AV Salzkofelhütte - Hiking into the mountain paradise

In this tour, we describe the variant starting from the Kreuzeckbahn mountain station, which is especially used by long-distance hikers via the Kreuzeck ridgeway. The inclined elevator takes hikers and mountaineers up to 1200 m elevation. From here, you hike in just over half an hour to the Mernikalm, a beautiful alpine pasture area high above the Mölltal. From here you either turn right and follow the sign to the Salzkofelhütte or first continue left to the Mühldorferalm with the managed Klinghütte and then towards the Salzkofelhütte. Those walking the Kreuzeck ridgeway should definitely use one of the two taverns on the alp areas as rest stops. Both routes then head towards Rosswiese, where the trails merge before a terrain crossing in front of Rosswiese. The terrain crossing involves mastering a small former landslide area, which is not particularly difficult. After about a total of two hours, you reach the Rosswiese, a level area where you cross from the north side of the mountain to the south side. Here, the path immediately branches right to the Salzkofel or to the junction and the Kleine Salzkofel before it.
If you have set the hut as a stage destination, you should definitely prefer the right variant to the direct path, provided your fitness level allows it. Along the way, you encounter a wild-romantic yet gentle mountain scene with a former glacier lake (Pusanitzer Almsee) and a rock slide that also indicates the course of the long-melted glacier. You can also climb the Knoppen (2158 m) and enjoy the view, whereas the Kleine Salzkofel is bypassed on the left below its summit and before the actual ascent to the Großer Salzkofel (about 2300 m) it is better to choose the descent at a trail fork! The ascent to the summit, which is not entirely easy and still recommended as a hike for sure-footed hikers, requires an additional 1.5 hours, including a well-deserved rest with a fantastic panoramic view! The Großer Salzkofel is certainly one of the most rewarding summit goals in the entire mountain group! The descent to the Salzkofelhütte from the junction is completed in just over half an hour. Of particular interest, if not sensational, is a little-known power source with a high energy value (24,500 Bovist), which you encounter at about 2080 meters of altitude, about 20 meters to the left of the descent. In addition to this, the romantic Salzkofelhütte now gives hikers renewed energy, which is reached after about 5 hours (6.5 hours with the summit)!
Those who take the lower path starting at Rosswiese will soon meet the Sachsenweg, which comes from Möllbrücke. The historic path, which once served the alpine farmers and gold prospectors in the area as an access route, leads fairly level on to the Alpine Club hut after about 3.5 - 4 hours in total. Anyone fortunate enough to spend the night at the hut can consider themselves lucky. The Salzkofelhütte is known for its cozy atmosphere and its good hut specialties.

The tour should definitely be planned for two days! The hut is a power place in the mountain paradise, a special feature that will do good for body and soul! Attention:

The section from the junction from the Großer Salzkofel ascent to the Kleine Salzkofel and further on to the Koppen, with ascent or descent from the starting point, is not marked on every map and requires a sense of orientation. There are only faint markings and a faintly trodden trail.