Schneeschuhwanderer in Hopfriesen auf der Schneeschuhtour Obertal | © Gerhard Pilz/Gerhard Pilz - www.gpic.at

Snowshoeing in Obertal valley

moderate Snowshoe hikes · Schladming

Tour characteristics
Stamina
Technique
Experience
Landscape
Tour-Infos
Distance: 17.63 km
Duration: 4:45 h
Ascent: 358 m
Descent: 224 m
Best time of year
january
february
march
april
may
juny
july
august
september
october
november
december
The tour
In the Obertal valley of Rohrmoos the sound of water is your constant companion - also in winter. The sparkling snow gives an additional charm to the scenery. The ruins of the historic Nickel smelting furnace at the valley head are open as a museum in summer.
Turn-by-turn directions

Starting point for this tour to Obertal valley is in the village of Rohrmoos (next to hotel "Das Platzl") or alternatively the valley terminal of Gipfelbahn Hochwurzen cable-car. Next to the trail head there are various rental opportunities (Ski Lenz, Sport Tritscher).

From Rohrmoos you walk uphill, from the valley terminal downhill to the meadows of "Rohrmooser Frei" (below the valley terminal of Obertalbahn cable-car). From here you start your way into Obertal valley - just follow the signs "Obertal-Tour" with the snowshoeing symbol. You pass by the farms Sonnleitner, Holzbacher, Pocher, Finsterl, Talhammer and Hochegger until you reach the charming meadows near the Rojerhof farm. A couple of minutes further you reach Windbacherstube Inn (rental equipment available).

From Windbacherstube inn you follow a forest road into the valley. Walking along the Obertalbach creek you make your way towards the Bärnhofer farm and continue along the creek to the Wehrhofalm. At Wehrhofalm you take the bridge across the creek and along the pond and a small forest you reach the meadows that take you to the Hopfriesen area. At the valley head you make a small loop towards the historic nickel melting furnace (which is open as a museum in summer) and then follow the signs out of the valley. Along the Obertalbach creek you make your way back to the bridge at Wehrhofalm from where you follow the way you came back to your starting point.

Getting there
From Schladming take provincial highway L722 (Rohrmoosstraße road) to Rohrmoos and at the roundabout continue on provincial highway L723 (Tälerstraße road) to the village of Untertal. At the end of the village make a right onto Obertalstraße road and continue for about 2.5 kms to the turn-off "Windbacherstube".
No public transport available to Windbacherstube in Obertal valley. The closest bus stop with regular service is "Untertal-Dorf" which is about 40-45 walking minutes away.
Parking
A few public parking lots are available at the turn-off Windbacherstube. More parking is available at Windbacherstube inn.
Start
Windbacherstube inn, Obertal
Destination
Windbacherstube inn, Obertal
Security

Before each and every ski tour or snow shoe walk you should check the most recent avalanche warnings which can be found at www.lawine-steiermark.at.

In winter time it is therefore important to also be careful on supposedly easy walks. Sections that are in the shadows can easily get icy, and slopes on the side of the trail may have avalanche hazard. Mountain sport is always carried out under personal responsibility - in winter even more than in summer. Tourist offices or avalanche warning services do not take any responsibility in respect to information provided.

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
Snowshoes, poles, good winter shoes, warm clothing, tuque, and gloves. You might also want to carry a small backbag with a warm drink in a thermos jug.

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Weather forecast

Date
in the morning
1°C
at noon
6°C
in the evening
5°C
Mostly cloudy with occasional sunny spells. Light rain will start in the afternoon.
in the morning
2°C
at noon
4°C
in the evening
2°C
Snowfall in the early morning, then alternating snowfall and rain during the day.
in the morning
0°C
at noon
5°C
in the evening
3°C
Mostly thick clouds, and a chance of some snowfall in the first half of the day.

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