The starting point of the tour is the Winterleitenhütte. Instead of climbing the Zirbitzkogel directly, you make a small side trip to the not much lower Kreiskogel at 2306m. From there you can enjoy a great panoramic hike over the ridge of the Seetal Alps to the actual destination.
Important note: Partly you are in a restricted military area, which can be temporarily inaccessible. Current information about restricted times can be found online on the HomePage of the Austrian Armed Forces.
Passing the Kleiner Winterleitensee on the right, walk along marker 315 A and ascend in the direction of the Großer Winterleitensee. After a short, partly somewhat soggy forest section, the trail leads over a beautiful alpine pasture with bushes and berry bushes. Contrary to the direct route to the Zirbitzkogel, continue to stay to the right along the marked path. After about 1 1/2 hours of steady uphill with a view of the summit, you have reached the Kreiskogel (2,306m).
Continue along hiking trail 312 south along the ridge of the Seetaler Alps. From here, with good visibility, you can look down on the Ochsenboden and even spot shy groundhogs. Passing the weather station at Scharfen Eck (2,364m), you reach the Zirbitzkogel (2396m) after a small final climb. From the summit cross you have a beautiful view of the surrounding mountain landscape. There is also a metal plate where you can see exactly in which direction, for example, the Dachstein, Ameringkogel or Hochschwab are located.
The way back is on the same path until the weather station. There, however, keep to the right along the marked trails 308/315 and descend via the Schreibersteig, which allows beautiful views down to the Lindersee. People who suffer from fear of heights might have their problems with the exposed Schreibersteig. Past Schlafer Kogel and Schloßerkogel with the mark 308 and then further 315 on the left, respectively, you return via the Winterleiten lakes to the Winterleiten hut.