Welser Höhenweg - Linzer variant

Austria's largest mountain plateau is the Tote Gebirge. The Welser Höhenweg is the crossing of this largest mountain plateau in the Eastern Alps, just outside Wels. In five days, this alpine trail leads in one variant from Almtal to Bad Ischl, in another variant from Hinterstoder to Bad Ischl.

The Welserhütte, the Pühringerhütte, the Albert-Appelhaus and the Ischlerhütte make this wild and romantic experience of the high alpine crossing possible and complete it with culinary delights and pleasant overnight accommodation.

At the end of this short high-alpine holiday for experienced mountain hikers, the Schönberg (2,090m) awaits, climbed via its east ridge (wire rope insurance, not very difficult).

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE ROUTE DATA IS LISTED EXCLUSIVELY FROM THE VARIANTE HINTERSTODER HIKE TO THE MAIN PATH OF THE WELSER HÖHENWEG.

Variant access Hinterstoder (Linzer Variante)

Hinterstoder (591 m) - Prielschutzhaus(1420 m)
After travelling from the train station by bus, it takes 2 - 3 hours to reach the first accommodation, depending on your walking speed.

Prielschutzhaus (1420 m) - Pühringerhütte (1638 m)
One of the two longest stages takes around 6 hours to walk across the highest part of the Priel mountain plateau past the Pühringerhütte. This section of the trail requires very good stamina, surefootedness, good weather and good orientation skills.

Pühringerhütte (1638 m) - Albert-Appel-Haus (1663 m)
This day stage leads through the green part of the Totes Gebirge to the Albert-Appel-Haus in around 5 hours. While the Welser Höhenweg from Hinterstoder to here runs along the Nordalpenweg, the routes now separate.

Albert-Appel-Haus (1663 m) - Ischler Hütte (1368 m)
The longest stage. It leads past Wildensee and Rinnerkogel over the summit of Schönberg (2093 m) to Ischler Hütte, the last accommodation.

Ischler Hütte (1368 m) - Bad Ischl (468 m)
Descent to Redtenbachalm and march to Bad Ischl (approx. 3-4 h)