Mountain Hike Danielsteig through the Kahlmäuer in the Mürzer Oberland Nature Park. - Touren-Impression #1 | © Andreas Steininger Mountain Hike Danielsteig through the Kahlmäuer in the Mürzer Oberland Nature Park. - Touren-Impression #1 | © Andreas Steininger

Danielsteig through the Kahlmäuer in the Mürzer Oberland Nature Park.

Mountaineering in the Mürzer Oberland Nature Park in Upper Styria – one of the most impressive, but also challenging mountain tours in the immediate vicinity of the Mürzer Oberland Nature Park. This is only suitable for highly surefooted and experienced mountaineers. A top-class mountain adventure!

The Kahlmäuer, located just above the border with Lower Austria, are arguably the most impressive cliff face of the entire Raxalpe. The heavily structured rock walls drop up to 700 meters from the high plateau into the secluded Reisstal valley below. Since both the start and the summit (Gamseck) as well as the entire descent via the secured "Zahmes Gamseck" route are located in Styria, this unique tour has been included in the hiking offerings of the Mürzer Oberland Nature Park.

Once, the cliffs were a popular destination for the Viennese mountaineering elite, with numerous climbing routes still bearing testimony to this time. However, with the closure of the former base at "Binderwirt", the area along the border between Styria and Lower Austria has become quieter.

Today, only the somewhat more frequented secured paths through Bärenloch and Wildfährte still attract occasional climbers into the otherwise very quiet valley.

However, another reason for the peace in Reisstal is the Kahlmäuer's challenging nature—mainly crumbling rock and difficult route finding throughout the cliff section. This means that all mountain tours in the Kahlmäuer should be reserved exclusively for well-trained, highly surefooted mountaineers!

But those who meet the demands of this part of the Rax will experience solitude and seclusion on a mountain that, just around 100 kilometers from both Vienna and Graz, is often hopelessly overcrowded.

Characteristics

Skill
Fitness

Best season

January
February
March
April
November
December

The tour in numbers

challenging
Level of difficulty
11,2 km
Route
6:00 h
Time
1250 hm
Uphill
1250 hm
Downhill
1857 m
Highest point

Map & downloads

More information

From Mürzzuschlag via Kapellen an der Mürz and Altenberg an der Rax into the rear Altenbergertal. Pass the Nassbauern and continue on a forest road to the parking lot.

Starting from the parking lot in Nass in the furthest Altenbergertal (from here, a driving ban applies, with a barrier), follow the well-marked hiking trail past the Höflerquelle to the Nasskamm (about 30 minutes, with informative signs).

From here, continue downhill for about 30 minutes on the Lower Austrian side via another well-marked trail, passing through Rehboden (material cable car station for Habsburghaus). Then, follow the broad forest road upwards to its end, where the actual unmarked ascent begins.

Alternatively, it is possible to cross from the Lower Austrian side, about 100 meters below Nasskamm, using an old hunting trail, directly to the end of the forest road mentioned above. However, this trail is quite overgrown, unmarked, and somewhat hard to find. Additionally, several unpleasant creek beds need to be crossed, so the time saved is minimal.

The ascent to the start of the Danielsteig now follows along the upper Reisstal (mostly dried-up, large, and gravel-filled stream bed), on the left-hand side of the creek in the direction of the ascent. This section goes through high forest and larches until you reach the rocks (scattered trail traces, cairns).

Initially, ascend these rocks easily (in early summer, there might be a snowfield), then continue through larch fields to a large prominent rock block (old red markings). Pass right of this block and follow the old trail traces through larches upwards to more rocks.

At a slight left, following old markings (DL), continue upwards following natural terrain (old red marks, possible snow remnants in the crossings), heading into a large gorge.

Now, continue weakly to the left uphill to a gully system leading toward a small rock peak, marking the exit. This is reached via a well-graded rock ledge.

Important: The entire ascent does not exceed Grade I difficulty! If it becomes more difficult, turn back!

Nearby, you'll find the more difficult Zerbenriegelsteig, which is also rewarding but reaches SG II - III in parts.

The onward route continues along the upper cliff face to the summit of Gamseck. From there, descend via the secured and well-marked "Zahmes Gamsecksteig" back to the Nasskamm, and then retrace the ascent route back to the parking lot.

Those starting from Lower Austria will visit the memorial for the two Nasswalder mountain guides: Konrad Cain, the founder of mountain guiding in America, and Daniel Innthaler, the namesake of the described trail and former owner in the Kahlmäuer.
The bus service operates only as far as Altenberg an der Rax, and unfortunately, the parking lot in Nass is not publicly accessible.
Parking in Nass is free of charge.

Gallery

What the weather will be like

Neuberg an der Mürz (734m)

Morning
very sunny
4°C
0%
0 km/h
Noon
very sunny
15°C
0%
5 km/h
Night
sunny
10°C
0%
5 km/h
Dry and bright with plenty of sunshine, clouds will be rare.
Morning
very sunny
5°C
0%
0 km/h
Noon
sunny
16°C
10%
15 km/h
Night
foggy
9°C
45%
10 km/h
At first sunny, but increasingly cloudy in the afternoon and possibly some rain towards evening.
06.04.2025
weather.icon.04
-2°C 4°C
07.04.2025
cloudy
-4°C 6°C
08.04.2025
cloudy
-1°C 8°C

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