high forest to the forest trail that will take you to Flachau. From Flachau, the road goes along the highway until you reach the "Neuer Sattelweg" and then continues uphill through the forest. The last stretch leads over the access road to the Berggasthof Sattelbauer. From there, a nice hiking path leads through the forest to the Lackenalm, and about 800 m before the alpine meadow it joins a goods path.
From here it is up to the Lackenkogel junction, where you have earned a small rest after overcoming 1,050 meters of elevation gain. You then cross the mountain pass between Ache and Tageweideck, before descending to the Gamskogelhütte. From the hut, a final stretch takes you down to the village of Zauchensee, where you will spend the night. You can save about 4 kilometers by taking the Gamskogel Bahn next to the Gamskogelhütte. Check the timetables here.
Note: In Zauchensee there are no supermarkets. If you plan on cooking, make sure to bring supplies with you. Food options on this stage are also very limited, so it is better to be well prepared. We recommend making a stop in Flachau at the start of the trek to restock if needed.
This is an easy stage with a long descent, if you take the gondola from Zauchensee back up to the Gamskogelhütte. Make sure to grab breakfast before heading up with the gondola. At the Gamskogelhütte, you can only get coffee—except on Saturdays, when they offer breakfast.
From the Gamskogelhütte, the trail starts with a short ascent to the Stubhöhe and continues with a long descent to the Vordergnadenalm. This is the end point of your hike through the Salzburg Sports World! Congratulations!
