Summer carried on into September this year, following weeks packed full of adventures across the world. Every year, this time of year is a reminder of time come and gone and a realization that long summer evenings, where the warmth of the day can still be felt on the skin, are slowly bidding us farewell, settling into a cooler season of comfort, change and self-reflection.
I managed to squeeze in one last hike at home in Salzburg, taking the day to gaze wistfully at the mountains and breathe in the last scents of summer, forever nostalgic for what has been and gone.
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The Salzburger Almenweg is a 25-stage 350km hiking trail across Salzburgerland, connecting many beautiful Alms (alpine huts) of the region. You can through-hike the entire thing, staying at different huts along the way, or you can complete stages of the trail as day hikes. Many stages are accessible by bus, making one-way treks possible. It is one of Europe's greatest long-distance hikes, much like the Tour du Mont Blanc, a 165km multi-day hike through France, Italy and Switzerland.
I spent a gorgeous September Sunday on Stage 2 of the Salzburger Almenweg, the part that stretches between Erichhütte and Arthurhaus around the base of the surreal Hochkönig.
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The Salzburger Almenweg is a 350km hiking trail connecting 120 Alms (alpine huts) across Salzburger Land. The trail is divided into 25 stages.
→ Check out a complete map of each of the 25 stages of the Salzburger Almenweg.
This blog post specifically focuses on Stage 2 as it is a stage connected on both ends by bus and therefore a perfect day hike from Salzburg. Stage 2 stretches between the Erichhütte and the Arthurhaus. You can start at either end; I started at the Erichhütte.
By car: The easiest way to reach Stage 2 of the Salzburger Almenweg is with your own wheels as you can then take bus 593 back to your car after your one-way hike. There is free parking at the Erichhütte Parkplatz and paid parking at the Stellplätze nähe Arthurhaus.
By public transport: Many of the stages of the Salzburger Almenweg are connected by bus. To complete Stage 2, I took the train from Salzburg to Bischofshofen (40 minutes) then transferred to bus 590 on to Mühlbach (20 minutes) before bus 593 from there to the Erichhütte Parkplatz (10 minutes) where the hike begins.
There are other routes available such as the train to Lend then the bus to Mühlbach. Regardless of your route from Salzburg, you'll always need to end up on bus 593. Check Google Maps for the fastest route at the time you want to head out.
At the end of my hike, I then got back on bus 593 from Stellplätze nähe Arthurhaus to Mühlbach (15 minutes), transferred to bus 590 back to Bischofshofen (17 minutes) and then got the train back to Salzburg (45 minutes). Very easy!
By guided hike: There are multiple guided hike options for the Salzburger Almenweg ranging from day hikes to multi-day hikes on a few stages or even doing the entire 350km stretch across all 25 stages. They all have different offers in terms of accommodation and meals; some even transport your luggage between the huts so you don't have to carry it yourself!
Shortly after leaving the parking lot / bus stop on the way to Erichhütte
The Salzburger Almenweg is a 350km hiking trail connecting 120 Alms (alpine huts) across Salzburger Land.
→ Book your multi-day hiking trek between alpine huts on the Salzburger Almenweg.
There is food available at all of the alpine huts but note that some are cash only. If you book a multi-day trek through the link above, you have the option to pre-book your meals.
For a day hike on Stage 2 of the Salzburger Almenweg, you'll start at the Erichhütte and end at the Arthurhaus. Along the way, you'll also pass the Stegmoosalm, Brandstätthütte, Molterhütte, Schartenhütte, Riedingalm, Windraucheggalm and Schweizerhütte - plenty of options to stop for refreshments!
The Salzburger Almenweg is a 350km hiking trail connecting 120 Alms (alpine huts) across Salzburger Land. It is divided into 25 stages. You can hike any stage as a day hike, choose to hike a couple of stages on a multi-day hike or even hike the entire 350km trail.
→ Book your multi-day hiking trek between alpine huts on the Salzburger Almenweg.
If you are just doing a day hike, as I did on Stage 2, you do not need to book anything; the trails are open for anyone to enjoy! The only thing that has to be booked is an overnight stay in an alpine hut.
When: June to October when there is no snow
Where: Stage 2 goes from the Erichhütte Parkplatz to the Stellplätze nähe Arthurhaus
→ Check out a complete map of each of the 25 stages of the Salzburger Almenweg.
Difficulty: easy
Length: from the Erichhütte Parkplatz, it is 11.3km one way to the Stellplätze nähe Arthurhaus; I hiked 14.2km according to Strava because I had to double back at one point to retrieve my tripod which I accidentally left on the trail!
Directions: from the Erichhütte Parkplatz / bus stop, the first stretch of the trail to reach the Erichhütte is about half an hour. From the hut, head right along the base of the Hochkönig following signs for Vier Hütten and Arthurhaus (Trail No.436/401A). Stage 2 of the Salzburger Almenweg is relatively flat the whole way.
→ Check out my exact route on Strava!
Bathrooms: yes, at the many alpine huts along the way
The trail from the Parkplatz / bus stop to Erichhütte
Just behind the Erichhütte
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Hi! I’m Jana, a Dutch-German-British-Canadian with a dream of seeing every country in the world. I am a storyteller, photographer and adventurer passionate about documenting and sharing my travels.
