Krakau High altitude hike
From the hiking starting point in Unteretrach, you hike along trail no. 8 to the Holzerhütte, on to the Woadschober (highest point) and then along an alpine road with views of the sunny side of the Krakau to the Schattensee.
This solitary high-altitude hike first leads uphill through a rustic mountain forest. Ancient spruce giants and slender larches are the main protagonists on this beautiful but also challenging ridge hike on the Schattnerberg high above the Krakau valley. Nature lovers and those seeking peace and quiet will be delighted. The main attraction of this hike is the wonderful panoramic view of the Gstoder, the neighboring Lungau, the Etrachtal, the Rantental and the Prebertal.
The beautiful alpine pastures, some of which are still mowed, and the hidden high moors lend the tour a special magic.
The highlight of this hike is the summit experience on the Woadschober but also the finale at the idyllic Schattensee lake. As there are no catered huts until the Schattensee, it is advisable to bring your own snacks, as there are plenty of nice resting places. There are fountains with clear, fresh drinking water at two huts.
Gates and fence passages are proud witnesses of farming skills and living alpine culture.
Characteristics
The tour in numbers
medium
Level of difficulty
Map & downloads
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More information
East: From Vienna on the A 2 and S 6 to Leoben and St. Michael i. d. E., continue on the S 36 to Judenburg and on the B 96 to Murau. From Murau via Ranten to Krakau.
From Graz on the A 9 to St. Michael i. d. O.. Further see above.
West, North: From Bregenz/Innsbruck via the A 12, A 93 and A 8 to Salzburg. From Salzburg on the A 10 to St. Michael im Lungau. From here on the B 96 to Tamsweg and further towards Murau via Sauerfeld to Krakau.
South: From Klagenfurt on the B 83 to Scheifling. Then take the B 96 to Murau and on to Krakau.
The starting point is the hiking starting point in Unteretrach, opposite the Jagawirt hiking village partner business. On the short way to the first marker post (trail no. 8 - towards Holzerhütte), you pass the beautiful 18th century Fortner Chapel, where you can admire the “Styrian Lord God”. This is the name given to St. Isidor, who is dressed in leather trousers and hovers on a cloud of rain.
During periods of drought, the saint was prayed to for rain. After the chapel, continue along the road for a while, then turn right. After the housing estate, the small forest path soon begins, which leads steeply up into the forest of the Schattnerberg for the next 40 minutes. With a difference in altitude of around 700 m, the entire hike takes 4 - 5 hours. From the Woadschober, you then hike downhill on an alpine road to the Schattensee lake. This tranquil moorland lake is a real gem in the middle of nature - perfect for a well-earned rest.
It is 5 km from Schattensee to the starting point at Jagawirt.
The return journey by cab should be organized before the hike or you can park a car at Schattensee. This way you can end the day in a relaxed and comfortable way.
You can stop off at the following establishments along the way:
- Gasthof Jagawirt
- Fischerhütte at the Schattensee (currently closed)
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Parking spaces are available directly in Krakauschatten.
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Krakauer Höhenwanderung | © Tourismusverband Murau | Tourismusverband Murau
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Blick auf Preber | © Tourismusverband Murau | Ewald Siebenhofer
What the weather will be like
Ranten (912m)
Dry and sunny throughout the day with hardly any clouds.
The day starts sunny, but will be partly cloudy in the afternoon.
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