HOHE TAUERN PANORAMA TRAIL | Stage 01: Krimmler Wasserfälle | Krimml-Hochkrimml Hiking tours

Starting point
Tourist information Krimml

Finishing point
Alpengasthof Filzstein at Hochkrimml

Route type
Hiking tours

From the start of your trail at the Tourist Information office, you walk up the road to the left of the church to a larger road. This street - it is the promenade in Krimml - you follow to the left through the village, past a gas station to the Hotel Klockerhaus and reach the Gerlospassstraße. Turn right and after parking lot 2 turn left over the crosswalk to a sidewalk. Now do not go straight ahead towards "Krimmler Wasserfälle", but follow the Tauernradweg diagonally down to the left. At the next two junctions, don't turn left downhill, but go straight ahead - you will find yourself on a gravel path at the end of the street. Continue along this path until you reach the gravel road - turn right and then left at a house over the stream Krimmler Ache by a wooden bridge. You are now on the "Alter Tauernweg", an ancient trade route that was already used by the Romans.

First to the right and then directly at the waterfalls to the left along the beautiful old trade route along the waterfalls up to a forest road. Even though you will not see the waterfalls until you descend, this trail through a mossy forest covered with ferns is wild and romantic.  Take the forest road 50 m to the right and then immediately left again, following the hiking trail up to another road. A few minutes to the right to your highest point (1.482 m) at the waterfalls.

Now turn sharp right, cross the Krimmler Ache and you are now on the well-known waterfall trail, which promises you fantastic views of the roaring waters as you descend on the other side of the Krimml Waterfalls. You walk down this path with great view balconies on the waterfall - straight ahead at a crossroads, following the "Waterfall Path" on the right at the next fork and passing a building on the left - until you reach Café Hanke's at the foot of the Krimml Waterfalls. Continue straight on to the ticket office (the "Wasserfallweg" is subject to an extra charge but there is free admission with the Nationalpark Sommercard and the "Zell am See-Kaprun Sommerkarte" - more information under "Service".) and up the small asphalt road. You use an underpass to cross under the Gerlospass road and you are now standing in front of the building of the "Wasserwelten". This visitor center around the theme of water and the Krimml Waterfalls is definitely worth a visit. (free admission if you have the National Park Sommercard or the Zell am See-Kaprun Summer Card - more info under "Service").

For the continuation of the trail, keep right for about 50 m on Gerlospassstraße, cross the underpass and continue to parking lot 4, where the Krimml Panorama Trail begins with a large archway, which you now follow for some time. Follow the signs "Panoramaweg" and turn right at a fork in the road, cross a bridge and continue to houses. Here on the left, through a beautiful avenue to the birthplace of Anton Wallner, a famous freedom fighter. You turn left behind the house into a small asphalt road towards Burgeck. After a small right-left loop, you follow a very beautiful meadow path with a great view of Krimml and the Krimml Waterfalls to Gasthof Burgeck. Directly past the inn you will reach a hiking trail signed as "Schönmoosalm/Breitscharte".

Follow the path and leave the area of Krimml. At a fork a short time later you choose the right way in direction "Gh. Filzstein", your stage destination. Cross a bridge and follow the left forest path uphill towards "Filzstein". Through a beautiful forest you climb up in many bends, cross under the Gerlos Pass road and reach the Alpengasthof Filzstein (1.641 m) in Hochkrimml via the hiking trail (at the very end via a small asphalt road).

You need alpine hiking equipment for the Hohe Tauern Panorama Trail:

• Day backpack, capacity: 25–30 litres, with waist belt and rain cover 
• Hiking boots – minimum category B 
• Weather-adapted and hard-wearing clothing in multiple layers. The Hohe Tauern Panorama Trail is mostly at altitudes between 1,300m and 2,450m - this should be taken into account when choosing your hiking equipment (especially your clothing).
• Height-adjustable trekking poles
• Sun and rain protection
• Make sure take enough to eat and sufficiently large water bottles with you, as there are not refreshment stops and fountains on all stages (e.g. on stages 5 and 7).
• First aid kit
• Pocket knife
• Mobile phone
• Tour description or hiking map

• www.hohetauerntrail.at
• Ferienregion Nationalpark Hohe TauernGerlosstraße 18 5730 Mittersill, AustriaPhone +43 6562 40939  E-Mail: hohetauerntrail@nationalpark.at
• Booking center & info hotlineTrail Angels GmbH9821 Obervellach 15, AustriaPhone +43 4782 93093E-Mail: info@bookyourtrail.com