Naturpark Sölktäler
Hohensee - Schimpelscharte - Etrachsee
Waterway
Data:
Tour description
From St. Nikolai in the Großsölk Valley, we hike along the Bräualmbach stream, past the waterfall, through the high forest to the Hohensee lake. Besides several dilapidated huts, two alpine huts built of marble still stand, though they do not offer refreshments.
The lake itself is surrounded by high mountains and offers the perfect resting place. A little further up, we leave the forest behind, and rounded humps, smoothed by glaciers and covered in moss, now dominate our surroundings. We continue our ascent to the Schimpelscharte pass. Far below lies the green Schimpelsee lake, and directly in front of us, a low stone wall divides the rounded ridge of the Schimpelscharte – at 2,273 meters, the highest point of our tour.
The lake itself is surrounded by high mountains and offers the perfect resting place. A little further up, we leave the forest behind, and rounded humps, smoothed by glaciers and covered in moss, now dominate our surroundings. We continue our ascent to the Schimpelscharte pass. Far below lies the green Schimpelsee lake, and directly in front of us, a low stone wall divides the rounded ridge of the Schimpelscharte – at 2,273 meters, the highest point of our tour.
The tour
difficult
publicly accessible
Starting point
St. Nikolai in Großsölktal, P at the entrance to the village
Destination
Etrachsee
Tour characteristics
Fitness (5/6)
Skills (4/6)
Information
Distance: 15.8 km
Duration:
7:00 h
Ascent: 1190 m
Descent: 940 m
highest point: 2273 m
Best season
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Map, elevation profile & further information
Turn off the Ennstalstraße B320 at Pruggern (west) or Espang (east) in the direction of the Sölktäler Nature Park. In Stein/Enns turn off towards Sölkpass, and after about 18 km you will reach the parking lot on the outskirts of St. Nikolai.Parking area at the beginning of the village St. Nikolai.
Arrival at Stein/Enns train station with ÖBB.
Cab Stefan Mayer: +43 676 54 09 858
Valley bus from July 11 to September 13, 2026 - this makes crossings in the Sölktäler Nature Park possible. You can also travel comfortably by train and the valley bus will take you to the starting point of your hike. Click here for the timetable.
Weather changes, rapid drop in temperature, thunderstorms, wind, fog and snow fields are objective dangers and require the right behavior on the way. Hut keepers are experienced mountain connoisseurs, they can give good tips on the weather and the course of the trail. Lack of equipment, overestimation of one's own abilities, carelessness, poor physical condition and a wrong assessment can lead to critical situations. During thunderstorms: avoid peaks, ridges and rope belays at all costs.
GPS data and orientation aids: Available GPS data - as well as hiking maps - are only an orientation aid, since they can never represent an exact image or the richness of detail of a path in reality. Especially in the case of danger spots, it must therefore always be decided in the end on the basis of the conditions on site whether and how the further course of the path looks like.
In case of emergency, please dial the following emergency numbers:
No. 140 - for alpine emergencies - Austria-wide
No. 112 - Euro emergency call GSM emergency call service
Take rainproof and warm clothes and enough water, possibly also a snack, wear shoes with non-slip profile soles. A first aid kit should also be in your backpack.
GPS data and orientation aids: Available GPS data - as well as hiking maps - are only an orientation aid, since they can never represent an exact image or the richness of detail of a path in reality. Especially in the case of danger spots, it must therefore always be decided in the end on the basis of the conditions on site whether and how the further course of the path looks like.
In case of emergency, please dial the following emergency numbers:
No. 140 - for alpine emergencies - Austria-wide
No. 112 - Euro emergency call GSM emergency call service
Take rainproof and warm clothes and enough water, possibly also a snack, wear shoes with non-slip profile soles. A first aid kit should also be in your backpack.
SummitLynx- Your digital summit and hut book - available worldwide and always with you!
Mountain guides from the region: www.schladming-dachstein.at/mountainguides
For more information, please contact the Schladming Dachstein Tourist Office - Sölktäler Nature Park Information Center:
Phone: +43 3687 23310 501
mailto:info@schladming-dachstein.at
Stein an der Enns 107
8961 Sölk
The brochure “Hiking- center” is available in all information offices in the region.
