The Tauplitzalm, the largest lake plateau in Central Europe, is an ideal starting point for the Salt Trail through Styria. From Tauplitz, we can comfortably reach the mountain pasture with the chairlift (please regard the operating times!). From the mountain station, our tour - identical to the 5th stage of the hiking route From the Glacier to the Wine - leads past Lake Tauplitz, Lake Steirer and Lake Schwarzen towards the Leistalm Hut, where we also meet the Salzstieg variant over the Salzsteigjoch. Next, we head to the Hochmölbinghütte high above the Ennstal valley. Via the beautifully situated Spechtensee, we reach Aigen im Ennstal. Next up: the Planneralm. The way up to the Plannerknot, a prominent junction of several hiking trails, is all uphill. Alpine pastures, shady forests, but also narrow paths leading steeply uphill are our companions. From the Planneralm, we follow the Central Alpine Trail 02 over the Goldbachscharte with its lake of the same name to Donnersbachwald.
Along the Mörsbach, we now head uphill to the Gstemmerscharte to reach St. Nikolai in the natural park Sölktäler, where we say goodbye to the Central Alpine Trail 02. Via the Hansenalm, Mautneralm and Hüttfeldalm we reach the Erzherzog Johann Hütte in the middle of the Niedere Tauern. Across the Tauern, we go to St. Peter am Kammersberg in the Murau region. Our last part takes us once again uphill to the Stolzalpe with its beautiful alpine pastures, to then descend to the historic town of Murau with its castle towering over the town and the Murau brewery.
Details of the Salzsteigweg 09 can be found (in German) on the website of the Austrian Alpine Association.