The Königsweg - Complete tour

STAGE 1: FROM MARIA ALM TO DIENTEN

You can comfortably take the Natrunbahn up to the local mountain of Maria Alm – the starting point of your hike. Follow trail no. 401A past the forest rope park to Prinzensee, where the mountain panorama is reflected. Continue on a two-way shared trail to Jufenalm – expect mountain bikers here. Across alpine meadows and a short wooded area, you reach Pichlhof, follow its driveway downhill to the federal road and cross it.

Hike about 100 meters along the Urslau, cross a small bridge, and follow the idyllic Au path to Hinterthal. Shortly before the church in the village center, turn right on trail no. 401A towards Aueralm and Mußbachalm. After a cozy rest with alpine delicacies, continue uphill on the old, almost treeless alpine path to the junction with the ÖAV path 436. Here, a last view of the eastern Stone Sea is worthwhile.

On trails no. 401A/436 you hike over alpine paths, trails, and a raised bog to Pichlalm. After a short break at Pichlalm, take trail no. 68 towards Filzensattel. From there, the hiking bus comfortably takes you to Dienten.

Optional: On foot to Dienten Cross the Hochkönig federal road and follow the path up to the forest road (trail no. 50) towards Grünegg – Gabühel. After about 2 km, you reach junction no. 52 to Dienten, where it goes downhill across terrain. In the valley, the first houses appear before the path leads back into the woods and finally joins an asphalt road. Follow this to the snack station Almhäusl, then continue towards Dienten. Soon you will see the village entrance, pass the ski center (with tourist office), and enjoy a view of the parish church from a hill. Additional walking time: approx. 1 hour.

STAGE 2: FROM DIENTEN TO MÜHLBACH

The hiking bus towards Mühlbach takes you to the stop at the Erichhütte car park – the starting point for today's hike. Follow trail no. 432 and enjoy the impressive natural landscape on the approximately 30-minute ascent to Erichhütte. At the top, you are rewarded with a fantastic panoramic view of the snow-covered peaks of the High Tauern. After a short break, continue on trails no. 436/401A towards Arthurhaus. Ahead looms the impressive, 800-meter-high Hochkönig south face, before the wide alpine meadows of the Four Huts open up.

For lunch break, the Brandstätthütte or Molterau hut invite you. Afterwards, it's a gentle descent into the Riedingtal valley with striking waterfalls and the majestic Großer Bratschenkopf in the background. The path leads past the natural jumping hills of the former Bubi Bradl ski jumping center in Riedingtal. After a short forest section, you reach Windraucheggalm. The last flat stretch to Arthurhaus and Schweizerhütte – known for its cheese specialties – rounds off the tour delightfully. From Arthurhaus, the hiking bus comfortably takes you to the center of Mühlbach.

Optional: Those who prefer to hike down to the valley should plan about 2 hours extra. The descent is worthwhile: from Arthurhaus, follow the Mitterberger Erzweg no. 85 with stations and information boards about Mühlbach’s mining history. Over forest and farm paths, past copper mining tunnels and old mining houses, you reach the village center.

STAGE 3 AROUND MÜHLBACH

Start today's stage of the hike in Mühlbach at the service center. Cross the bridge next to the Spar supermarket parking lot and turn right to follow the small path along the Mühlbach stream. After 50 meters, trail no. 17 branches left and leads you up a steep path to Alpinhotel Marmotta. Follow the asphalt road, which changes into the farm lane "Reithgut." Turn left enjoying picturesque views of Mühlbach and the impressive Hochkönig up to Brennergut. The trail continues to the right, passes former farmhouses, and leads over lush pastures into Kreistengraben until you reach Althaussattel. A short break on the panoramic terrace of Althausalm (a short detour on trail no. 79 towards Schneeberg) is recommended. From Althaussattel, a short steep climb on a forest road leads to the Hubertus Chapel, built by the local hunters in honor of their patron. Trail no. 79 leads you over a larger parking area to the left into the forest, where you can walk gently uphill. Enjoy the fresh forest air, the scent of moss and pine cones, and the birdsong. A quiet oasis with cozy wooden loungers invites you to linger and offers a magnificent mountain panorama. After about five minutes of walking, you reach a crossroads. For a summit detour to Hochglocker, follow trail no. 23 (additional walking time about 1.5 hours). The view into the Salzach valley and its side valleys is definitely worth it. Further towards Mühlbach, trail no. 79 leads you. The forest road descends slightly to Pronebenalm. Here you can enjoy not only a hearty snack platter but also homemade herbal specialties, as Pronebenalm belongs to the Hochkönig herbal alms. It's hard to leave the coziness of the alpine hut, but the next stop, Paussbauer, is also worth a visit. You can expect a panoramic terrace with a fantastic view, and the specialties from the farm itself must definitely be tasted. The descent back to the village goes via the so-called Paussenberg gallery. On the 2.5 km long exhibition route, seven sculptures by local artists provide breathtaking views in and out of Mühlbach. A rich hiking day comes to an end.

STAGE 4 FROM MÜHLBACH TO DIENTEN

Starting point is the Mühlbach service center. Cross the parking lot of the Spar supermarket and the bridge. Then turn right onto the village promenade, trail no. 15. Following this path, past the mill with the Kneipp facility, you reach the valley station of the Karbachalm cable car after about 1.5 km. With the Karbachalm cable car, you overcome 670 vertical meters comfortably and quickly. After a short panoramic view of the surrounding mountains, the actual tour begins. On trail no. 15, you hike uphill, passing the Bergstation Karbachalm on the left, on a meadow and forest path to the Mühlbach ski hut. Then continue over gentle alpine meadows and finally a short, steep section through rocky terrain before reaching the highest point of this tour, the Schneeberg with summit cross (1,921 m). Here a short rest is offered to enjoy the unique mountain panorama. From here, the path no. 15 leads gently downhill, through blueberry bushes and heather, past wind-ravaged trees. The path leads to a saddle and then to the Klausalm cross. Before climbing again, keep right and follow trail no. 57a to Sunnhüttl. On the flat, treeless trail no. 63, accompanied by the majestic mountain scenery of the Hochkönig, continue hiking towards Dienten. Before the mountain station of the Zachhofalm cable car, this path merges again with trail no. 15, passes the mountain station and the summit cross of the Wastlhöhe (1,737 m). Continuing over alpine meadows and pastures, you reach Bürglalm, which invites you to a last rest with splendid views of the surrounding mountains (alternatively, the wider gravel trail no. 63). Afterwards, trail no. 15 goes slightly steeper downhill, past Plaudereggalm. After crossing a forest path, you already see the picturesque mountain village of Dienten. A short section downhill on a forestry road branches left on trail no. 5. The last section of this day tour leads steeper downhill again, through a forest area and then over meadows into the village of Dienten. Total walking time is about 5 hours. The COZY variant (using the summer lifts): On some days, the Karbachalm cable car in Mühlbach and the Bürglalm cable car in Dienten operate at the same time. These summer lifts help with the ascent to Karbachalm or the descent to Dienten from Bürglalm. The total walking time is about 3.5 hours.

STAGE 5 FROM DIENTEN TO MARIA ALM

Today's stage starts at the Dienten service center, from where you walk down through the picturesque village of Dienten towards Lend. Between the Hotel Hochkönig and the parsonage, continue your path. The ÖAV trail no. 440 first leads you to the Kirchbühel hill, from where you can enjoy a breathtaking view of the mountain village with the majestic Hochkönig in the background. Further along trail no. 440, you hike somewhat steeper uphill, first over a meadow and later through dense forest. After crossing the forest road and a babbling mountain stream, the path leads briefly through the forest before you reach the Sommereralm alpine pasture, which is not managed. Along trail no. 440, you pass an idyllic alpine hut, cross a short wooded section, and then again over wide alpine meadows to the forest edge. A wide alpine path takes you along the forest edge to a fork where you keep left and soon reach the Lettenalm, also not managed. Here you can enjoy a short break with a breathtaking panorama. Trail no. 440 continues gently uphill to the "Mühllehen gate," where the valley opens and you can see the distinctive summit of Klingspitz (1,988 m) on the right. After the gate, keep right and follow trail no. 440, which leads you over gentle alpine meadows to the Marbachhöhe (approx. 1,840 m). On the Marbachhöhe ridge, the narrow hiking path winds through blueberry bushes, heather, and further alpine meadows. At the fork at the foot of Klingspitz, stay on trail no. 440. If you take trail no. 14, you can do a hike over the peaks of Hundstein and Hochkaser, which takes about half an hour of additional walking time. But the view rewards all the effort with a fantastic panorama. The route leads pleasantly ups and downs past Ochsinger and the Hundstein lake. After the mountain lake, a somewhat steeper ascent to Hundstein follows, followed by a longer descent to Maria Alm. A detour to the highest point of the day, Hundstein at 2,117 m, requires an additional walking time of 45 minutes. The descent into the valley takes place along trail no. 445 towards Langegg. From Langegg, trail no. 445 follows the signs to Grießbachalm. The path goes over partly open areas with a slight descent. After reaching Grießbachalm, which invites you to stop for refreshments, it continues downhill to Schranbachalm, which is not managed. It continues steadily downhill, past the Christernreith mountain inn. Here you have the possibility to take a taxi (at a cost). The telephone numbers are: +43 6584 7191, +43 6584 2121 or +43 6584 2010. The further route passes the dreamy farm of the Wastlbauer and leads you along a lovely wooded section until you finally reach the access road to the parking lot of the Aberg ski center. From there, the hiking bus takes you to the center of Maria Alm.