Sunrise Hike - Schuhflicker

On this hike, you have the choice of driving directly to the Aualm or hiking up there instead. The farm road is accessible to all vehicles; the only requirement is that your car isn’t too low to the ground, since the road can sometimes be a bit bumpy.

The Aualm is an alpine hut that was rebuilt a few years ago. Nevertheless, it has remained an “Alm.” From there, the trail continues uphill; in just a few minutes, you’ll reach the first summit cross of the day. The beautiful view and the bench near the Liechtensteinkopf invite you to pause and enjoy the scenery. From there, you’ll continue hiking to the Aukopf. Here, too, it’s worth staying a moment to take in the view of Dorfgastein on one side of the cross and the view of the Großarltal valley on the other. From the Aukopf, you can see two Kalkerberge peaks—the Arlspitze on the right, which is accessed by several climbing routes, and the Schuhflicker on the left.

The trail continues along the path below the Arlspitze until you reach the final ascent of the Schuhflicker. The final section is secured with a rope, as the last few meters consist of rocky steps. All in all, the effort of the climb is rewarded with a breathtaking view of the surrounding mountains—and what could be more beautiful than that? Below the Schuhflicker, you can already catch a glimpse of the idyllic Schuhflickersee, the next destination on today’s hike.

The flora and fauna around the small lake are particularly beautiful, and the Schuhflickersee makes for a wonderful photo opportunity. From Schuhflickersee, you’ll have to tackle one last short climb before heading downhill across the wide cirque of the alpine pasture area to the Aualm.

Start: 4:00 a.m.

Meeting point: Hotel Reception

Elevation gain: 480 m

Distance: 5.8 km

Duration: 4 hours

--Registration required--Subject to change--It’s worth getting up early--