Kandel Summit Loop Hike - Viewpoints Around the Kandel

​ ▶ From the Kandelhotel 01, we hike over to the Borstengraswiesen, but immediately turn right and walk through tall grass to the edge of the forest. A shaded forest path leads us slightly downhill; to our right below us runs a wide forest road, which we come to a short while later and follow to the left. At the next trail junction, we take the middle path (yellow diamond) and shortly thereafter, at Pos. Saddle 02, we turn left toward Sautränke. The root-strewn path leads briefly through the forest, then along the slope to the right with a magnificent unobstructed view. The narrow path is somewhat exposed here and damp in places; Caution! We reach the Heibeerfelsen 03, a wonderful viewpoint just a few meters to the right of the trail, then we traverse along the steep forested slope in switchbacks. The beautiful panoramic trail widens slightly, descends more steeply, and we come to a forest road and Pos.  Sautränke 04. We keep to the left, pass a small picnic area with tables and benches on the flat, wide forest road, and then turn left onto a forest path (Pos. Kohlplätze). Ahead of us, we can see the Kandel Pass Road. Continuing straight ahead through the tall-trunked forest, we cross the pass road and then keep to the left, slightly above the road, following a beautiful, flat trail along the edge of the forest. After a somewhat exposed section, the trail becomes rockier and boulders appear along the way; the road runs to our right below us. Our trail joins a wide forest road coming from the right, which we follow slightly uphill to the left. After a few meters, we leave the wide trail, turn right onto a narrow path that initially leads downhill. The path—narrow again and somewhat exposed in places—alternates between a bed of fallen leaves and rocky ground, but remains relatively level and takes us to Pos. Serpentine 05. Continue straight ahead, and after a few steps, a narrow path branches off to the left, leading up into the forest. We traverse along the slope and the edge of the forest; the path becomes rockier, and a sign warns us: “Danger of falling rocks. Do not stop”; shortly afterward, we’re below the Großer Kandelfelsen 06. Now we follow the signs toward Thomashütte, climb up a narrow path on the left, cross a forest road, and arrive at Pos. At the Thomashütte, we come to a forest road that crosses our path; we follow it to the right for about 150 m to the Thomashütte 07. Wonderful viewpoint. Back to the intersection and continue straight ahead on a rocky path uphill. After a steeper section, we emerge into the open and continue straight ahead—now on a less steep path—through sparse forest to Pos. Hoschgetkreuz. A wooden sign on a tree points toward the Fensterlewirt (food and lodging), and across an open area (cross), the trail descends briefly to a wide forest trail and then climbs gently again to the Gummenhofhütte 08.Passing the hut, we turn left and head uphill across a meadow slope to a plateau that offers us a beautiful view of two valleys. From there, after another left turn, we hike up to the Kandel summit 09 and—after taking in the panoramic views—head right and descend back to the nearby Kandelhotel 01, our starting point.