Pinzgauer Spaziergang

The Pinzgauer Spaziergang follows the southern ridges of the Grasberge always in the line of least resistance. This means that over 18 kilometers you only have to overcome about 600 meters of ascent. The best part of the route, however, is the scenic experience: While on other hikes the summit is the highlight, which you can never enjoy long enough, on the Pinzgauer Spaziergang you constantly feel like you are standing on a summit. Magnificent views of the rugged Steinberge and the Steinernes Meer in the north and the glaciated peaks of the Hohe Tauern in the south accompany you throughout the entire hike. But don't be deceived by the name "Spaziergang" (walk): this "walk" requires a bit more endurance than an evening stroll around the block. However, if the described classic hike is too little for you, you can extend it with numerous summit climbs and quickly double or triple the total elevation gain this way. 

The hike starts comfortably with a ride up on the Schattberg-Express cable car. From the mountain station, it initially goes slightly downhill towards the west summit and past it on the left, slightly uphill into the Marxtenscharte. Then you either follow the ridge over Stemmerkogel and Saalbachkogel to Seetörl or bypass these peaks on the west side. Soon after, you reach the highest point of the route at Klingertörl below Hochkogel. From here it goes briefly downhill again before the hiking route turns east. The path leads almost flat over Hochsonnberg along the slopes below Zirmkogel, Gernkogel, and Maurerkogel through the Klammscharte and Rohertörl into the Kesselscharte. Over Hahnkopf you reach Kettingtörl from where the path climbs again about 200 meters a bit steeper to the summit of Schmittenhöhe. Hopefully, you will reach this in time for the last descent ride of the Schmittenhöhebahn (at high summer 5 p.m., in early summer and autumn at 4:30 p.m.), which brings you comfortably down to Zell am See. Back to Maishofen you can either walk along the lakeside promenade or take the half-hourly bus (line 260 or 680).