This article was originally published by Roger Fulton on our sister Active Traveler website this url.
Hiking takes many forms – from easy routes for all the family to challenging long distance trips best suited for experienced hikers. And you’ll find every kind of walking experience at the Wilder Kaiser, including 700km of marked trails from valley trails to mountain climbs.
Multi-day hikes are the most popular. Often, these involve traveling from one starting point to a different ending point, either carrying basic luggage in a backpack or, if you’re lucky, a tour provider carrying your luggage from one point to another each day.
But the Wilder Kaiser region has developed a major twist on the traditional multi-day walk: kaiserbluteSix-day, star-shaped hike around the region, where you discover a new natural habitat every day – forest, water, rock, moorland and alpine pasture. Each walk is a new nature experience in itself, but you return each evening to the same accommodation in one of the region’s four valley towns – Allmau, Going, Chefoo and Soule, each an ideal, welcoming base with excellent facilities. Also, very good public transport links make it easy to reach various starting points in the valley.
No need to stay overnight in a hut, no worries about luggage, just a deep dive into this spectacular part of Austrian Tirol, a chance to really get to know this premier hiking destination.
Kaiserblute Overview
total distance: 80.6 km
total duration: 32 hours
Overall Difficulty: medium
Each stage starts and ends at points that are easily accessible by regional hiking buses or the free Kaiserjet bus service, allowing you to easily return to your accommodation in the evening – and perhaps enjoy one of the local events in the area. Because all routes lead out of the valley, the stages are flexible and easy to adapt to changing weather. The average daily walking time is between 4 and 7 hours.
phase:
Alpine Meadow Stage (Estberg-Hartkasser)
distance: 12.8 km
Duration: 4.25 hours
Difficulty: Easy
An intensive nature stage through gentle high trails, lush meadows, rustic huts and alpine pastures with spectacular views of the Wilder Kaiser.
After taking the Estberg chairlift up from the valley floor, the route begins with a loop around Lake Estberg, before heading onto a forest path that eventually emerges onto open alpine pastures. Follow the Elfer Trail gently uphill, past wooden huts and along a wooden walkway towards Hartkaiser. During this time, you’ll enjoy the ever-changing scenery of the Wilderness Kaiser. At Hartkaiser, a sun terrace offers the chance to relax, enjoy a drink and take in the spectacular views, before you catch the Gondola back down into the valley at Elmau.
Don’t miss: A short 10-minute detour along the way will take you to Kummeralm, a hut that seems to be in the middle of nowhere but is popular with hikers, where you can enjoy Tyrolean cuisine. The mountain breakfast includes homemade products such as farmhouse bread, jams and honey.
Go Wilderkaiser.info For more information about this step.
Alpine Meadow Stage (Hochsoll-Brandstadl)
distance: 10.5 km
Duration: 5 hours
Difficulty: medium
This stage discovers diverse alpine pasture landscapes, passing traditional huts, flower-filled meadows and sparkling mountain lakes – all the way up to the Hohe Salwe, said to be the most beautiful panoramic peak of Tyrol.
The starting point is at the base station of the Soll Hexenwasser Gondola, which takes you up to Hochsoll. Follow the trail numbers. Go past Grundlam 50 and turn right towards Hohe Salve. On the way, you will pass the picturesque Simonalm – a farmhouse over 300 years old. The path continues to climb to the summit, where you can get 360-degree views of seventy 3,000-meter-plus peaks from the rotating viewing platform at the summit restaurant. You can also visit the highest pilgrimage church in Austria.
The route then heads down a series of switchbacks, passing several lakes, and through a forest, eventually reaching Brandstedal, where you can catch the Gondola back down to the valley at Cheffou.
Don’t miss: Another detour, this time a short one to the Eiberg Cross, from where the view of the Grosvendigger is stunning.
Go Wilderkaiser.info For more information about this step.
rock stage
distance: 12.7 km
Duration: 5.5 hours
Difficulty: medium
This beautiful platform takes you into the rugged world of rock – through rocky trails and rock outcrops to the amazingly situated Grutenkreuz Cross, which lies beneath the towering cliffs of the Wilder Kaiser.
The route starts in the center of Schaffau, going slightly downhill before starting a steady climb towards Grutenhütte via the Wilder Kaiser Trail. The route leads through undulating fields, through forests, through fragrant mountain pine trees with sweeping views of the valley, the Hohe Tauern range and the Hintersteinersee lake.
Just past the Grutenhütte, a short final climb up to the Grutenkreuz reveals wonderful panoramic views. Afterwards, relax and freshen up on the charming terrace of the hut. The route runs briefly eastward across rocky terrain and scree plains, before descending through forest to the Wochenbrunner Alm, from where a hiking bus leads to the Almau.
Don’t miss: At Talschuster Farm, at the start of the walk, look for an old plaque from the 1930s and 1940s showing fascinating route details and walking times.
Go Wilderkaiser.info For more information about this step.
One to watch – Almabrib
19 September, Seoul
Cultural events are extremely popular among visitors and locals in the Wilder Kaiser, and one of the main attractions is the annual alpine cattle drive (Almabtrieb) in Saal. One of the most beautiful traditions in Tyrol, it starts early in the morning, when the cows are given a festive ‘mash’ – both as a symbol and as a thank you for the safe summer on the mountain pasture. Herders lead animals into the valley from the Hoxol Alpine Inn and Stocklum.
Dressed in beautifully ornate, handmade headdresses, the Bundesmusikappelle band plays as they arrive in the village to return to their home stables. Market stalls sell regional produce such as doughnuts, quiche, alpine cheeses and farmhouse bacon amid a festive atmosphere.
