The King's Trail 4th stage (Dienten - Maria Alm)

STAGE 5 FROM DIENTEN TO MARIA ALM

Today's stage starts at the service center, from where you hike down through the picturesque village of Dienten towards Lend. Between the Hotel Hochkönig and the parish farm, you continue on your way. The ÖAV trail 440 first leads you up to the rise of Kirchbühel, from where you can enjoy a breathtaking view of the mountain village with the majestic Hochkönig in the background. Continuing along trail no. 440, you hike a bit steeper uphill, first over a pasture and later through dense forest. After crossing the forest road and the babbling mountain brook, the path leads briefly through the forest before you reach the Sommereralm over alpine meadows, which is, however, not managed.

Along trail no. 440, you pass the idyllic alpine hut, cross a short forest section, and then return over wide alpine meadows to the forest edge. A wide alpine path leads you along the forest edge to a fork in the road, where you keep left and soon reach the Lettenalm, also not managed. Here you can enjoy the breathtaking panorama during a short break. Trail no. 440 then leads slightly uphill to the "Mühllehen Gate", where the valley opens and you see the distinctive summit of the 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 ridge of the Marbachhöhe, the narrow hiking trail winds through blueberry bushes, heather, and more alpine meadows. At the fork at the foot of the Klingspitz, stay on trail no. 440. If you take trail no. 14, you can extend your hike over the summits of Hundstein and Hochkaser, which, however, requires an additional half hour of walking time. But the view rewards all the effort with a fantastic panorama.

The route leads with a comfortable up and down past Ochsinger and the Hundstein Lake. After the mountain lake, a somewhat steeper ascent towards Hundstein awaits you, followed by a longer descent to Maria Alm. A detour to the highest point of the day, the Hundstein at 2,117 m, requires an additional 45 minutes of walking time. The descent into the valley follows trail no. 445 towards Langegg. From Langegg trail no. 445, follow the signs towards Grießbachalm. The path leads over partly open areas with a slight descent. After reaching the Grießbachalm, which invites you to stop for a break, continue downhill to the Schranbachalm, which is not managed, however. It continues steadily downhill past the mountain inn Christernreith. Here you have the option to be picked up by taxi (charged). The phone numbers are: +43 6584 7191, +43 6584 2121, or +43 6584 2010.

The further route takes you past the dreamy farm of Wastlbauer and along an enchanting forest 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.