Salzburger Almenweg - Stage 13: Loosbühelalm - Gernkogel/St. Johann

Starting from the Ellmaualm, the trail goes to the unmanaged Henerbichlalm and from there uphill to the 1,906 metre high Kartörl, the highest point of today's stage. From the ridge, you can see a summit cross a little off the main path. From this it is only a few minutes over to the "troughs". The detour of about a quarter of an hour to the moor lakes is totally worthwhile.

Back on the Salzburger Almenweg, it goes past the Karalm steadily downhill to the Spatalm and from here at the same altitude to the Kleinwildalm, all three of which are unmanaged. After the Kleinwildalm, the trail now leads at an almost constant altitude to the managed Großwildalm, from which two trail variants open up. Either you continue to follow the goods path downhill and take the path to the Karseggalm on the right at the third serpentine or, and this is our tip, you follow the idyllic trail down from the Großwildalm in the direction of Breitenebenalm. After just under an hour you reach a fork in the road and follow the trail up to the Karseggalm, which leads first through a beautiful spruce high forest and then over wide alpine pastures. On the other hand, if you want to descend to the Breitebenalm, you have to take a small detour of a quarter of an hour.

The approximately 400-year-old Karseggalm is one of the oldest huts in the valley. From here, you can reach the Unterwandalm in approx. 20 minutes and in about another hour’s walk to the unmanaged Muggenfeldalm and on to the Maurachalm, the northernmost alpine pasture of the Grossarl Valley.

You start your hike by following a trail at a constant altitude for a longer time until the Gerkogel, which is today destination, comes into view. On the way you will descend briefly towards the west and can take a detour to the picturesque Sonntagskogel reservoir. As you go further down, you can already spot the Haibenalm, which is the first place of accommodation for today’s stage. In case it’s fully occupied, the Bauchhütte is a viable alternative.

From the Haibenalm you hike slightly uphill through the forested crest of the Gernkogel, which is known as the "Geisterberg" From this adventure mountain, you can already see the Gernkogelalm. To reach the Buchauhütte, the trail continues downhill along the forest road to Alpendorf in St.Johann, where you can spend the night.

Variant 13a with descent to St. Johann or Wagrain:

If you prefer to spend the night in the valley, take the cable car to St. Johann or to Wagrain. From the Sonntagskogel, the descent to the mountain station of the Grafenbergbahn (Wagrain) goes south, where at the junction, follow the path to the right towards the mountain station. The mountain station of the Alpendorf cable car to St. Johann is about 45 minutes' walk below the Gernkogel. Please note the opening hours of the cable cars. The next day you can reach the stage start again with the cable car.

Variant 14b with stage shortcut directly to Kleinarl:

On tomorrow's stage 15, there will be a short, black section on the Kitzstein ("fork"), which requires a bit sure-footedness and a head for heights. For those that don't dare to do this, you can combine stages 14 and 15 and hike to Kleinarl today. This variant leads from the Karseggalm over the Almsteig (Path no. 72) up to the unmanaged Karsegg-Hochalm and on to the ridge. The descent leads over the hiking trail No. 712 to the Kleinarler Hut, which can be reached in a good 1.5 hours on foot, and on to the stage finish at Kleinarl (see stage 15 description).

Refreshment and accommodation options

Weißalm (1.724 m), (after approx. ½ hour) Mid-June to mid-October, Tel.: 06414/411 or 0664/437 80 20 refresh. / accomm.

, T. +43 6414 411 oder +43 664 437 80 20 E/Ü

Ellmaualm (1.794 m), (after approx. 1 hour) mid of June to the end of October, T. +43 664 455 0411 E/Ü/Almsommerhütte

Großwildalm (1,787 m), (after approx. 3 hours) July to the end of August, Tel.: +43 6414 333 or T. +43 650 22 400 90 refresh.

Breitebenalm (1,420), (after approx. 4 hours) beginning of May to end of October, Tel.: (Gastronomy) +43 6414 81445, Tel.: (accommodation) +43 676 411 6787 refresh. / accomm. / Alpine summer hut

Karseggalm (1,603 m), (after approx. 4 hours) end of June to end of October, Tel.: +43 664 915 07 17 or +43 664 9962188 refresh. / Alpine summer hut

Unterwandalm (1,600 m), (after approx. 4.5 hours) mid-June to early October, Tel.: +43 664 2412908 or +43 664 453 64 38 refresh. / accomm. / Alpine summer hut

Maurachalm (1,620 m), (after approx. 6 hours) Early June to mid-October, Tel.: +43 6414 293 refresh. / Alpine summer hut

Haibenalm (1,650 m), (after approx. 6.25 hours) June to mid- September, Tel.: +43 664 266 98 07 or +43 664 588 37 32 refresh. / accomm. / Alpine summer hut

Buchauhütte (1,750 m), (after approx. 6.5 hours), June to October (as Gondelbahn Alpendorf), Tel.: +43 664 2801508 refresh. 

Gernkogelalm (1,750 m), (after approx. 6.5 hours) June to October (as Gondelbahn Alpendorf), Tel.: +43 664 2669807 refresh.