Schmelzhütte - Hohe Ranach

“The Fleet": This popular family tour is ideal as a beginner's mountain tour, offering a fantastic panoramic view of the region.

A popular panoramic trail in the Murtal adventure region in Styria, which is maintained by the Austrian Armed Forces. Due to the exposed location of the extensive summit area, you have a wonderful view of the Judenburg-Knittelfeld-Aichfeld basin and the surrounding mountain regions. Here you are hiking in the immediate vicinity of a restricted military area, which is why the hiking trail to the Hohe Ranach is closed during live-fire exercises. The closed times can be found on the army's homepage. There is also an INFOPOINT board opposite the Soldiers' Church and in the bend at the access road to the Schmelz with a digital display that provides information about the current closure times of the hiking trails. If you would like to extend the hike a little, you can head west to the Erslstand (2124 m) and enjoy the view of the extensive cirque (Fleischhackerboden - restricted military area). It would also be possible to continue to the Kreiszkogel and even to the weather radar station and the Zirbitzkogel.

Characteristics

Skill

Fitness

Best season

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

The tour in numbers

medium

Level of difficulty

9,5 km

Route

4:00 h

Time

440 hm

Uphill

440 hm

Downhill

1970 m

Highest point

Map & downloads

Download GPX data

Download KML data

More information

From Judenburg via Oberweg and Ossach, the Seetalstraße leads directly to the grounds of the Schmelz military training area and thus to the large car park opposite the Soldiers' Church. (16 km, approx. 25 minutes).

From Wolfsberg via the B78 to Obdach and then via St. Wolfgang to the starting point (50 km, approx. 50 minutes).

The first short section leads along the MTB route 19a and connects to the hiking trail, which leads in several hairpin bends through the forest, over the Brandriegel and the Mühlbacher Sattel to the summit of the Ranach. On the way back, skip the MTB route and take the road that leads almost exactly to the Schmelzhütte, where you can enjoy a well-earned refreshment.
Tip: On the left-hand side before the summit cross, there is a small closed military hut with a bench for resting. As it is often very windy on the Hohe Ranach, you can eat your snack there, a little more sheltered from the wind.

On the left side in front of the summit cross is a small closed Bundesheerhütte (army hut) with a bench for resting. As it can be very windy on the Hohe Ranach, you have the opportunity to eat your snack there, sheltered from the wind.

Take the ÖBB to Judenburg. There is a public transport connection to the starting point of the tour itself from May to All Saints' Day on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. Bus number 873 from Judenburg railway station.

General information about public transport in the region: www.verbundlinie.at

Schmelz car park opposite the Soldiers' Church

More information at www.murtal.at/wandern