THE PLACE TO ENJOY
HIKING IN THE STYRIAN ENNS VALLEY
The landscape of the Styrian Enns Valley around the IMLAUER Hotel Schloss Pichlarn offers the opportunity for many wonderful hikes for all levels. From walking trails to summit tours lasting several hours, you can draw on the full range of possibilities.
Whether the goal of a hike is happiness on the summit, a beautiful view or the trail itself, those who hike experience nature with all their senses and thus strengthen body, mind and soul. Even Johann Wolfgang von Goethe knew about the magic and enrichment of walking and hiking.
You have only really been where you have walked. (Johann Wolfgang von Goethe)
We have put together our favorite hikes around the IMLAUER Hotel Schloss Pichlarn for you. The tours last between 0.5 and 3 hours and can also be enjoyed by those with little hiking experience. We strongly recommend good shoes, a bottle of water in your luggage and enough time for an enjoyable hike.
The most beautiful square in Austria 2022
Anyone who regularly follows the ORF program “9 Plätze – 9 Schätze” will have heard of the “Friedenskircherl” on the Stoderzinken. The picturesque excursion destination was named the most beautiful place in Austria in 2022.
The small chapel nestles at an altitude of 1,898 m on the mountain slope of the Stoderzinken and offers fantastic views of the Tauern and the Enns Valley. But don’t worry, you don’t have to hike the entire height. By car, you can reach the 1,785 m high Rosemi-Alm from the hotel in approx. 35 minutes via Gröbming and the high alpine road on the Stoderzinken.
This is where the actual hiking trail to the Friedenskircherl begins. The trail is well paved and very varied through forest and high alpine terrain. With good hiking boots, the trail is pleasant and safe to walk. Take your time when you reach the Friedenskircherl and enjoy the magnificent panorama that awaits you.
Attention: If you want to hike further to the summit of the Stoderzinken, you should definitely be sure-footed.
Length of the hiking trail: 2.85 km Duration of the hike: approx. 1 hour Ascent: 154 m
Friedenskircherl on the Stoderzinken © TV-Gröbmingerland
Wörschach Gorge © Armin Walcher
Wolkenstein castle ruins © Armin Walcher
Wildly romantic & historic
The Wörschach Gorge Ruins Circular Trail is perfect for all those who love wild and romantic landscapes and enjoy following in historical footsteps. Here you will find roaring waters, jagged rock faces and old castle ruins as well as wonderful views and interesting information about the formation of the gorge and the ruins of Wolkenstein Castle.
It takes around 30 minutes by car from the IMLAUER Hotel Schloss Pichlarn to Wörschach, from where you can reach the parking lot for the Wörschach Gorge in just a few minutes. The walk through the gorge is subject to a charge of € 6.00 per adult. The gorge is open daily in summer from 8.00 am to 6.00 pm.
From the parking lot you can reach the entrance to the gorge in 15 minutes on foot. Non-slip and good footwear is highly recommended, as the path through the gorge leads partly over footbridges, bridges and stairs.
The path along the roaring waters of the Wörschachbach stream and through the narrow rock faces is incredibly impressive. Allow about 30 minutes to walk through the gorge.
After leaving the gorge, the route continues along pleasant forest paths past a wonderful viewing point, a sulphur spring and a donkey ranch. The last stop is the ruins of Wolkenstein Castle. The ruins still give a good impression of the former splendor of this fortified castle and also offer wonderful views over the valley.
Length of the hiking trail: 4.03 km Duration of the hike: approx. 2 hours Ascent: 239 m
Flying high
If you want to get up high and are looking for a special experience, you will find the perfect hiking trail on the Riesneralm. The summit barefoot trail is a unique but easy hike in high alpine terrain that is also suitable for children.
From the IMLAUER Hotel Schloss Pichlarn, it’s a 22-minute drive via Donnersbachwald to the Riesneralm valley station. From there, two consecutive chairlifts take you up to the 1,800 m high HochSEEsitz. Attention: The ascent to the Riesneralm is only possible from Friday to Monday from 9.00 am to 6.00 pm or 8.00 pm. An ascent and descent costs € 24.00 per adult and includes all the attractions on the HochSEEsitz.
The HochSEEsitz is the mountain station of the Riesneralm and offers a range of attractions for the whole family. The summit barefoot trail to the 1922 m high summit of the Riesner-Krispen also begins here.
Experience a whole new way of hiking and feel the path with your bare feet. A total of 19 stations lead over spruce cones, wood chips, bark mulch, mud and earth troughs, granite slabs, torrent scree, wood in all its variations and the natural alpine soil to the summit.
Here, hiking becomes an experience for all the senses. Once you reach the top, you will be rewarded with magnificent views and summit bliss.
Length of the hiking trail: 0.74 km Duration of the hike: approx. 25 minutes Ascent: 127 m
Summit barefoot trail © Riesneralm
Family experience Riesneralm © Peter Burgstaller
Lärchkaralm © Armin Walcher
Lärchkaralm © Armin Walcher
Up to the mountain pasture
Rustic huts, lush meadows in alpine terrain and grazing cows, sheep or horses are an integral part of the Austrian mountain landscape. They are just as much a part of hiking happiness as a hearty snack and a magnificent mountain panorama.
You can experience the alpine culture in the Lärchkar in a particularly beautiful way. At an altitude of around 1,300 m, a beautiful alpine pasture with several serviced huts awaits you.
It’s back to Donnersbachwald, which you can reach in about 20 minutes by car from the IMLAUER Hotel Schloss Pichlarn. A little further on, in Hinterwald, there is a parking lot and the start of our hiking tour.
The route follows gently ascending paths along the Lärchkarbach stream through a wild and romantic forest with small spring streams and a waterfall. We also recommend sturdy footwear here, as the path leads partly over footbridges and small bridges.
After approx. 1 hour you reach the alpine pasture. Several huts invite you to linger and enjoy homemade specialties. For example in the rustic Gerstlreithhütte. The hut, which is over 300 years old, is beautifully designed and decorated and will delight you.
If you like, you can hike further to the end of the alpine pasture, where the Stallaalm is located. The 1,450 m high alpine pasture offers wonderful views and delicious specialties. The same route then takes you back down into the valley.
Length of the hiking trail: 10.5 km Duration of the hike: 3:19 hours Ascent: 274 m
