Plan a route here Copy route

recommended route

Hut hopping in the Raxalpe area (Number 1)

Hiking Routes · Wiener Alpen

Responsible for this content
Wiener Alpen in Niederösterreich - Semmering Rax

Ottohaus
Photo: ©Wiener Alpen, Foto: Janos Kalmar

Hiking from hut to hut – “hut hopping” – in the Rax is one of the most popular trails in the region. It means being able to hike in subalpine heights, through meadows and the mountain pine zone, without having to tackle difficult gradients.

difficult

Distance 16.5 km

8:00 h

667 m

1,134 m

1,893 m

1,074 m

Travel up on the Rax aerial cableway, which opened in 1926, and is the oldest cable car system in Austria. A special feature of the Ottohaus, which is the hut nearest to the summit station, is a large Alpine garden which covers 4000m2, and boasts around 200 region-specific Alpine plant species. The name of the next station, the Seehütte, is derived from the name of a small lake, which was drained shortly after the 1st World War. Without having to overcome any great difficulties, you can “hop” from hut to hut in the Rax. Due to its short length, this variation of the popular Rax hiking route is suitable for families. However, the conditions must be suitable!

Author’s recommendation

Combine your walk with an overnight stay in the Raxalpen Berggasthof, in the direct vicinity of the summit station!

Author

Renate Buchner

Update: August 18, 2022

Difficulty

difficult

Stamina

Experience

Landscape

Highest point

1,893 m

Lowest point

1,074 m

Best time of year

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Track types

Dirt road

0.3 km

Forested/wild trail

3.5 km

Path

12.7 km

Show elevation profile

Safety information

Walking in the Viennese Alps should be a completely safe and beautiful experience. Therefore, please note the following:

Preparation

Make sure that your choice of route matches your hiking experience and your physical condition. Check the weather forecast. In the mountains, the weather can change surprisingly quickly. For this reason, make sure you are well-equipped (e.g. bring rain protection).

Check that the huts and refreshment stations that you want to visit along the way will be open. Tell someone which route you have chosen, and when you hope to return, before you set off.

Tours of the plateau are not recommended in fog and strong winds!

Tips and hints

Noch mehr wanderbare Varianten:

Hüttenhüpfen auf der Raxalpe - Variante 1b

Hüttenhüpfen auf der Raxalpe - Variante 1c

Hüttenhüpfen auf der Raxalpe - Variante 2

Hüttenhüpfen auf der Raxalpe - Variante 3

Stützpunkte:
Raxseilbahn Berggasthof, Tel. 02666/52450
Ottohaus, Tel. 02666/52402
Neue Seehütte, Tel. 0676/7488719
Habsburghaus, Tel. 02665 219
Karl Ludwig Haus, Tel. 02665/380
Waxriegelhaus, Tel. 02665 237

Informationen: Tourismusbüro Reichenau, Tel. 02666/52865, www.reichenau.at

Wiener Alpen in Niederösterreich Tourismus, Tel. 02622/78960, www.wieneralpen.at

Raxseilbahn, Tel. 02666/52497

Start

Note about Hirschwang an der Rax, valley station of the Rax aerial cableway (1,541 m)

Coordinates:

47.717245, 15.778206

DMS

47°43'02.1"N 15°46'41.5"E

UTM

33T 558367 5285167

w3w

///asteroid.jammer.distinctly

Destination

Raxalpen Berggasthof, summit station of the Rax aerial cableway

Turn-by-turn directions

We will start by taking the Rax aerial cableway. Just a few minutes later, we will arrive at the summit station at 1547m above sea level. From the summit station, we will follow the red signs to the Gatterlkreuz (Gatterl cross), and then back to the Ottohaus. The journey to the first hut of the tour takes 45 minutes, and involves an ascent of 100m. The lakeside route then gently descends, leading to the Neu Seehütte, which is situated in a valley. The route leads back past the Preiner Wand Kreuz (Preinerwand cross) and over the well-known Preiner Wand climbing paradise, before the ridgeway leads through the mountain pine route and back to the Ottohaus. Anyone who wants to reach another summit can climb the Jakobskogel (1737m), which is located near to the Ottohaus. Finally, we will return to the Ottohaus, and head back to the summit station.

Public transport

Public-transport-friendly

By train to Payerbach-Reichenau. Buses run between Payerbach-Reichenau station and the valley station of the Rax aerial cableway. See www.vor.at for more information.

By road

A2 to Knoten Seebenstein – S6 to Gloggnitz – B27 to Hirschwang an der Rax, the valley station of the Rax aerial cableway (just outside Hirschwang)

Parking

Parking spaces are available at the valley station of the Rax aerial cableway.

Coordinates

47.717245, 15.778206

DMS

47°43'02.1"N 15°46'41.5"E

UTM

33T 558367 5285167

w3w

///asteroid.jammer.distinctly

Arrival by train, car, foot or bike

Author’s map recommendations

freytag&berndt WK022

Equipment

Bring a suitable map. Wear suitable, sturdy shoes, and bring sun and rain protection, as well as water and a bite to eat. Bring your mobile phone, and save the emergency number of the mountain rescue team: 140

Similar routes nearby

These suggestions were created automatically.

Difficulty

difficult

Distance

16.5 km

Duration

8:00 h

Ascent

667 m

Descent

1,134 m

Highest point

1,893 m

Lowest point

1,074 m

Public-transport-friendly Scenic Refreshment stops available Cableway ascent/descent

Statistics

Waypoints

Content
Show images Hide images

Features

Maps and trails

4 Waypoints

4 Waypoints

Distance km

Duration : h

Ascent m

Descent m

Highest point m

Lowest point m

Push the arrows to change the view