Reiteralm Alpine Loop

A somewhat challenging hiking tour on the Reiteralm, incl. 2 mountain lakes and 2 summits; scenic alpine trail. Reiteralm Alpine Loop

On this tour you will pass by the popular "Mirror Lake" (Spiegelsee) and with a little luck, the winds will be calm and you will be treated to a beautiful reflection of the Dachstein. Also you will encounter the small Obersee Lake on this tour, and moreover there are two summits (Gasselhöhe and Rippetegg) on the way as well. The high trail from the Rippetegg to the Gasslhöhe is beautiful and, with the exception of a few rocky passages with brief up- and downhills, almost flat. The panoramas extend from the Gosaukamm to the Dachstein, Grimming, Hohe and Niedere Tauern, and all the way to the Hochkönig.

IMPORTANT NOTE: the Spiegelsee is a relatively shallow, small mountain lake in the vicinity of a fragile ecosystem. Please be considerate of nature and other nature lovers and do not go swimming in the lake!

Characteristics

Skill

Fitness

Best season

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

The tour in numbers

easy

Level of difficulty

5,4 km

Route

3:00 h

Time

450 hm

Uphill

450 hm

Downhill

2126 m

Highest point

Map & downloads

Download GPX data

Download KML data

More information

Approximately 4 km West of Schladming take exit Pichl from highway B320 Ennstalbundesstraße and continue on Preuneggstraße road towards Reiteralm. Taking a couple of switchbacks you reach the valley terminal of Preunegg-Jet gondola which operates also in summer (operating times at www.reiteralm.at).

Otherwise continue on Reiteralmstraße road (toll road) to Eiskarhütte, Reiteralmhütte or Gasselhöh'-Hütte huts.

We start our hike at Gasselhöh'-Hütte on Reiteralm and hike up the trail n° 66 to the ridge that leads us to the summit of Gasselhöhe (2,001 m). From there the trail gets easier at first with just slight ups and downs leading us towards Rippetegg. The final ascent takes to the summit of Rippetegg (2126 meters) takes us about 15 minutes.

From there we take the same way back at first and then turn off right to descend - quite steeply - to the Gasselseen Lakes. At first we reach the Obere Gasselsee where the terrain gets easier again. In a couple of minutes we further hike down to the Mittlerer Gasselsee - the infamous "Spiegelsee Lake" (Mirror Lake).

From there a broad trail leads us back to our starting point at the Reiteralmsee reservoir

Variant via Untersee Lake

About halfway from Spiegelsee Lake you may turn-off towards Untersee Lake and walk back along the theme trail "Silent Waters" (it will take you an additional 30 to 40 minutes).

If you want to cover an additional summit on this tour you include the "Schober" mountain - 2133 meters - in your tour. At the small Obersee Lake you make a turn and follow the trail markings n° 68. The trail is very narrow, pebbly and steep, the final meters to the summit take you across some bigger boulders.

Ramsauer Verkehrsbetriebe offers a bus connection to the valley terminal of Preunegg-Jet gondola on Tuesday, Friday and Sunday.

bus schedule at www.rvb.at

Parking is available at the valley terminal of Preunegg Jet gondola as well as at the huts of Eiskarhütte, Reiteralmhütte or Gasselhöh'-Hütte.

Info about buses and ski lifts: www.planaibus.at or www.reiteralm.at

Hiking map Schladming, 1:25.000, available at the tourist office Schladming.
Hiking map Schladming-Dachstein, 1:50.000, available at the tourist office Schladming.