Winter hike to the sunrise on the Gaberl

Easy and short winter hike to the sunrise on the mountain.

Experiencing the sunrise on a mountain in winter is a special kind of nature experience. Unlike in summer, you don't have to get up too early for this. A special and easily accessible spot for the sunrise is the Steinerne Miarz on the Wölkerkogel and if you stand here early in the morning and the weather permits, you can experience a wonderful natural spectacle. The snowy landscape seems to be completely transformed by the warm, yellow-orange light and for the few minutes of sunrise you can feel the harmony of nature in a fascinating way.

Characteristics

Skill

Fitness

Best season

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

The tour in numbers

6,6 km

Route

2:00 h

Time

160 hm

Uphill

160 hm

Downhill

1706 m

Highest point

Map & downloads

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More information

From Knittelfeld via the L504 and continue on the Gaberlstraße B77 to the top of the pass, the car park is on the left-hand side. (23 km, approx. 30 minutes).

From Graz via the south motorway E66 and continue on the Gaberlstraße B77 to the top of the pass, the car park is on the right-hand side. (70 km, approx. 75 minutes).

Winter hiking by car - a few things to look out for!

Good winter tyres are an absolute MUST!Ice scraper, snow brush, de-icer for the door locks and a small shovel are part of the basic equipment.Put snow chains and a tow rope in the car, even if you are not good with them yourself. There are always helpful and knowledgeable hikers on the mountain!Clear all snow and ice from the car, especially the roof.When parking, make sure that you also leave space for other drivers.Always park in such a way that the rest of the carriageway remains clear for cars, timber lorries and snow clearing vehicles.Find out about the snow situation on the access road or parking facilities before setting off. (Hüttenwirt, webcams)

From the car park (1), 1547 m, at the Gaberl, walk along the access road for approx. 50 minutes to the Alter Almhaus. The path is clear and even if it is still dark, you can easily orientate yourself along the road - which is currently snow-covered. Once you reach the Alter Almhaus (2), 1647 m, you can see the Wölkerkogel on the right-hand side, the small hill on which the statue of the Virgin Mary, known as the "Steinerne Miarz", stands. From the Altes Almhaus it is only a few metres uphill and after about 10 minutes we reach our vantage point for the sunrise - the Wölkerkogel (3), 1706 m.

Our tip: take a head torch and a hUnser Tipp: Stirnlampe und einen heißen Tee oder Kaffee mitnehmen!ot tea or coffee with you!

There is no public transport to the starting point.

Murtal Taxi, Tel.: +43 660 1018101, 8740 Zeltweg, www.murtal-taxi.at

Taxi Jäger, Tel.: +43 3512 44833, 8720 Knittelfeld

There is a very large paid car park directly at the Gaberl ski area.

Refreshments and overnight accommodation:

Almwirtshaus Altes Almhaus, 8591 Maria Lankowitz, Kemetberg 60, Tel. +43 3147 212, info@altesalmhaus.at, www.altesalmhaus.atGaberlhaus & Sportgasthof Lipp, Gaberl 1, 8592 Maria Lankowitz/Salla district, Tel. +43 3147 243, lipp@gaberl.at, www.gaberl.at

Freytag & Berndt (2017): Seetaler Alpen, Seckauer Alpen, Judenburg, Knittelfeld. WK 212 Wander-, Rad-, Freizeitkarte; 1 : 50 000 C. und M. Hlatky, (2017): Murtal – Rund um Spielberg – Seetaler Alpen und Seckauer Alpen. Kral Verlag, S. 160