Mountain Hike Summit Tour to the Knallstein - Touren-Impression #1 | © TVB Schladming-Dachstein Mountain Hike Summit Tour to the Knallstein - Touren-Impression #1 | © TVB Schladming-Dachstein

Summit Tour to the Knallstein

Long alpine tour, abundant waters along the way, distinctive stages with magical alpine tarns to a beautiful, scenic summit. Not a hiking loop.

The small mountain village of St. Nikolai, at the turn-off for the Sölkpass, the beautiful onion dome of the church set against the magnificent backdrop of the Knallstein.  Just beyond the car park at the entrance to the village, we make a right at the trail crossing and keep on the forest lane for about 30 minutes.  At the first big bend, an alpine trail heads steeply uphill, a shortcut to bypass the extended switchbacks of the forest path.  Walking through beautiful high forest, we pass the tree line and come to the Kaltherbergalm, with the first 500 vertical meters now under our belts. After these alpine pastures, our next climb already awaits (300 m), leading us up a steep ridgeline into a beautiful cirque, nestled amid which are two picturesque lakes, the Unterer & Oberer Klaftersee. The subsequent climb takes us to the left of the lakes, then up via a spur of rock accompanied by beautiful views back towards the lakes, an island of reeds and meandering streams.  This section is filled with variety, bringing us relatively quickly to the next lake, just 300 m higher up: the Weissensee, elev. 2,229 m.  After the gap, the mighty figure of the summit shows itself in all its immensity.  In a giant semicircle, the rocky cirque with peaks as high as 2,500 m encloses the western side, while our ascent on the summit first takes us along the mountainside, then along the ridgeline itself. Only once we are on the ridge, do we have open views to the N, W and S.  This significant peak towers above all other mountains within a wide radius, promising views that are exceptionally impressive.  During our long hike down, we have plenty of time to take a close look at the various types of terrain; from rocky cirques to green alpine pastures, from larch forest to dark high forest.


Characteristics

Skill
Fitness

Best season

January
February
March
April
May
November
December

The tour in numbers

medium
Level of difficulty
15,2 km
Route
8:00 h
Time
1474 hm
Uphill
1474 hm
Downhill
2599 m
Highest point

Map & downloads

More information

Branch off from the Ennstalbundesstraße B320 at Pruggern to Sölktäler. From Stein an der Enns to the Großsölktal and further to St. Nikolai

Immediately after the parking lot at the entrance to the village of St. Nikolai im Sölktal, turn right at the crossroads and follow the forest road for a good 40 minutes. At the first big bend, an alpine path leads steeply uphill and shortens the longer serpentines of the forest road. Through beautiful high forest you reach the Kaltherbergalm above the tree line and have thus made the first 500 meters in altitude. After the alpine pastures, the next ascent (300 m) awaits, which leads steeply over a mountain ridge into a beautiful cirque, in which two picturesque lakes lie embedded, the Untere and the Obere Klaftersee.

The following climb passes the lakes on the left, then uphill along a rocky spur with a very nice view back to the lakes with the reed island and the interesting stream meanders. This section is very varied and brings us relatively quickly to the next lake, about 300 m higher, the Weißensee at 2,229 m above sea level. After the saddle, the enormous summit structure shows itself in its full size. In a huge semicircle, the rocky cirques with peaks up to 2,500 m enclose the western side, while the summit ascent leads first along the flank and then over the ridge. Only at the ridge you also have a clear view to the north, west and south. After a short stretch along the ridge, the summit is reached at 2,599 m.

Trail conditions: forest road, alpine paths, alpine paths. Stepped ascent to the summit.

SummitLynx - Your digital summit and hut book - available worldwide and always with you!

Valley shuttle Naturpark Sölktäler
Parking area at the wayside cross

For more information please contact the Tourist Office Schladming DachsteinInformation office Nature Park Sölktäler:

Phone: +43 3687 23310 501naturpark@soelktaeler.comStein an der Enns 107 8961 Sölk

Wanderkarte Schladming-Dachstein, 1:50.000, erhältlich in den Infobüros Schladming-Dachstein. Wanderführer Schladming-Dachstein von Herbert Raffalt, erhältlich in den Infobüros Schladming-Dachstein.

Gallery

Spiegelsee Reiteralm | © photo-austria / Christine Höflehner

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