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Almkogel via Burgspitz
  1. Day Trip/

Almkogel via Burgspitz

· Reading Time 3 mins
Eisenwurzen Alp Forest Mountain Train
Table of Contents
Tour Details
  • SAC Hiking Scale
    T2
  • Distance
    18.6 km
  • Ascent
    1220 m
  • Adventure
Map

I arrive by train at the small platform in Kastenreith. From Amstetten via Waidhofen and Weyer, the Rudolfsbahn railway takes you quickly into the Enns Valley. The line is surprisingly busy for a small local railway. A train departs almost every hour.

The Enns Valley near Kastenreith and Weyer.

I immediately set off in search of a small path that you can’t easily find on maps, not even on OpenStreetMap. I finally find it by the bridge over the green Enns, but after a short time I have to abandon my endeavour.

It is too overgrown. Wild raspberries with their vicious thorns block my way. I don’t have the right clothing to fight through the thicket. Short socks and shorts are not ideal in the wilderness. I change my plans. But the goal, the Almkogel, remains the same.

Stallburgalm

So I start by walking along the road to Küpfern. Numerous cyclists populate it and speed away. The road is part of the Enns Valley cycle path and is traffic-calmed. Practically only local residents use it, as the main road is on the opposite bank of the Enns.

Before Küpfern, I switch into the Hammergraben and feel soft gravel under my soles again. The valley has seen better times. Again and again, I pass old, dilapidated farmhouses, perhaps smithies or sawmills – I can’t quite say. Moss overgrows the roofs, the window panes are cracked and decorated with cobwebs. The former inhabitants of the houses have long since moved away or died.

This is followed by a long ascent on the forest road to the Stallburgalm. There is little to report here, apart from the impressive view of the rock walls of the mountains opposite.

I can hear the mountain pasture even before I see it. This time, however, it’s not the cowbells that are to blame, but cheerful hikers enjoying their lunch. I don’t want to treat myself to a drink yet; first I have to scale the mountains.

Burgspitz

Unfortunately, I don’t feel particularly fit today. I don’t know exactly why, but my legs are heavy. Every step is exhausting, although my heart rate is fine.

View from Burgspitz to Ennstal and Weyer.
Enns valley with Burgspitz on the left.

From the Stallburgalm I turn towards the Burgspitz (1429 m). A small path winds steeply through the forest. I almost miss a turn-off. A fallen tree has destroyed the original path here. The forest slowly thins out and gives way to green pastures.

The Burgspitz is a large mountain pasture. I look far into the foothills of the Alps and towards Weyer. At last, there is some joy. The boring climb was worth it after all. I can also see my next stops: Kleiner Almkogel (1461 m), Brunbacheck (1471 m), and Almkogel (1513 m).

Almkogel

The easy running on the broad mountain ridges is a pleasure. It’s not far to the Almkogel, and the terrain is easy. An expansive Alpine panorama spreads out before me. The summit of the Almkogel offers the best view of the surrounding mountain ranges.

Panorama from Almkogel to the surrounding mountains.
From left to right: Gesäuse, Haller Mauern, Totes Gebirge, Sensengebirge.

The view back to the mountain ridge I passed is also quite good. Unfortunately, the numerous flies at the summit spoil my snack. I don’t feel completely at ease either. Originally, I wanted to descend via Hühnerkogel and Ennsberg to Kleinreifling, but I don’t have enough energy for that.

View back from Almkogel to the climbed mountains.
From front to back: Brunbacheck, Kleiner Almkogel, Burgspitz.

Instead, I stop at the Stallburgalm, rest, and recharge with a snack and apple juice. The return via the forest road presents no difficulties. It is the easier route after all.

Lambert Widdersinn
Author
Lambert Widdersinn
Enthusiastic hiking ram

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