Via Alpina

1st stage: 14 km route, 929 m ascent, 5 hours walking time.

From Bischofshofen town centre we start the hike on the Gaisbergstraße, behind the Gasthof Schützenhof, via the cemetery to the famous ski jump area. An interesting ski jumping trail runs along this road. After about 10 minutes on foot we reach the extensive ski jump area. To the left of the Austria House, a small meadow path leads over the fitness course in the direction of the waterfall, which we reach after about 5 minutes.

At the small crossroads we can choose from 2 routes:

Option 1: Turn right and walk along the newly built waterfall path (approx. 350 steps) to the upper end and on to the Bachsfall castle ruins. From there we can enjoy a magnificent view over the town, all the way to the Tennengebirge mountains.

Variant 2: The second route continues straight on, via a gentle ascent through the loose mixed forest and bypasses the waterfall and the ruin.

After about 15 - 20 minutes of walking, the two paths meet again and we follow the "Mühlenweg" for about 1/2 hour to Gainfeldstraße. There we turn left and follow the lightly used road into the valley. After about 2 km we reach a large car park sign and turn left again. We cross the car park and follow a beautiful meadow path to the "Kematen Alm" (not managed) and continue on a goods path past the "Loimair Hütte". After a short walk, the goods path ends and we hike on a beautiful hiking trail through loose mixed forest. After about 40 minutes we reach a very distinctive signpost - a "Steinmadl". We keep to the left and follow a narrow hiking trail. After about 30 minutes the forest thins out and we get a magnificent view of the Mandlwände - the eastern foothills of the Hochkönig massif. A wide hiking trail leads us to the Arthurhaus at the foot of the Hochkönig massif. We follow the Erzweg (trail no. 85; theme trail) over a length of approx. 5.5 km to Mühlbach. Alternatively, there is also the hiking bus to get to Mühlbach.

2nd stage: 17 km trail, 210 m ascent, 5.5 hours walking time.

From the Arthurhaus, walk along the Hochkönig Panorama Trail (trail no. 401A/436) past the Windraucheggalm through the Riedingtal valley. A small diversions of 1 hour to the Riedingtal waterfalls is recommended. Continue along the Panorama Trail past the Four Huts, through the rocky foothills of the Birgkar to the Erichhütte. ***Attention: Road closure on the Bockkluft theme trail*** Trail has been rerouted: After the Erichhütte, take trail no. 66 in the direction of Wirtsalm back to Dienten. The hiking trail below the farm (trail no. 66 )takes us past more beautiful farms (trail no. 65) to Dienten.

3rd stage: 17 km trail distance, 650 m ascent, 6 hours walking time.

We hike back to the Rohrmoosbauer (trail no. 65/66) - alternatively, there is also the option of taking the Maria Alm hiking bus to the Alpinpark bus stop. From the Rohrmoosbauer we continue in the direction of the Pichlalm (trail no. 67) and rejoin the long-distance trail no. 401A/436. Past the Pichlalm we take a meadow path through very damp alpine pastures into a wooded area and along a rooty path through some ditches and ravines. After about 1/2 hour we reach a wide hiking trail again, which after a short while leads steeply downhill towards Hinterthal - past the Mußbachalm and the Aueralm. We hike on the Hochkönigstraße through Hinterthal, cross the Hochkönig Bundesstraße and arrive at the Hochmaisalmbahn. We cross the car park and at the end reach an idyllic hiking trail along the Urslau river until we reach the Hochkönig Bundesstraße again. We follow the main road for a short distance back in the direction of Hinterthal and finally keep left on the farm track to the Pichlbauer. Past the farm, we hike first along a meadow path and finally along another hiking trail with a brief, steeper ascent until we reach the Jufensattel and the Jufenalm mountain hotel/restaurant. The trail leads past the Jufenalm, a short distance along the Jufenstraße and after a wooden garage we take the forest adventure trail on the right. After the 3rd station of the themed trail, we keep to the right and follow the Natrunhöhenweg (trail no. 401A/436) steeply uphill. A rooty path leads us through the forest, across open clearings with wonderful views over the Natrunhöhe and after about 1/2 hour back onto the forest adventure trail. We follow the path past some stations of the forest high ropes course to the mountain station of the Natrunbahn. Past the station, we reach the village via the steep descent (trail no. 401A) from the Natrun with a wonderful view of Maria Alm. The Natrunbahn makes the descent easier.