Long-distance hike KAT Walk Compact stage 5: Alpine pasture realm - Idyllic expanse on a high plateau

St. Ulrich am Pillersee / Lofer Stone Mountains
Difficulty ratings: medium
Route length: 19.0 km
Duration: 7:30 h

The final stage of the KAT Walk Kompakt will really make you work up a sweat—but don't worry, you can cool off wonderfully at the Finishing Point at Pillersee.

Tour character

A physically demanding final stage of the KAT Walk Kompakt, which remains varied from the very start and culminates with the Pillersee as its highlight. After a cultural-landscape-rich start featuring imposing farms in the Unterinntal, the route leads through quiet forests and alpine pastures up to a secluded plateau with various karst formations, offering frequent panoramic views in all directions. The terrain varies throughout, culminating in a rocky, partly exposed Moderately Difficult Trail, which requires sure-footedness and stamina. In the final third of the hike, the rustic Winterstelleralpine pasture offers the perfect spot for a break and refreshments before the hike winds its way down along alpine and forest trails to the town center of St. Ulrich. Those who wish to shorten the stage can skip part of the access by taking the Okto Hiking Bus.

Tour information

  • Requirement: medium
  • Length: 19.0 km
  • Duration: 7:30 h
  • Elevation uphill:1,000 hm
  • Elevation downhill:800 hm
Highest point1,550 m

Starting point

St. Johann in Tirol - Downtown

Finishing point

St. Ulrich am Pillersee - Downtown
  • Fitness level 4 / 6
  • Technique 3 / 6

Best time of year

  • January
  • February
  • March
  • April
  • May
  • June
  • July
  • August
  • September
  • October
  • November
  • December

Trail condition

Asphalt, gravel, forest trail, root-covered forest path, rocky, partly exposed mountain trail (moderate difficulty—marked in red)

Equipment

breathable outdoor clothing, plenty of food and drinks, first-aid kit, cell phone with a fully charged battery and charger, maps, possibly a GPS device or GPS data downloaded to your cell phone, sun protection (sunglasses, sunscreen, and a hat), rain gear, cash
Source: Kitzbüheler Alpen Management GmbH

Description

A varied hike to a secluded plateau featuring diverse karst formations and dry alpine pastures…
Mountain pine groves, diverse mixed forests, and frequent views in all directions round out this mountain experience. The route follows trails, meadow paths, and dirt roads and is classified as moderately difficult. In the last third of the tour, there’s also the option to stop for a break at the rustic Winterstelleralm.


Note: Taking the Okto Hiking Bus to the Baumooskogel trailhead near the hamlet of Scheffau shortens Stage 5 of the KAT Walk Kompakt to 16 km, 6 hours of Hiking Time, and 740 meters of Altitude. The Okto Hiking Bus runs Monday through Friday. Information and schedule: Okto Hiking Bus


From the town center in St. Johann in Tirol Hiking past the front of the deanery parish church toward the hamlet of Oberhofen. Once you reach the Wieshofer Bridge —shortly after the statue of St. Nepomuk —turn right into a side street to reach the Achendamm . The firstleftturn off the Achendamm leads to the farming hamlet of Oberhofen; imposing Unterinntal farms line the path.

If you follow the signposting for Kalkstein, you’ll pass a trotting track and eventually reach the highest hamlet in St. Johann in Tirol. At about 900 meters above sea level, near the hamlet of Scheffau, a forest road branches off to the right at a gatetoward Kalkstein and Adlerspoint

Follow this path as it winds upward in several curves until it enters the forest . After two hairpin turns , you ’ll reach a fork at about 1,120 m, where you’ll turn left onto the trail toward Adlerspoint.

Now head uphill along the ridge, following the red-white-red trail markers through alternating forest and alpine pasture terrain until you reach the saddle below the Baumooskogel. At the junction for the Baumooskogel, turn right and descend toward the Baumoosalm. From the Alpine Pasture, walk a short distance down the road, then ascend to the Bruggwirtsalm ( 1,356 m).

Follow the signposting toward Adlerspoint and hike through the alpine pasture area to the former mountain inn (1,419 m, 3 hrs 30 min from the center of St. Johann i. T.). Continue a short distance further along the forest trail until you turn left onto a trail heading toward Kirchberg.

This trail initially runs through mountain pine scrub and later leads into an open alpine landscape, where you’ll soon reach the highest point of the hike at around 1,550 meters above sea level.

Continuing slightly downhill along this trail, which soon turns into a meadow path and leads down to the Gerstbergalm(1,501 m). Beyond the Alpine Pasture , continue straight through the small valley toward the Winterstelleralm.

The trail continues with no significant change in elevation to the saddle above the Winterstelleralpine pasture, a mountain hut serving

food and drinks

, from where you follow the road downhill to the pasture (1,423 m, 1 hr 15 min from Adlerspoint). This is a great spot to refuelwith a tasty Tyrolean delicacy for the final stretch of the hike.

After the Winterstelleralm

,

follow the forest road downhill toward Lindtalalm / St . Ulrich. At the Lindtalalm, turn left at the right-hand curve toward Latschenbad / St . Ulricham Pillersee. Crossing the mountainside and alpine meadow, the trail leads first slightly uphill and then downhill toward St. Ulrich am Pillersee.

The Hiking Trail joins an old forest road. Follow this road until you reach the paved road. Here, walk left along the road for about 100 m before turning right onto a meadow path toward the center of St. Ulrich am Pillersee.

Passing the church , you’ll reach the village center and the endpoint of the KAT Walk in front of the Raiffeisenbank in St. Ulrich am Pillersee.

Nearby huts and mountain restaurants

Getting here

  • Arrival by public transport

    Station St. Johann in Tirol Train Station – 5-minute walk to the Starting Point

    Kitzbühel Alps Guest Card = free ticket for public transportation! For more information, see here.

  • Parking

    From the south on the B161 to St. Johann in Tirol
    From the east on the B164 to St. Johann in Tirol
    From the north and west on the B178 to St. Johann in Tirol
    Paid Steinlechner parking lot – 7-minute walk to the Starting Point

Weather

Today

light rain
11°C/5°C
90%26.1l10 km/h

Fri

light rain showers
6°C/-3°C
75%0.6l10 km/h

Sat

clear sky
6°C/-5°C
5%0l10 km/h
Go to weather forecast

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