Crystal clear water at Kaltenbach creek | © Gerhard Pilz/Gerhard Pilz

Planai High Trail with overnight at Preintalerhütte chalet

difficult closed Summit tours · Schladming

Current Conditions
02/11/2023 - 19/05/2024
Winter Closure: Alpine Trail Höll

The Alpinsteig Höll will be closed over the winter until probably mid-May 2024. As usual, the reopening will take place in spring after an appropriate inspection and renovation measures! The Seeleiten car park in Untertal is also closed.

Out of consideration for the wild animals, we ask that you behave particularly quietly and considerately when hiking here during the winter and only during the day outside of twilight hours.

Tour characteristics
Stamina
Technique
Experience
Landscape
Tour-Infos
Distance: 18.92 km
Duration: 8:30 h
Ascent: 657 m
Descent: 1380 m
Best time of year
january
february
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april
may
juny
july
august
september
october
november
december
The tour

Planai High Trail is a challenging alpine hike in the Schladminger Tauern range. Narrow paths, which are quite exposed partially, take you from the famous skiing mountain Planai to Preintalerhütte chalet inmidst of the Schladminger Tauern range. Along the route a variant via Höchstein summit is possible, but only recommended for experienced hikers! The route is an alpine trail – surefootedness and a head for heights are a must, therea a short secured passages with steel ropes. Caution in early summer when encountering snow fields and periods of rain, the wet grassy mountainsides and rain-sodden trail are sources of danger. The high-alpine mountain scenery offers suprising and incredible views to the Schladminger Tauern range.

The 2nd day is an quite easy hike, descending from Preintalerhütte and Waldhornalm to Untertal valley via Riesachsee Lake. Along the way, Berallerhütte at Kotalm, Kaltenbachalm, and Gfölleralm are offering refreshments.

 

Turn-by-turn directions

From the mountain station of the Planai cable car at Schladminger Hütte, follow path no.779 over the Planai summit or on the panoramic circular route to the Krahbergsattel. Through a short forest passage and then ascending towards Krahbergzinken, you branch off halfway up the Krahbergzinken and follow the narrow path to the rocky connecting ridge of the Seerieszinken. Great care must be taken on this section! The panorama is terrific.The trail leads a little below the Höchststein ridge along the southwest flank to Spielbühel.

There, for the first time, the Riesachsee becomes visible deep below. After the Hasenkarscharte, you come to the junction on the Höchsteingipfel. Follow path no. 779 and no. 781, after crossing the Kaltenbachkares you reach another cross at the Neualm, where you continue straight on on the so-called Höfertsteig no. 782. From the Neualm you reach the Preintalerhütte and the Waldhornalm in one good hour. Here you have earned a long rest.

The next day, hard-working hikers can take a tour to the Sonntagskarseen or even descend directly to the Seeleiten car park.

Getting there
From federal highway B320 take exit "Schladming-Ost". Continue to the roundabout (Spar/Salewa Mountain Shop) and take the 3rd exit towards "Zentrum" (town center). At the following roundabout again take the 3rd exit, which will take you directly to the valley terminal of Planai cable-car at Planai stadium.

In the town of Schladming you can take the Citybus. From Rohrmoos take the Planai buses to Planet Planai, from Ramsau take the buses of Ramsauer Verkehrsbetriebe.

From Planai stadium take the Planai cable car to the starting point.

From Seeleiten car park take the Planai buses back to Schladming or Rohrmoos.

Parking
Parking is available at the valley terminal of Planai cable-car.
Start
Hiking trail head Planai mountain terminal
Destination
Seeleiten car park, Untertal valley head
Security

Changes in weather patterns, quick falls in temperature, thunderstorms, wind, fog and snow are some of the dangers that can be encountered on a hiking tour. Hosts of alpine huts and mountain refuges have a lot of experience in the mountains and can give good advice about weather and the trails. Poor equipment, overestimation of one's own capabilities, carelessness, poor personal constitution and/or wrong judgement  can lead to critical situations. In case of thunderstorms: avoid summits, ridges and steel ropes.

GPS data and orienteering

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
Equipment
A well-packed backpack is helpful and especially when touring Alpine terrain a tuque, gloves, a windproof jacket and pants are standard equipment. Good, waterproof shoes, sun glasses, sun cream and sufficient beverages are essential too. Torch light, a map of the area, knie and a small first-aid kit should also be in the backpack.

Weather forecast

Date
in the morning
2°C
at noon
5°C
in the evening
4°C
At first light snowfall, later also rain every now and then.
in the morning
1°C
at noon
7°C
in the evening
5°C
Light snowfall at daybreak, then fairly sunny during the day.
in the morning
1°C
at noon
12°C
in the evening
9°C
Partly sunny in the morning, gradually becoming cloudy in the afternoon.

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