Eagle Walk Stage O9: Stüdlhütte - Lucknerhaus

Having spent the night at the Stüdlhütte hut – the closest you will get to the majestic Großglockner peak along the Eagle Walk – the route heads southward through improbably gorgeous landscape. Reaching Pfortscharte ridge along the Johann-Stüdl-Weg trail, stop to take in newly emerging views of the Salmhütte and wave a hello to the neighbouring Austrian province of Carinthia. Then follow the Luckner Weg trail to the Glorerhütte at Berger Törl, from where a scenic trail ambles down through rolling alpine meadows into the valley of Bergerbach. Eventually you will reach the end of the Eagle Walk at the Lucknerhaus hut. From here, the scenic Kals Glocknerstraße road snakes down to Kals. Getting to the destination is a cause for celebration, and the sunny lodge is a good place to call it a day and savour the last spectacular views of the Großglockner.

Interesting Facts

Eagle View ·In this area, where the forces of nature have conspired to create an improbably gorgeous landscape, you can reveal some of nature’s secrets along delightful learning trails such as the “Geo Trail” on the Luckner Weg path and the “Glocknerspur – ThinkMountains” trail that has its trailhead at the Lucknerhaus hut. On this last segment, look back and note the majestic Großglockner rising as an elegant pyramid.

Eagle Kick ·Using plenty of fixed cable as support, the way across 2,800-metre Pfortscharte negotiates a rocky terrain of narrow ledges, shelves, little gullies and scrambling pitches. In many places there’s considerable exposure, but invariably in such places you will find adequate cable support. There is also the danger of getting struck by lightning; it is not recommended to take this hike in rain and thunderstorm. Always check the latest weather forecast.

Interesting Facts Eagle View ·In this area, where the forces of nature have conspired to create an improbably gorgeous landscape, you can…

Trail description

Starting point: Stüdlhütte

From the Stüdlhütte, located on the Fanotscharte ridge at an elevation of 2,802 metres, start off with a five-minute climb northward. Then, follow signs eastward to “Pfortscharte, Salmhütte, Glorer Hütte” and eventually head south-eastward along trail AV 713. This trail skirts the moraines of Ködnitzkees glacier and intercepts the Johann-Stüdl-Weg trail (AV 702 B) above Viehböden. Well-maintained in this section, the trail winds up through tussock slopes. Cross a scree cirque and continue hiking upward. When you reach a fork in the cirque, don’t turn right to the rocks but continue uphill through the cirque, heading towards the Salmhütte. The trail vigorously winds up in short switchbacks across scree and talus (yet on stable ground) onto the Pfortscharte ridge. On the other side of the ridge, descend along a short section on similar terrain. When you come to a fork, head south towards “Glorer Hütte” and follow the Luckner Weg trail through undulating grassy terrain and past Upper Glatzsee lake to the Glorerhütte hut at Berger Törl (2,651 m).

Food & drink: Glorerhütte

Rolling alpine meadows blanket the broad valley of Bergtal with moraines left over from a time when this area was covered by ice, reaching down to the hollow where Glatzbach stream flows. Beyond the Glorerhütte hut, the trail runs parallel to the small cable car used to transport material down to the valley, crossing streams and rivulets and traversing mountain meadows. In this area it's important to practice the principles of "leave no trace" and good wilderness etiquette. Please do stick to the trail. Eventually, the trail emerges onto a dirt road that brings you down to the Lucknerhaus, the end of the stage and the final destination of the Eagle Walk in East Tirol - or, its trailhead and beginning, if you decide to hike the Eagle Walk counter-clockwise! But at the end of the walk, you will be in awe of the area no matter which way you elect to go.

Finishing point: Lucknerhaus

Tip! Write your own Eagle Hike story
Hikers who have completed this final stage of the Eagle Hike in East Tirol can put pen to paper and write their own story in the Eagle Hike Tour Book. The book can be found in the Lucknerhaus hut.