!!! The hike was rescheduled for August 22 due to hazardous weather conditions on August 1 !!!
Join a small group of like-minded hikers for our first-ever community trip to the Seckau Alps in Styria on Saturday, August 22. This demanding full-day alpine adventure takes us across one of the most scenic and less-visited crystalline mountain ranges in Austria, combining long panoramic ridges, peaceful alpine landscapes, and the summit of Seckauer Zinken (2,397 m), one of the highest and most spectacular peaks of the range.
Unlike the dramatic limestone landscapes of the nearby Gesäuse or Hochschwab, the Seckau Alps have a completely different character. Built from ancient crystalline rocks such as gneiss and mica schist, the mountains feature broad grassy ridges, rounded summits, high plateaus, alpine meadows, and scattered rocky outcrops rather than steep cliffs and jagged peaks. This makes the range ideal for long-distance ridge hikes and endurance adventures.
During summer, the open slopes come alive with rich alpine flora, while streams, springs, and small mountain tarns create a refreshing landscape rarely found in many higher alpine areas. With fewer crowds, wide-open views, and a feeling of remoteness, the Seckau Alps offer a true wilderness experience in the heart of Styria.
Our route will take us across the range from south to north, climbing Seckauer Zinken and several secondary summits while enjoying far-reaching views over central Austria. Expect a challenging but highly rewarding mountain day through one of Styria’s hidden alpine gems.
🤔 FITNESS REQUIREMENTS: HARD 🔴
This demanding full-day adventure requires a strong level of endurance and previous experience with long mountain days. You should be comfortable completing a 25–35 km route with around 1500–2500 m of elevation gain and descent. If you are new to longer alpine hikes, it is recommended to first join shorter or less demanding routes to assess your fitness and ability to manage extended climbs and descents.
🌄 WHAT TO EXPECT
We will start our hike in the market town of Seckau and complete a south-to-north traverse of the Seckau Alps, passing over Seckauer Zinken (2,397 m), the highest point of our hike, as well as the secondary summits of Bremstein (1,868 m) and Mitterkogel (1,847 m), before descending into the Liesing Valley and taking the train from Mautern back to Vienna. The highlights along the course include:
• Seckau market town at the foot of the Seckau Alps 🏘️
• Seckau Abbey, a 12th-century monastery ⛪
• Maria Schnee, a small Baroque pilgrimage church ✨
• Tranquil panorama from Hochalm meadow 🌿
• Mosaic of scattered boulders and patches of dwarf pines 🪨
• Grassy alpine slopes with blooming wildflowers 🌸
• Crystalline landscape of Seckau Alps: gneiss 🔬
• Views of Goldlacke, a small alpine tarn💧
• Wide panoramic ridges of Seckau Alps 🌄
• Impressive views from Seckauer Zinken (2,397 m) summit 🏔️
• Multiple mountain streams in Seckau Alps 💦
• Uncrowded and peaceful hiking trails 🌲
• Secondary summits – Bremstein (1,868 m) and Mitterkogel (1,847 m) ⛰️
• Forest path descent to Liesing Valley 🌳
• Mautern in Steiermark train station 🚉
📊 HIKE DETAILS
~32 km | +2,100 m gain | -2,250 m loss
Technical difficulty (T-grade): mostly T1/T2
Physical difficulty: Hard (see fitness requirements above)
🗺️ ROUTE
The planned hiking route can be viewed on Komoot here: https://www.komoot.com/tour/3093769453
📍 MEETING & LOGISTICS
Meeting point: Wien Hauptbahnhof (Platform 7B) @ 05:10 AM
Outbound journey (~ 3 hours):
· IC 558 (05:24 Wien Hauptbahnhof – Bruck an der Mur Bahnhof 07:23)
· IR 788 (07:28 Bruck an der Mur Bahnhof – Knittelfeld Bahnhof 08:00)
· Bus 843 (08:07 Knittelfeld Bahnhof – Seckau Abtei 08:25)
Hike start: Seckau Abtei bus stop
Hike finish: Mautern in Steiermark Bahnhof
Return journey: via Bruck an der Mur back to Wien Hauptbahnhof
💡 Departure platforms and train schedules may change. Please check the latest information in the ÖBB Scotty app before departure. Consider getting a Vorteilskarte for discounted train tickets or a KlimaTicket if you regularly use public transport in Austria.
🧳 WHAT TO BRING
· 🥾 Suitable hiking footwear with good grip
· 👕 Weather-appropriate clothing (layers)
· 🕶️ Sun protection (sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat/cap)
· 🌧️ Rain protection (jacket and/or rain pants, depending on the forecast)
· 🎒 A comfortable backpack
· 💧 Sufficient water
· 🍎 Enough food and snacks for the entire hike
· 🩹 Personal medications and a basic personal first-aid kit
· 🔋 A fully charged mobile phone
· 💶 Cash and ID (not all mountain huts accept card payments)
· 🥢 Hiking poles (optional, but recommended for longer hikes)
🧑🤝🧑 GROUP DYNAMICS
This is a group hiking activity. We begin the hike as a group, move together along the route, regroup regularly along the way, and finish the hike together. Please plan to stay with the group for the entire duration of the hike, unless the itinerary explicitly mentions the possibility of splitting into smaller groups (e.g., one subgroup staying at a hut while others continue to a summit).
We follow this approach primarily for safety reasons: to keep track of everyone, ensure nobody is accidentally left behind, and allow the group to support each other if unexpected situations arise. It also helps create a better shared experience, where everyone can enjoy the hike together and nobody feels isolated or unintentionally separated from the group.
🌦️ WEATHER
This hike is weather-dependent and may be modified, shortened, postponed, or cancelled in case of thunderstorms, severe weather, or unsafe mountain conditions. Please check for updates before departure and be prepared for possible changes to the itinerary. The weather forecast and any potential changes will usually be posted in the event comments around 48 hours before the hike.
The organizer provides general information only and does not determine whether conditions are safe for individual participants. Each participant is solely responsible for assessing the weather, trail conditions, their own abilities, and deciding whether to participate or continue the hike.
⚠️ PARTICIPATION & RESPONSIBILITY
This is a casual, self-organized hike. You join at your own responsibility and are responsible for your own safety, decisions, and actions throughout the activity. Please ensure you are comfortable with the planned distance, elevation gain, difficulty level, and alpine terrain. You are responsible for assessing whether the hike is suitable for your fitness level and experience, and for bringing appropriate clothing, sufficient food and water, and suitable footwear and equipment. Please make conservative decisions regarding your own safety, and do not take unnecessary risks.
