7 hikes for which you don't need a car

• Outward journey: From Linz via Steyr with the ÖBB (regional train) to Großraming; from Vienna with the Railjet to St. Valentin and onwards with the regional train to Großraming
• Return journey: From Küpfern with the ÖBB (regional train) via Steyr to Linz; change to the Railjet in St. Valentin after Vienna

Route planner for public transport

From Großraming railway station, it takes around 3 hours on hiking trail 492 to reach the Ennser Hütte.

A very popular nearby summit destination is the Almkogel (1,513 m), which can be reached from the hut in 45 minutes and from which you have a wonderful panoramic view from the Alpine foothills to the Ötscher and the Schladminger Tauern. The descent to Küpfern takes around 2.5 hours via the Almboden and the Stallburgalm.

Details about the Ennser Hütte

We recommend spending the night in the Ennser Hütte. According to a study conducted by the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences on behalf of Naturefriends, it is located in an area with particularly low levels of light and noise. Here you can find restful peace and quiet and enjoy the starry sky. Information folders with star charts are available in the hut.

KOMPASS hiking map 5645 ‘Kalkalpen National Park. Ennstal, Steyrtal, Pyhrn-Priel Region’

• Outward journey: With the ÖBB (regional express, regional train) from Linz via Attnang-Puchheim to Obertraun Dachsteinhöhlen and from there by bus 543 to the station ‘Obertraun Dachsteinseilbahn’ (valley station Krippensteinbahn)
• Return journey: Take bus 543 from the ‘Obertraun Dachsteinseilbahn’ station (Krippensteinbahn valley station) to Obertraun Dachsteinhöhlen and from there take the ÖBB (regional express, regional train) to Attnang-Puchheim and on to Linz.

Route planner for public transport

Take the Dachstein-Krippenstein cable car to the Gjaid station. From here, it takes around 2 hours to walk along a well-signposted hiking trail directly to the Naturfreunde Wiesberghaus. This trail, which leads over the Natura Trail "Dachstein World Heritage Site", can also be walked with children. The descent is the same as the ascent.

Details about the Wiesberghaus

• The Wiesberghaus can also be reached from Hallstatt in around 3.5 to 4 hours.
• We recommend spending the night in the Wiesberghaus. According to a study conducted by the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences on behalf of Naturefriends, it is located in an area with particularly low levels of light and noise. Here you can find restful peace and quiet and enjoy the starry sky. Information folders with star charts are available in the hut.

360online.at/wies berghaus-naturfreunde offers a breathtaking 360-degree video tour around the Wiesberghaus. The refuge is an alpine training centre of Naturefriends Austria and a very good starting point for challenging high alpine tours in the Dachstein massif. Beautiful (snowshoe) hikes and ski tours can also be undertaken from here. In good snow conditions, it is possible to ski down to Hallstatt.

KOMPASS hiking map 20 ‘Dachstein. Ausseerland, Bad Goisern, Hallstatt’

• Outward journey: With ÖBB (Regional Express or Intercity) from Linz to Spital am Pyhrn; from Graz or Leoben Intercity direct connection or change in Selzthal to the Regional Express to Spital am Pyhrn
• Return journey: With ÖBB (Regional Express or Intercity) from Spital am Pyhrn to Linz; Intercity direct connection to Leoben or Graz or with a change in Selzthal

Route planner for public transport

From Hotel Freunde der Natur, take the meadow path towards the village centre and then follow the signpost to Dr. Vogelgesang Gorge (trail no. 601). You reach the entrance to the gorge without any significant ascent. After paying the small maintenance fee, climb up the wooden steps and enjoy the coolness of the rushing water - preferably in spring when there is a lot of water rushing down the gorge (the gorge is closed in winter from the beginning of November to the beginning of May). After around 90 minutes you reach the Bosruckhütte (1,036 m). From here you hike on to the Rohrauerhaus run by Naturfreunde Linz (45 minutes). The descent follows the same route as the ascent.

Details about the Rohrauerhaus

We recommend spending the night in the Rohrauerhaus. According to a study carried out by the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences on behalf of Naturefriends, it is located in an area with particularly low levels of light and noise. Here you can find restful peace and quiet and enjoy the starry sky. Information folders with star charts are available in the hut.

• The Rohrauerhaus has been certified with the Austrian Ecolabel since 2015.
• There is a playground next to the house for small children.

KOMPASS-Karte 70 "Nationalpark Kalkalpen. Ennstal, Steyrtal, Pyhrn-Priel-Region"

• Outward journey: From Linz via Steyr with the ÖBB (regional train) to Küpfern; from Vienna with the Railjet to St. Valentin and onwards with the regional train to Küpfern
• Return journey: From Kleinreifling or Großraming with the ÖBB (regional train) via Steyr to Linz; change to the Railjet to Vienna in St. Valentin; alternatively from Kleinreifling with the regional train to Amstetten and from there with the Railjet to Vienna

Route planner for public transport

From the railway station in Küpfern, take trail no. 494 in around 2 hours to the Naturfreunde Stallburgalm, which is open from Thursday to Sunday. The descent is via the Hühnerkogel and onwards via the Ennsboden to Kleinreifling. The walk takes around 3 hours. Alternatively, you can hike on to the Ennser Hütte in 1.5 hours and descend from there to Großraming - allow 3.5 to 4 hours for this route.

Details about the Stallburgalm

We recommend spending the night at the Stallburgalm. According to a study conducted by the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences on behalf of Naturefriends, the hut is located in an area with particularly low levels of light and noise. Here you can find peace and quiet and enjoy the starry sky. Information folders with star charts are available in the hut.

Many hiking trails criss-cross the densely wooded area, which is characterised by a particularly varied alpine flora. From the nearby peaks, you have a wonderful panoramic view of the Tote Gebirge, the Gesäuse and the Ybbstal Alps.

KOMPASS Hiking Book 1630 ‘Great Hiking Book Upper Austria’

• Outward journey: From Linz via Steyr with the ÖBB (regional train) to Trattenbach; from Vienna with the Railjet to St. Valentin and onwards with the regional train to Trattenbach
• Return journey: From Trattenbach with the ÖBB (regional train) via Steyr to Linz; change to the Railjet in St. Valentin after Vienna

Route planner for public transport

From Trattenbach railway station, trail 481 leads through the ‘Valley of the Feitelmacher’, pass the stations of the Trattenbach museum village, where you can make your own Feitel. Before the church, turn left off the road onto path E89 (this saves you 1 km on the road). The trail then climbs a little steeper uphill along the forest path to Alpengasthof Klausriegler. From here, hiking trail 481 continues, initially across a meadow, then through the forest, sometimes quite challengingly uphill to the Schobersteinhaus of the Naturfreunde, which you reach after around 2.5 hours. The return journey follows the same route as the ascent.

Details about the Schobersteinhaus

We recommend spending the night in the Schobersteinhaus. According to a study conducted by the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences on behalf of Naturefriends, it is located in a particularly low-light area. You can therefore enjoy the starry sky wonderfully here. Information folders with star charts are available in the hut.

The Schobersteinhaus of the Naturfreunde in the Kalkalpen National Park is a perfect excursion destination for all those who enjoy (snowshoe) hiking, paragliding and mountain biking. Two great mountain bike trails lead to the house - from Trattenbach and from Dorngraben in Molln. From the summit of the Schoberstein, which is only a five-minute walk away, you have an indescribable panoramic view!

KOMPASS Hiking Book 1630 ‘Great Hiking Book Upper Austria’

• Outward journey: From Linz with ÖBB (S3 or Eurocity) or bus lines 311, 340 and 341 to Pregarten
• Return journey: From Pregarten with the ÖBB (S3 or Eurocity) or bus lines 311, 340 and 341 to Linz

Route planner for public transport

This extremely family-friendly Natura Trail runs along the long-distance hiking trail 170, which leads from Karlstift to Mauthausen. From Pregarten railway station, you hike along a small road down to the Feldaist, which offers plenty of adventure and variety; cosy spots invite you to linger. The marked path takes you downstream; about halfway along, the path crosses the Feldaist; at the Kriehmühle snack station, the end of the hike, the river is crossed once again. Follow the same route back to the starting point.

The high ecological value of the Feldaist valley, which is home to endangered species such as the fire salamander, otter and eagle owl, is due to its largely unspoilt nature and scenic diversity. The Feldaist is home to a rich fish fauna. In order to preserve the great diversity of species, the Lower Feldaist Valley has been designated a landscape conservation area.

KOMPASS hiking map 202 ‘Linz and surroundings. Mühlviertel, Wels, Steyr’

• Outward journey: With ÖBB (Regional Express or Intercity) from Linz to Spital am Pyhrn; direct Intercity connection from Graz or Leoben or change in Selzthal to the Regional Express to Spital am Pyhrn
• Return journey: With ÖBB (Regional Express or Intercity) from Spital am Pyhrn to Linz; Intercity direct connection to Leoben or Graz or with a change in Selzthal

Route planner for public transport

From Spital am Pyhrn train station, you walk along a beautiful avenue for approx. 10 minutes to Spital am Pyhrn, where the ‘Kleine Wurrunde’ feel-good trail, which is suitable for wheelchairs and pushchairs, begins at the car park of the collegiate church. From here, you walk towards Hotel Freunde der Natur and Wurberg on the left-hand side, initially for around 150 metres on a tarmac road, before turning right onto a forest path at the ‘Tierarzt’ sign. This path leads past rare fruit trees and marshy meadows as well as through short sections of forest. Many rest areas along the way invite you to linger and enjoy the marvellous mountain panorama. The trail ends at the car park of the collegiate church.

Details about the tour ‘Wohlfühlweg Wurrunde’

You can spend the night very comfortably at the Hotel Freunde der Natur and climb up to the Rohrauerhaus (1,308 m) of the Naturfreunde Linz the next day. Bus line 911 takes you from Spital am Pyhrn to the Wurzeralm valley station, from where you can go on wonderful hikes.

At the three stations along the trail - ‘Forest’, ‘Mountain panorama’ and ‘Apple tree’ - information boards provide information about the special features of the surroundings. Using QR codes on the boards, you can access instructions for exercises (‘Relax’) and games (‘Experience’) as well as descriptions of nature (‘Experience’) with your smartphone. You should allow around 45 minutes to complete the activities.

KOMPASS Map 70 ‘Kalkalpen National Park. Ennstal, Steyrtal, Pyhrn-Priel Region’