Untouched nature
The mighty Tennengebirge mountain range is part of the Salzburg Limestone Alps and is a nature reserve. The Tennengebirge stretches over around 60 square kilometers and 22 peaks that tower well over 2,000 meters into the sky. The highest peak is the Raucheck at 2,430 meters above sea level.
A large part of the Tennengebirge plateau has been a nature reserve since 1985. And that’s a good thing! Because the purposes of the nature reserve are:
- to preserve the unspoilt nature
- to protect the special, original beauty of the landscape
- to maintain the recreational benefits (hiking tourism) of the natural cultural landscape
Our “Tennengebirgs Plateau Circuit” is ideal for exploring the naturally protected high plateau of the Tennengebirge. However, this tour is only recommended for experienced mountaineers.
Crossing the Tennengebirge in summer
One of the options for a crossing is the starting point at the parking lot in the Wengerau. From there you hike past the Wengerau Alm, the Gamsblickalm and the Elmaualm to the Werfener Hütte. The route then continues either via the Throntal or via the Grießscharte to the Edelweißerhütte on the Mittlere Streitmandl. From there, descend via the Streitmandlscharte to the Leopold-Happisch-Haus on the Windischriedel.
The Leopold-Happisch-Haus is a self-catering hut run by Naturfreunde Salzburg and offers overnight accommodation.
Via Kote 2200, the route then leads to Hochkogeltief and via Hochkogelsteig to Eisriesenwelt and Dr.-Friedrich-Oedl-Haus.
This tour takes around 10 hours and is partly exposed and secured by ropes, for which surefootedness and a head for heights are essential!
Crossing the Tennengebirge in winter
One way to cross the Tennengebirge plateau on skis is from Werfenweng via the Scheiblingkogel to Oberscheffau.
The tour starts at the parking lot in Wengerau and passes the Dr.-Heinrich-Hackel-Hütte and the Tauernscharte. At the foot of the Tauernkogel, Eiskogel and the Schartwand, the route continues towards Schubbühl. From there, the trail continues gently up and down across the Tennengebirgs plateau to the Scheiblingkogel. Pay attention to the marker poles! Once you reach the Scheiblingkogel, you can then take the descent via the Röth, Schwer or Wies cirques to Oberscheffau.
The tour is 21.5 km long and includes 1,750 meters of ascent. It is therefore only suitable for experienced ski tourers. For good orientation, this tour is only recommended in good weather!
Climbing in the Tennengebirge
The rock faces on the south side of the Tennengebirge, starting in Werfenweng, are ideal for climbing as the compact limestone rock is rarely brittle. The Tennengebirge offers numerous challenges in difficulty levels 3 to 8.
The most popular climbing routes can be found on the Hochthron, large and small Fieberhorn, Hiefler, as well as the Tauernkogel and Napf.
Directly behind the Werfener Hütte is a climbing garden with 10 different routes of varying degrees of difficulty. There is also a “children’s climbing garden”, “path through the cave” and various abseiling points, ideal for “warming up” and trying things out.
Eiskogel Cave
The Eiskogel Cave was declared a natural monument in 1947 and has been leased by the Landesverein für Höhlenkunde in Salzburg since 1949. Since then, the ice and stalactite cave has been run as a show cave in its natural state, i.e. without artificial lighting and without pathways.
The cave can be visited with a cave guide for groups of 5 or more. However, alpine experience, crampon walking and abseiling skills are prerequisites for this full-day tour.
For registration and further information, please contact Mr. Herbert Burian on this telephone number.
