HIKING IN STYRIA

The Seetal Alps are a true hiking Eldorado

A wonderful view of the picturesque Wildsee - hiking enthusiasts will get their money's worth here!(Bild: Weges)

Where the Swiss stone pine meets blooming chamois heath and the nutcracker has its habitat, we experience a harmonious mountain landscape.

The Seetal Alps are an ideal hiking area for easy to moderately difficult tours. The hiking trails start at an altitude of around 1600 meters and lead through dense stone pine forests with old gnarled trees. The tranquillity of the forests is only interrupted by the murmur of the mountain streams and the loud screeching of the nutcrackers.

The next stage of vegetation is characterized by alpine rush, a dwarf shrub that blooms red in early summer, and chamois heath, which is already flowering beautifully on the windswept ridges.

Beautifully flowering alpine pastures(Bild: Weges)

The paths lead smoothly through the alpine landscape - over broad mountain ridges - up to the summits. On this hike, we leave the heavily frequented Zirbitzkogel (2396 m) to the right and get to know the southern part of the Seetal Alps, including the Stoanahütte. Conclusion: an effective mountain hike.

A highlight: the summit cross on the Fuchskogel(Bild: Weges)

We start at the Waldheimhütte (1614 m) and follow the yellow signposts in the direction of Türkenkreuz - Wildsee. A wide forest path takes us to the "Maria in der Zirbe" rest area (1720 m) and on to the Türkenkreuz (1839 m). At the cross we have a beautiful view of the Zirbitzkogel.

DATA & FACTS

• Hiking data: 19 km / 790 m / walking time approx. 6 h.
• Requirements: Technically easy mountain hike with a few steep sections - adequate mountain equipment is standard.
• Signposting system: Yellow signposts and red-white-red markings; trail numbers: 321, 312/08.
• Starting point: Paid parking lot at the Waldheimhütte (8742 St. Anna/Lavantegg 57).
• Refreshments: Waldheimhütte, 03578/8205, Stoanahütte (open from June 5th), 0664/ 8777097.
• Questions and suggestions: WEGES - Silvia and Elisabeth, 0650/2611119, weg-es.at; Facebook, Instagram and YouTube: wegesaktiv.

We continue downhill, across a stream and along a forest road uphill to the Wildsee junction (1815 m), where we hike in the direction of Judenburger Kreuz/St. Martiner Hütte to Stoanahütte (1730 m).

The hiking pros from the "Kronen Zeitung"(Bild: Weges)

After about 370 meters of altitude difference, we reach the broad mountain ridge across the alpine pasture to the Wildsee junction. After a short ascent, we see the Fuchskogel summit cross (2214 m) on the right-hand side. We return via the Wildsee (1981 m) to the junction we already know.