Guidebook

Hut Hopping in the Viennese Alps

Experience the authentic Austrian pastime of hüttenhüpfen in the high mountains closest to Vienna.

Jesse Weber

Description

The Viennese Alps are a stronghold of peaks near Austria’s capital, and they’re a favorite alpine getaway for residents of the region and visitors alike. Their soaring escarpments may at first look impassable, but the mountains are in fact traversed by trails and cableways, and many of the mountains are crowned by comparatively gentle plateaus. Scattered throughout them is a host of huts, all with generous conveniences and cuisine, but not all with convenient access–some are quite remote.

Those unaccustomed to hiking in the Alps may misinterpret the word “hut.” Here it’s not a modest shack, but a small hotel with dormitory-style rooms, a restaurant, and a bar. Some are lavish and some are rather quaint, but you can always expect your needs to be provided for. These accommodations make it possible to tour for days in the alpine with little more than a daypack and a good pair of hiking shoes. Or, you can simply enjoy an all-day hike with a satisfying meal at both ends of the journey.

Thanks to the huts, you can focus more on the numbers of kilometers traveled and peaks climbed, rather than kilograms of the things you must carry. You can have action-packed days in the elements, then rest easy at night between insulated walls. The network of trails and cableways makes it easy to select as much or as little challenge as you desire, and the huts provide your comfortable home in the mountains. Consult this list of hut-hopping routes in the Viennese Alps to find your ideal adventure.

Hut hopping in the Raxalpe area (Number 1)

Hut hopping in the Raxalpe area (Number 1)

4 - 5 hrs
16.6 km
672 m
1,150 m
Hiking from hut to hut - "hut hopping" - in the Rax is one of the most popular trails in the region. It means being able to hike in subalpine heights, through meadows and the mountain pine zone, without having to tackle difficult gradients.
Difficult
Private
2-Tages-Wanderung am Raxplateau

2-Tages-Wanderung am Raxplateau

7 - 8 hrs
23.5 km
1,408 m
1,408 m
Beautiful and easy two-day hike on the Rax plateau leading to 5 peaks.
Difficult
Private
Familienwanderung zum Waxriegelhaus im Naturpark Mürzer Oberland

Familienwanderung zum Waxriegelhaus im Naturpark Mürzer Oberland

1 - 2 hrs
3.0 km
286 m
284 m
A real family hike for young and old with a recommendable mountain hut and scenic trail passages. We always hike along the border of Lower Austria and Styria.
Easy
Private
Wanderung zum Ottohaus (vom Knappenhof)

Wanderung zum Ottohaus (vom Knappenhof)

2 - 3 hrs
4.4 km
876 m
4 m
The footpath from the Knappenhof via the Törlweg is the perfect mountain hike to the Ottohaus on the Raxalpe.
Moderate
Private
Hüttenhüpfen auf der Raxalpe (Variante 5)

Hüttenhüpfen auf der Raxalpe (Variante 5)

4 - 5 hrs
14.6 km
984 m
985 m
Hiking from hut to hut - skipping on the Rax - is one of the most popular hikes in the region. It means being able to travel in subalpine heights, on alpine meadows and in the mountain pine zone, without having to cope with difficult climbs.
Difficult
Private
Vom Altenberger Tal über den Ameisbühel auf die Schneealm

Vom Altenberger Tal über den Ameisbühel auf die Schneealm

3 - 4 hrs
10.8 km
875 m
875 m
A beautiful and panoramic hike leads us from the Altenberg valley via the Nasskamm and the Karl Alm to the Schneealm and on to the summit cross at the Schauerkogel.
Moderate
Private
Rundtour über die Schneealm im Naturpark Mürzer Oberland

Rundtour über die Schneealm im Naturpark Mürzer Oberland

5 - 6 hrs
18.8 km
924 m
930 m
*Snowy ground feeling - simply indescribably good*. From the natural bathing pond Urani we drive by car on the toll road to the car park Kohlebnerstand. From there we follow the steeper, slightly rocky path along the edge of the summit to the highest point of the Schneealm, the Windberg. The trail continues to the right of the summit along a meadow path back to the alpine pasture floor. We cross it to the Lurgbauerhütte ( http://www.lurgikas.at ). Then we ascend to Ameisbühel and then to the summit cross on the Schauerwand. From there we hike on to the snow penguin house ( http://www.schneealm.at ) and back to the parking lot.
Easy
Private
Auf den Kreuzberg- Speckbacherhütte

Auf den Kreuzberg- Speckbacherhütte

3 - 4 hrs
12.8 km
674 m
674 m
This easy hike leads from the summer resort of Payerbach to the Kreuzberg and the Speckbacherhütte, offering wonderful views of the Semmering Railway World Heritage Site as well as the Rax, Schneeberg and the beautiful Schwarzatal valleys. A short detour leads to the Loos house on the descent.
Moderate
Private
Anspruchsvoller Wandertipp von Payerbach nach Puchberg

Anspruchsvoller Wandertipp von Payerbach nach Puchberg

1 day +
35.5 km
2,151 m
2,067 m
Two-day hike over the Schneeberg. The trail along the Vienna Alpine Arc and the regional routes lead from Payerbach via Schneeberg to the certified hiking village of Puchberg am Schneeberg.
Severe
Private
Hochschneeberg/Klosterwappen plateau hike

Hochschneeberg/Klosterwappen plateau hike

2 - 3 hrs
7.3 km
345 m
345 m
The hiking route from the Schneeberg plateau at an altitude of 1800m, to the summit of Klosterwappen, 2075m above sea level.
Moderate
Private
Vom Kurpark Reichenau über den Thalhof auf die Knofeleben

Vom Kurpark Reichenau über den Thalhof auf die Knofeleben

2 - 3 hrs
6.6 km
775 m
9 m
Let's experience a hike from the spa park in Reichenau via the historic Thalhof through the Eng to the nature friend house Knofeleben.
Moderate
Private
2 Tage durch das Piestingtal wandern

2 Tage durch das Piestingtal wandern

1 day +
32.3 km
1,407 m
1,494 m
Two-day hike in the upper Piestingtal valley along the Vienna Alpine arc from Pernitz to Markt Piesting with overnight stay in the Waxeneckhaus (please note opening times).
Moderate
Private
Wanderung auf die Große Kanzel (von Pension Seiser)

Wanderung auf die Große Kanzel (von Pension Seiser)

1 - 2 hrs
3.0 km
371 m
161 m
The family-friendly ascent to the Große Kanzel leads from the Pension Seiser Toni via the Grafenbergweg to the Wilhelm-Eichert-Hütte, Turmsteighütte and Hubertushaus.
Moderate
Private
Naturpark Hohe Wand Rundwanderweg - auf Wildenauers Spuren

Naturpark Hohe Wand Rundwanderweg - auf Wildenauers Spuren

2 - 3 hrs
8.1 km
403 m
378 m
We follow in the footsteps of Pastor Alois Wildenauer, the most renowned pioneer of the development phase of the Hohe Wand. Cosy shelters and wonderful views await us. With a bit of luck we also meet chamois and ibex.
Difficult
Private
Wandertipp für Fortgeschrittene: Pitten–Grimmenstein

Wandertipp für Fortgeschrittene: Pitten–Grimmenstein

6 - 7 hrs
24.5 km
828 m
749 m
Pleasant day trip in the northern Buckligen world from Pitten via Thernberg and Kaltenberg to Grimmenstein.
Easy
Private
Walpersbacher Rundwanderweg (WA 1)

Walpersbacher Rundwanderweg (WA 1)

3 - 4 hrs
13.0 km
512 m
512 m
The Walpersbach circular hiking trail leads over woods and meadows through the districts of Stupfenreith and Klingfurth, past the Harrathof/Grafengrab vantage point and over a section of the trail along the Vienna Alpine Arc.
Moderate
Private
Wanderung zur Neuwaldhütte (von Unternberg)

Wanderung zur Neuwaldhütte (von Unternberg)

2 - 3 hrs
6.0 km
485 m
244 m
Beautiful hike from Unternberg near St. Corona to the Neuwaldhütte, a self-catering hut on the Kampstein.
Easy
Private
Wanderung zum Herrgottschnitzer-Franz Kaupe-Haus (von St. Corona)

Wanderung zum Herrgottschnitzer-Franz Kaupe-Haus (von St. Corona)

1 - 2 hrs
4.1 km
486 m
12 m
Via forest roads, past grazing cows on the alpine meadows, one gets from the centre of St. Corona up to the Herrgottschnitzer-Fanz-Kaupe-Haus).
Moderate
Private
Schwaigenwanderung am Wechsel

Schwaigenwanderung am Wechsel

3 - 4 hrs
14.5 km
449 m
449 m
A hike over the Schwaigen at Wechsel. In the extensive alternating landscape there is a special feature, the so-called "Schwaigen": expansive alpine pastures with alpine huts. They shape the landscape and are at the same time attractive nature experiences.
Moderate
Private
Hüttenwanderung am Hochwechsel

Hüttenwanderung am Hochwechsel

5 - 6 hrs
21.6 km
800 m
800 m
A hike over alpine meadows and Schwaigen. Schwaigen, that's how you call the alpine pastures here. And these, together with the Wetterkoglerhaus, the Rabl Kreuz Hütte and the Kaltwiesenhütte, are arranged along a circular hiking trail in such a way that all thirsty and hungry hikers can be provided for without any problems. In addition, the 1,743 m high Hochwechsel with one of the most beautiful panoramas of the Alpenostrand awaits hikers.
Difficult
Private