Snowshoe walking Snowshoe tour from the Waldheimhütte to the Zirbitzkogel - Touren-Impression #1 | © Weges OG Snowshoe walking Snowshoe tour from the Waldheimhütte to the Zirbitzkogel - Touren-Impression #1 | © Weges OG

Snowshoe tour from the Waldheimhütte to the Zirbitzkogel

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Alpine snowshoe feeling at the highest peak of the Seetaler Alps in the adventure region Murtal.
The Seetaler Alps in the adventure region Murtal are, with the Zirbitzkogel (2396 m) as the highest peak and the Zirbitzkogel-Schutzhaus (officially Helmut-Erd-Schutzhaus), (2376 m) just below, a popular summer and winter hiking destination.  Starting from the Waldheimhütte, the groomed trail is a great way to get to the Zirbitzkogel on snowshoes. The path is clear and indicated by snow poles, so you can expect a sporty but basically technically easy hike. The 360° view from the summit is fabulous, and with the orientation plate near the summit cross, the peaks in the distance are easy to determine. By the way, the name Zirbitz is derived from the Slovenian word "crvenica", which means "red area" and is due to the common alpine rose in the region. The Swiss stone pine (bot. Pinus cembra), also called the "Queen of the Alps", in turn gave the region its name, "Zirbenland". Name or not, to put it in a nutshell: Zirbe, Zirbitz, Zirbenland - a wonderful area that promises a lot and keeps it.

Characteristics

Skill
Fitness

Best season

April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November

The tour in numbers

medium
Level of difficulty
11,9 km
Route
5:30 h
Time
772 hm
Uphill
772 hm
Downhill
2394 m
Highest point

Map & downloads

More information

From Vienna (approx. 2.5–3 hours):

  1. Take the A2 towards Graz.

  2. At 161-St. Michael junction, switch to the S36 towards Judenburg.

  3. Exit at Zeltweg-Ost/Obdach.

  4. Follow the B78 Obdacher Straße to Obdach.

  5. In the village center, turn towards Amering/Waldheimhütte.

  6. Follow the mountain road to the Waldheimhütte (parking available).

From Graz (approx. 1.5 hours):

  1. Take the A9 towards Linz/Salzburg.

  2. At 161-St. Michael junction, change to the S36 towards Judenburg.

  3. Exit at Zeltweg-Ost/Obdach.

  4. Drive along the B78 to Obdach.

  5. In the village, turn towards Amering/Waldheimhütte.

  6. Follow the mountain road to the Waldheimhütte.

From Salzburg (approx. 3 hours):

  1. Take the A10 towards Villach.

  2. At exit 63-Altenmarkt, change to the B320 towards Radstadt/Schladming.

  3. Continue via Schladming to Liezen.

  4. Join the A9 towards Graz.

  5. At 161-St. Michael junction, switch to the S36 towards Judenburg.

  6. Exit at Zeltweg-Ost/Obdach.

  7. Follow the B78 to Obdach.

  8. In the village, turn towards Amering/Waldheimhütte.

  9. Continue up the mountain road to the Waldheimhütte.

From the Waldheimhütte (1), 1614 m, we follow the path with the number 320 in the direction of the Zirbitzkogel, which is clearly recognizable by yellow signposts (in the immediate vicinity of the parking lot). At the edge of the ski slope we go slightly uphill, passing the head station of the drag lift on the left and then along the wide path through the stone pine forest. Above the tree line we come to a crossing point (2), 1900 m, which leads to the right to the Rothaidenhütte, which is unmanned in winter, and further on to the Alpengasthof Sabathy. During the ascent you can see the Rothaidenhütte well. The further course of the path is clear through the Radrakspur with the snow poles. Soon we recognize our goal, the Zirbitzkogel with the Schutzhaus, in the distance. The slope becomes less and less and before it becomes almost flat, we still see the crossing point Rothaidenweg (3), 2140 m, which is recognizable by a yellow hiking sign and would be an alternative for the descent. Furthermore, the prepared track leads us past the waypoint Kote (4), 2181 m, and then we are only facing about 200 meters of altitude difference. After seven turns and a pleasantly laid out trail, we reach the Helmut-Erd-Schutzhaus or Zirbitzkogel-Schutzhaus (5), 2376 m, as it is also called. The summit cross and orientation board of the Zirbitzkogel (6), 2396 m, is only a few minutes away. The descent takes us to the waypoint Kote (4), 2181 m, along the ascent route. Here we have the possibility to hike back over snow-filled gullies. It is important to consider these descent options only in fair weather. As soon as we reach our ascent track again, we follow it back to the Waldheimhütte (1).
Another hike from Alpengasthof Sabathy to the Waldheimhütte can be found in the snowshoe guide Styria under tour 13 "Hüttenwanderung Seetaler Alpen". The book is available at the Waldheimhütte.

Unfortunately, this tour cannot be reached by public transport.

  • Recommendation: Travel by car or organize a carpool.
There are enough parking spaces at the Waldheimhütte.
Waldheimhütte, Tel.: +43 3578 8205, 8742 St. Anna am Lavantegg, Lavantegg 57,

Zirbitzkogel-Schutzhaus (officially Helmut-Erd-Schutzhaus), Tel: +43 3578 8205 or +43 664 9140283, 8742 Obdach, Granitzen 41

Open in winter with appropriate snow and weather conditions on weekends and during winter holiday weeks. The innkeeper will be happy to provide information about opening hours by telephone. A winter room is open all year round, but does not offer heating and cooking facilities.

Freytag & Berndt (2017): Seetaler Alpen, Seckauer Alpen, Judenburg, Knittelfeld. WK 212 Wander-, Rad-, Freizeitkarte; 1:50000

You can also find more information about the region on - www.murtal.at 

Sarcletti S., Zienitzer E., (2. Auflage 2018): Schneeschuhführer Steiermark – Vom Dachstein bis zum Steirischen Weinland. Bergverlag Rother GmbH, München, S. 176. 

Schneeweiß C., (2012): Schneeschuhgehen – Praxiswissen vom Profi zu Ausrüstung, Technik und Sicherheit. Bruckmann Verlag GmbH, München, S.192

Gallery

What the weather will be like

Obdach (868m)

18.10.2025
sunny
2°C 13°C
19.10.2025
slightly cloudy
1°C 11°C
20.10.2025
weather.icon.04
1°C 11°C
GSchlössl

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