Overview
The Lynx Trail (Luchs Trail) runs through the tri-border area of the provinces of Upper Austria, Styria and Lower Austria. And while catching a glimpse of the wild cat that inspired the trail’s name would be a rare and unlikely stroke of luck, it offers some great walking in one of the undiscovered regions of Austria.
Visit nature parks, expansive beech forests, unspoilt woodlands, spectacular high-alpine landscapes and charming rural villages on this remarkable journey through the wild heart of Austria.
- Largest lynx population in Austria
- Unspoilt beech forests (UNESCO Natural Heritage site)
- Gesäuse National Park
- Kalkalpen National Park
- Admont Abbey
- Nature and Geopark Styrian Eisenwurzen
Click to view map
*This map is only for general reference and should never be used for navigational purposes.
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival Admont
Welcome to Admont, situated in the middle of the Ennstal Alps, in the valley of the Enns. You will be staying in a 4-star hotel in the centre of Admont, just around the corner from Admont Abbey.
- Accommodation: Hotel Spirodom****
Day 2: Admont to the Klinkehütte | 8.7km
After breakfast, walk past the Abbey and follow the hiking route that leads along a tree-lined road, across open grasslands and to the Steinerner Wirt spring, located at the base of the Hahnsteinkante ridge. Walk through fields of creeping pine trees down to the Kaiserau basin. After a steady descent, you reach the upper end of the lovely high-alpine valley, finding yourself at an altitude of 1220 m. Shortly after, you enter the cosy hut Klinkehütte, owned by the Austrian Alpine Association.
- Walking for the day: 4h, 8.7km, ↑1,294m ↓450m
- Accommodation: Mountain Hut Klinkehütte (dormitory rooms with shared facilities)
Day 3: Klinkehütte to Johnsbach | 14.1km
From the Klinkehütte, walk up to the Kalblinggatterl saddle, before embarking on the two-hour hike to the Mödlinger Hütte (1,523m). Its extraordinary position on the crest of the Treffneralm pastures opens up glorious panoramic views of the Ödstein, Admonter Reichenstein and Sparafeld summits. Have a rest and continue to the summit cross of the Spielkogel (1731 m). From there, you traverse the ridge to the Anhartskogel (1,764m). Through valley and forest, you finally arrive at the mountaineering village of Johnsbach.
- Walking for the day: 5h 15min, 14.1km, ↑758m ↓1450m
- Accommodation: Country inns Gasthof Kölblwirt or Gasthof Ödsetinblick
Day 4: Johnsbach to Gstatterboden | 10.7km
After breakfast, walk along the Schattseitenweg trail and visit the Johnsbach Cemetery. Continue your journey and take the Sagenweg trail – following the course of the Johnsbach stream towards the Weidendom visitors centre. We highly recommend a visit to the centre’s Willow Dome as well as the Hedge Maze – two stunning, living structures that beautifully reflect the area’s commitment to sustainability. There are several inviting relaxation spots dotted around the park, while a wooden walkway takes visitors into the enchanting woodlands of the Lettmair Au. Cross the Enns river on a footbridge, before taking the Rauchbodenweg trail to Gstatterboden, always following the flow of the Enns. Once you have reached the hamlet of Gstatterboden and checked into your accommodation, we suggest a visit to the National Park Pavillon to explore current exhibitions and find out more about the natural world of the Gesäuse mountains.
- Walking for the day: 3h, 10.7km, ↑114m ↓384m
- Accommodation: Gesäuse Lodge*** (dormitory rooms with shared facilities)
Day 5: Gstatterboden to Mooslandl | 17.9km
The 1000-metre ascent to the Ennstaler Hütte starts directly in Gstatterboden. Having passed the village’s Hubertus Chapel, you navigate the 1-hour ascent while enjoying fantastic views of the surrounding mountains – including the Hochtor range, whose impressive summits look almost like a neat row of pearls. On the Bärensattel pass, the route takes you through an untouched beech forest. Reach the village of Mooslandl and your lovely idyllic accommodation for the night.
- Walking for the day: 6-7h, 17.9km, ↑1,137m ↓1,230m
- Accommodation: Hotel Mooswirt***
Day 6: Mooslandl to Palfau | 22.7km
Today you visit the Nothklamm Gorge, which was declared a natural monument in 1970. Carved deep into the hard limestone, the Nothklamm gorge is one of the most impressive natural features of the Styrian Limestone Alps. After an easy walk along the Gamsbach stream, you reach the 600-metre-long wooden walkway system that winds its way through the wild gorge. At the exit, you pass Styria’s only pebble mill. If you have enough time left, you might like to pay a visit to the nearby Kraushöhle cavern – the largest gypsum crystal cave in the German-speaking realm. Having left the Nothklamm gorge, follow the trail to a meadow with a farmstead, and then on to the Reiteralm pasture, situated on a saddle between the Akogel and Grantenkogel mountains. Arrive at the village of Palfau for your last overnight on the Lynx Trail.
- Walking for the day: 7-8h, 22.7km, ↑904m ↓892m
- Accommodation: Gasthof Stiegenwirt***
Day 7: Departure
After breakfast, a short transfer will take you back to Admont.
What to expect
Accommodation
Accommodation is in private en-suite rooms in welcoming 3-star hotels and country inns (4-star hotel in Admont) and one night in a characterful mountain hut (dorm rooms, shared facilities). We have carefully hand-picked all places and regularly monitor their quality. We have tried to choose accommodations that offer friendly service, clean and comfortable rooms and local flavour.
Click to view our default hotels for this trip
- Hotel Spirodom****
- Mountain Hut Klinkehütte (dormitory rooms with shared facilities)
- Gasthof Kölblwirt*** or Gasthof Ödsetinblick***
- Gesäuse Lodge*** (dormitory rooms with shared facilities)
- Hotel Mooswirt***
- Gasthof Stiegenwirt***
*Hotels are subject to availability. In case a hotel is fully booked for your desired dates, we will replace it with a property of equal standard. We will provide full accommodation details upon booking confirmation.
Meals
Accommodation is on a half board basis – breakfast and dinner are included (except dinner on Day 4). Picnic lunches are optional at an extra charge and can be ordered locally.
Difficulty and terrain
There are some difficult parts on the trail – mostly narrow and often steep (read more about difficulty grades). We strongly advise you to follow only marked trails and never try to shorten the path through the unknown and unmarked terrain. We will provide you with detailed road notes and maps, and you can call our 24/7 local assistance phone number anytime.
When to go
This trip is available from the 15th of May until the 10th of October. The flexibility of self guided holidays means that there are no fixed dates, and you can start your trip on any date during the season. You will hike at altitudes between 400 and 1,900m – even in summer, it can be very cool at the higher altitudes
Getting there
Click to view travel options
By plane
Our recommended airport for this tour is Linz (LNZ).
By train or bus
- By train: Form Linz airport walk to Hoersching (approx. 2h) and hop on the train to Ardning and then get the bus (15min) to Admont.
- By bus: Approx. 4h via Traun and Liezen stations.
- By car: Parking is available at the starting point. Detailed information is included in the pre-departure info. The transfer from Palfau to Admont on Day 7 back to your car is included in the price.
- For more details, use the Omio planner above.
Inclusions
Included
- 6 overnights as detailed in the itinerary
- Half Board (no dinner on Day 4)
- Luggage transfer when changing hotels (one piece of luggage per person, max 20kg)
- Transfer from Palfau to Admont on Day 7
- Detailed route notes (1 set per room)
- 24/7 phone assistance by our local office/representative
Excluded
- Airfare and connecting land transfers
- Lunches, dinners, drinks and snacks
- Travel insurance (required – get a quote online)
- Personal expenses
- Local tourist taxes and entry fees (payable on-site)
- Any items not specifically mentioned as included in the programme
Options, extras and supplements
- If you’re travelling in a group, a supplement applies to group members who would like to have a room of their own
- This holiday is available for solo travellers upon request only; a supplement will be charged as accommodation and luggage transfer costs are not shared (we never mix and match – solo travellers will be accommodated in single rooms)
- Extra nights in Admont are available upon request
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