Description

Starting and finishing in Königsleiten - itself a pretty quiet place in summer - this is about as wild as non-technical one day hikes get.

From Königsleiten, leave the village northwards on a good path and descend into the lower part of the Salzach valley before climbing up next to a forest to reach a jeep track.

Get onto this and begin climbing up towards the Salzachjochhütte. The track is easy to travel up and never gets particularly steep so the height gain feels easy enough, and the views are utterly spectacular throughout.

Just when you're finding your rhythm you'll arrive at the Salzachjochhütte, which is a great spot at which to grab a coffee before doing the next part of the ascent.

Newly full of caffeine, carry on going up the jeep track as it continues to climb into the upper part of the Salzach valley.

The track crosses the river at the foot of the valley and then climbs up to a remote farm, at which point you turn left and begin the final ascent up towards the Salzachjoch col.

The last bit of the climb is utterly spectacular and feels remarkably remote and wild.

The col itself is a pretty desolate spot and has an alpine ambience which makes it feel much higher than it really is.

It also catches all the wind going so you're unlikely to be able to stop for long and remain warm.... Keep hiking northwards from the col on a good but rocky and occasionally steep path which winds down to the Neue Bamberger Hut, which is nestled into a hillside just above a river.

Get inside and avail yourself of a typically hearty Austrian lunch! Once you're done replenishing calories, earn a few more by retracing your steps back to Königsleiten, enjoying the views across the Hohe Tauern National Park all the way.