From Bad Aussee train station, head west on Koppenstraße, cross the railroad crossing, continue up the road and reach a forest road on the left, from which the marked Alpine Trail No. 695 leads over the Planer to the summit of the Zinken. Following the red-white-red markings you reach the Planergraben. A narrow path winds steeply uphill next to the ditch through the high forest.
At an altitude of 1,000 meters, you have to cross an old path that leads from the Fidl Alm in the west to the Himmeleben area near Lake Öden in the east. This trail was once built as a connecting path between several hunting lodges. Today, forest roads replace the path, which is why it has fallen into disrepair.
A forest road comes up from the right. Continue steeply uphill through the forest. The path turns to the right, becomes stonier and brings you to the forest line at 1,500 meters above sea level.
Then you continue hiking to a spring, leaving the high forest behind and going up the ditch in switchbacks. On stony ground you reach a scree slope below the Eislochkogel (1,830 m). After another short ascent, there is a magnificent view over the Aussee basin and the Sarstein on the opposite side. The steep part is now over. Gently ascending, you hike past the Feuerkogel on the right.
The trail continues descending through mountain pine fields in a southerly direction. From the lowest point of the path, the unmarked Almsteig branches off to the right to the Planeralm.
On the Zinken, however, the trail continues to climb on the left between mountain pines. Soon you reach rocky, grassy alpine pastures. On the right, the alpine path no. 696 comes up from the Handleralm. Hiking straight on, you come to the mighty summit cross on the Zinken-Kogel at an altitude of 1,854 meters.
The 8-meter-high summit cross was built and erected by skilled students of the polytechnic course 2004/2005, the secondary school Bad Aussee, under the direction of their dedicated teacher Franz Amon. It is truly a God-gifted vantage point. The entire Ausseerland at your feet, the Dachstein within reach, you enjoy the well-deserved, magnificent view.
The descent leads back to the crossroads, which you follow to the left on the alpine trail no. 696. It leads southwards over a rockfall and sloping terrain steps about 200 meters in altitude down, then turns to the east and reaches below the Zwicker Kogel after about a kilometer the Handleralm (1,649 m). Continue following the markings, uphill to the left across the alpine pastures to a saddle. The path leads briefly to the right and then descends to the left into a wide, rocky cirque.
Now the trail leads to the steep descent "Handlerstiege", which is secured with a rope. Passing a spring, you walk downhill over a forest ridge past the Äußere Hornkogel on the right.
In about 1,000 meters you come to a forest road, cross it and continue the descent on the alpine path no. 696 downhill. Descending in serpentines you have to cross another forest road. After about one kilometer you are back at the starting point.