Eagle Walk Stage O6: Matrei in Osttirol - Sudetendeutsche Hütte

Giving you a good workout and an Achilles-aching ascent, this stage climbs steeply and steadily from Matrei’s hamlet of Glanz, 1,445 metres above sea level, to the Sudetendeutsche Hütte hut in the Granatspitz Range at an elevation of 2,700 metres. Even for conditioned hikers this is a physically demanding trek with almost 1,300 metres of elevation gain. The payoff for that work includes historic mountain farms at the hamlet of Glanz and a multitude of flowers in bloom at the Edelweiss meadow, at 1,900 metres above sea level. When you tire of the rainbow of wildflowers on the ground, you can look up to find breathtaking vistas of Lasörling Mountain Range around every corner. Each switchback in the trail brings more of the mighty mountains into view.

Interesting Facts

Eagle View ·A multitude of flowers proliferate along this walk, but it's the edelweiss that dominates. In the area around the Nussingkogel mountain you will might see rock crystals glistening in the sunlight.

Eagle Kick ·At one point you will find yourself directly under the towering spire of the Falkenstein mountain; hawks and golden eagles soar overhead. Look closely and you might see some Spiderman wannabes scaling its rocky walls. Falkenstein is a popular 7+ grade climbing terrain with some truly challenging areas for rock climbers at perpendicular faces rising 10 to 50 metres.

Interesting Facts Eagle View ·A multitude of flowers proliferate along this walk, but it's the edelweiss that dominates. In the area…

Trail description

Starting point: Matrei in Osttirol

This stage is best started at the car park in the hamlet of Glanz, saving you two hours of walking. Glanz is a 20-minute drive by car from Matrei; a taxi service is available on request. Tireless trekkers who want to walk this first section nevertheless take the little-driven back road that links Matrei to Hinterburg and the car park at Glanz. From the car park at Glanz, it’s a 1.5 to 2-hour walk to Äußere Steiner Alm, with another 2 to 2.5 hours taking you up to the Sudetendeutsche Hütte. The trail mainly runs across majestic old-growth larch forest, passing the privately owned Köfleralm hut and crossing the access road twice in the area of Ranzeralm. Slightly above the Lackneralm hut a dirt road traverses Edelweiss Meadow from east to west. Those who wish to avoid the forest can walk straight from the Glanz car park along a wide dirt road to Edelweiss Meadow. Beyond a ledge, the trail begins to descend through groves of larches. Crossing the Steinerbach stream will bring you to the alpine pasture huts of Outer Steiner Alm (1,914 m). From that point, it’s a relatively flat walk through a trough heading north-eastward to the end of the valley, punctuated with tall larches.

Food & drink: Äußere Steiner Alm

Marvel at the array of geological diversity at your feet: shale, slate and schist rocks. At the end of the valley, a small cable car used to transport material only leads up to the Sudetendeutsche Hütte. You may notice flagging and other disturbances below. They're remnants of ore mining as this region is littered with old mines. From here, the trail runs parallel to Steinerbach stream in the beginning, before switchbacking up steep slopes that are flanked by the Nussingkogel peak to the left and Bretterwandspitze to the right. As you near the Sudetendeutsche Hütte, the gradient eases. Glacier scoured knolls surround this ample mountain hut, situated in the heart of the lofty Granatspitz Range at an elevation of 2,650 metres above sea level.

Finishing point: Sudetendeutsche Hütte