Kristallloipe classic XC trail
easy closed Cross-country skiing · Schladming
Wonderfully grommed classic cross-country trail along the Untertal valley, flanked by the impressive mountains of the Schladming Tauern range. Especially in the morning you get a taste from where the tracks got their name.
The track starts at Hinkerbrücke bridge where informattion displays for the XC tracks are located. From there the run takes you into Untertal valley and back to your starting point along 13.5 kms. There are also alternative starting points:
- Starting point "Tettermoor" (at the wooden lookout tower "Wild Waters")
- Starting point "Waldhäuslalm" inn
- Starting point "Weisse Wand" inn
From the trail start Hinkerbrücke bridge the trail climbs steeply up to Gasthof Tetter inn (closed on Mondays). After a short descent to the Tetter Moor the trail leads you along the scenic Tettermoor, past the alternative entry point at the wooden lookout tower of the summery theme trail "Wilde Wasser". In this area, the Tettermoor skating trail accompanies the Kristallloipe.
After a short forest passage you come to Waldhäuslalm (parking & entry point, in winter Sunday & Monday rest day). By another short forest passage you reach the beautiful meadows near the hunting lodge. From here, the Almenrunde skating trail accompanies the crystal trail. At the Sulzberg bridge after the Sondlalm begins the loop of the Kristallloipe track. Right (identical to the trail "Wild Water" in summer) through some forest passages, the trail leads you to the height of Angereralm (private hut), where the trail now ascends a little stronger.
After a short, steeper climb you run on towards Granglalm where the track takse a loope and now falls slightly until you reach the bridge to the summer parking lot Riesachfall-Seeleiten. Now along the Untertalbach out of the valley and past the bridge at the Angereralm. Shortly thereafter you reach the Gasthaus Weisse Wand (closed on Tuesdays) and a little further out of the valley you come to Sulzberg bridge again, where you cross over and arun back to the starting point along the known route.
With the buses of Planai-Hochwurzen from Schladming or Rohrmoos to one of the following bus stops in Untertal valley:
- Hinkerbrücke bridge - XC trailhead
- Gasthof Tetter inn
- Waldhäuslalm inn
In general, Kristallloipe XC track is an easy run. However, do take care at the steep downhill sections - towards Tetter Moor, in the area of Granglalm at the valley head and from Gasthof Tetter inn back to the starting point.
Orientation
Available GPS data - just like hiking maps - is only a guidance for orientation and can never depict a trail exactly with all its details. Especially at dangerous spots it is essential to judge on site how to proceed.
In an emergency please call:
- 140 - for Alpine emergencies (all over Austria)
- 112 - European GSM emergency number
- Classic cross-country ski equipment (skis, poles and shoes)
- warm and breathable clothing
- gloves and tuque
- sunglasses
There are no set prices for use of the XC trails in Untertal valley! You can decide for yourself how much the trails are worth to you. There are small boxes at the trail heads for your voluntary contibution. Since grooming of the trails is largely dependent on the quality and amount of snow, conditions are not always the same. But of course, our hard-working crews always try their very best.
- Information about alternative winter sports: www.schladming-dachstein.at/winter-glint
- Information about bus timetables to Untertal: www.planaibus.at