Description

This is a brilliant ride taking in a huge amount of amazing scenery in return for very little effort on your part.

Ride both sections of the Rosenalmbahn gondola to the top station and then saddle up and follow a jeep track which initially goes north-east and then swings around south and climbs gently to pass under the cables of the Karspitzebahn.

Keep climbing and then pass around a blunt rib and begin descending gently towards the Kreuzwiesenalm.

In a breathtakingly strong field, this might be one of the best located huts in all of Austria; it faces south and has truly magnificent views across the nearby peaks such as the Brandberger Kolm (which is described elsewhere in FATMAP) and the big, wild peaks of the Tauern region such as the Reichenspitze.

As if all that wasn't enough, it's an exceptionally welcoming place with a wonderful terrace and even a trampoline to play on! Tear yourself away and make a long, undulating traverse beneath the Richtberg on a beautiful jeep track which hangs high above the village of Gmünd.

You'll pass some charming, bucolic chalets on the traverse and there's not much uphill remaining after you leave the Kreuzwiesenalm so you can take time to enjoy the mountains and farm buildings.

Eventually the track begins to descend and zig zags down to the road which links Gmünd with Gerlos. Turn right on the road and follow it through Gmünd and on to Hainzenberg before zipping down some fun hairpin bends back to the foot of the Rosenalmbahn gondola.