HOHE TAUERN PANORAMA TRAIL | STAGE 12: Hundstein | Bruck an der Großglocknerstraße - Taxenbach Hiking tours

Route description:
The starting point for this stage is in front of the BRUCK FUSCH | GROSSGLOCKNER tourist information office near the church in the centre of Bruck an der Großglocknerstraße. First you cross the Salzach over a bridge, stand in front of the Hotel Lukashansl and turn left into Zellerstraße. A short time later, turn right opposite a ski hire shop onto a small tarmac path (Ww. 444 ‘Hundstein’). At another signpost, take the hiking trail that turns sharp right and winds its way up through the beautiful forest to a forest road. Follow it briefly to the left, then immediately turn right onto another forest road and immediately right again onto a hollow path, which you follow until you reach a fork in the path. Both paths lead to the destination and join up again after a while - but the Hohe Tauern Panorama Trail follows the right-hand path. You will soon reach the Taxhof, which is beautifully situated on a ridge above the Salzach Valley.

From here, two paths lead to the next farm: one leads directly up over the ridge - but you choose the left path to a forest path. Take this to the right to the aforementioned farm, the Jageregg (Ww. 444 "Hundstein"). After the meadow path you first follow the small asphalt road through a right-left bend uphill. At the Jageregg the asphalt road becomes a gravel road and you follow it for quite a while until you reach the so-called "Erlhofplatte", an idyllic plateau with a rest area.

Here you continue straight ahead onto another forest road, which crosses the west and north slopes of Hahneckkogel and Breiter Kopf for about 1 hour and 45 minutes, always slightly uphill – you will see the beautiful Lake Zeller See below throughout the walk. A few minutes after passing the so-called "Eisbrunnen", a hiking trail branches off to the right (signpost 14, 444 "Hundstein via Moosalmhöhe"). If it hasn't yet, this is when the scenery becomes truly outstanding: over a wonderful path and a few footbridges through the marshy bank areas of the small Adam and Eva lakes you reach a lodge; the Toralm. [Please note: If you stay overnight at the Moosalm, you leave the Hohe Tauern Panorama Trail here and walk down the alpine pasture via hiking trail no. 14 "Moosalm via Steig", which takes about 25 minutes] At the Toralm, you turn right and then immediately left onto a path that takes you along a panoramic ridge to the moderately high Moosalmhöhe (1,843 m) and on the other side you walk down again to an alpine road. You follow this slightly uphill path along the ridge below the Ochsenkopf until you reach a saddle between the Ochsenkopf and the Hundstein. A final steep climb directly over the ridge brings you to the Statzerhaus on the Hundstein summit (the path on the left away from the saddle bypasses the Hundstein and rejoins the route later on). You have now almost reached the top – now it's time to regain your strengths and enjoy the view: Of the many beautiful vantage points along the Hohe Tauern Panorama Trail, the Hundstein probably affords the most beautiful view.

Then, after the break on the summit, you walk down on the other side of the mountain along a road towards "Taxenbach" (path no. 12/15/410). At the third bend (to the left) a path branches off straight ahead in the direction of "Taxenbach". Walk down this initially rough path and at the next fork immediately turn right again following the signs to "Taxenbach" until you reach an alpine pasture above Lake Hundsteinsee, a walk that includes a crossing over a fence. Then the paths divide: You take the one on the right in the direction of "Taxenbach" (no. 15/15a/410). A short while later, at the next fork in the path, you follow the left-hand path in the direction of "Taxenbach" (No. 15) until you reach the saddle between the small summits of Ochsinger and Galtviehkopf.

Now you cover a last short ascent in the direction of "Taxenbach/Pfarrachhöhe (no. 15), cross below the Galtviehkopf and walk downhill over the ridge to a fence crossing on the Pfarrachhöhe above the striking crosses. You continue left over the fence and over the southeast ridge or along the fence quite a way down over alpine meadows (trail no. 15). Then get to another ridge along a path north of the Lammstein and walk downhill – crossing a forest road – to another forest road. You walk down this road to the Rieser Aste alpine inn and continue for another 40 minutes along the forest road (passing a farm at the end) to the "Rieser Aste" car park. Here you take a taxi (which you need to book in advance) to Taxenbach, which saves about an hour.

If you walk, then follow the small asphalt road along its natural route downhill until you get to Taxenbach (signpost "Taxenbach" no. 2,3). From here, the Grubenhöflweg takes you leftwards to the church. Then you walk down some steps through the cemetery and you have reached the stage destination outside the tourist information office in Taxenbach.

The walking time of approx. 7 hours applies when using the taxi from the "Rieser Aste" car park to Taxebach.

This is a very long stage. There are several ways to shorten it or to stay overnight:

• Overnight stay at Moosalm (upmarket price and quality) about 1 hour 30 minutes below Hundstein
• Overnight stay at Statzerhaus (small, basic small mountain lodge) on the summit of the Hundstein
• Taxi from "Rieser Aste" car park about 40 minutes’ walk below the Rieser Aste (time saving of about 1 hour).

PLEASE NOTE: this stage is not recommended in stormy weather, because from midday onwards you will walk along mountain ridges. If weather conditions or personal constitution do not permit this stage, this alternative route is recommended. 

7 hours walking time applies when using the taxis, otherwise it takes about 1 hour longer.

Alpine hiking equipment is required for the Hohe Tauern Panorama Trail:

• Day backpack, capacity: 20 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

https://www.nationalpark.at/en/

• Ferienregion Nationalpark Hohe Tauern Gerlosstraße 18 5730 Mittersill, Austria Phone +43 6562 40939  E-Mail: hohetauerntrail@nationalpark.at
• Booking center & info hotline Trail Angels GmbH 9821 Obervellach 15, Austria Phone +43 4782 93093 E-Mail: info@bookyourtrail.com