From Spital am Semmering at the foot of the Stuhleck, we head via the Kampalpe and the Preiner Gscheid to the Karl Ludwig Haus, 22 metres in altitude below the Rax summit. Via the Gamseck, which gives us a partly rope-secured descent, and the Lurgbauerhütte, we soon reach the wide plateau of the Schneealm with the Schneealpenhaus. Across alpine meadows and through beautiful mountain pine landscapes - we head down into the valley to Neuberg an der Mürz. Tip: Visit the minster with its beautiful inner courtyard and impressive works of art. The rest of the tour takes us over the Hohe Veitsch, one of the most beautiful mountains in Styria to the Hochschwab massif, certainly one of the most stunning mountain regions in the Alpine region.
The crossing of the Hochschwab massif is one of the highlights of the Northern Alpine Trail. A special feature: the Schiestlhaus on the Hochschwab is the highest passive house in the Alpine region, an architecturally and above all ecologically impressive building. Via the idyllically situated Leopoldsteiner lake, we arrive in Eisenerz, an old mining town that is home to an exciting cultural life.
Next stop: the crossing of the national park Gesäuse. Numerous ascents and descents as well as beautiful peaks of this impressive mountain world are our companions along the way. We leave the mountain world of the Gesäuse with the descent to Admont with its beautiful abbey, which is also home to the largest abbey library in the world. Via the neighbouring village of Hall, we continue via the Rohrauerhaus to the Bosruckhütte. We have now left Styria and hike through the south of Upper Austria to soon return to Styria. First, we go to Spital am Pyhrn and then via the Wurzeralm and the Zellerhütte to Vorderstoder and Hinterstoder.
Then, we enter the Tote Gebirge, an impressive karst landscape. First, we continue without any great differences in altitude across the high plateau of the Tote Gebirge to the Albert Appel Haus and the Loserhütte, where we return to Styria. Finally, the descent to Altaussee awaits us, probably one of the most beautiful villages in the Alpine region. For those who have not hiked enough already, we recommend the circular route around Lake Altaussee.
Details of the Northern Alpine Trail 01 can be found (in German) on the website of the Austrian Alpine Association.