Ferlach-Tschaukofall-Meerauge-Ogrisalm-Klagenfurter Hütte

SHORT ROUTE DESCRIPTION: 

Ferlach, Stop Sparkassenplatz-Unterloibl-Goldenes Brürndl-Tscheppaschlucht/Hohe Brücke/653-Tschaukofall/Hemmaweg-Gh. Sereinig/662/20-Meerauge-Gh. Bodenbauer/20 (old: 10)-Ogrisalm-Stinzesteig/662-Matschacher Sattel-Klagenfurter Hütte/Julius-Kugy-Three-Country Trail/KGW/Südalpenweg/Panorama Trail Südalpen/622

DETAILED ROUTE DESCRIPTION:

1.  We hike from the stop (500 m) west over the bridge, then turn south into Waaggasse or the cycle path R 7 – from here we are accompanied by the Hemmaweg SVAna-Gurk, trail no. 653, and the Loiblbach. After about 2.4 km we meet the Loiblstraße L 104, go briefly right, west, and choose the 1st fork south – after about 300 m we hike at a fork half-right.

2.  We approach the Tscheppaschlucht, pass Grabenhammer and a dam, and after about 1.4 km ignore a hiking trail on the right coming from the parking lot – after about 700 m we reach the "Goldenes Brürndl" and the entrance/ticket office to the Tscheppaschlucht (1st break, 5 km, 575 m).

3.  We pass through a core area of the gorge and after about 1.2 km reach the Hohe Brücke (wooden bridge with a beautiful view of the Loiblbach). A short, steep path leads us up to an easily walkable path – after about 200 m we come to a hiking intersection.

4.  On the way to the Tschaukofall (26 m height), accompanied by the Hemmaweg, we cross a wooden bridge and after a steep climb a very generously designed metal bridge – it takes us under the federal road B 91 and we can still see the natural spectacle Tschaukofall from the bridge. Near the info board we take the 2nd break, 6.7 km, 773 m.

ALTERNATIVE 1: From the info board "idyllic panorama trail" walk about 700 m towards Gh. "Deutscher Peter" to the rest area and enjoy the nature trail – then return to the info board.

5.  We turn onto an uphill path west and are accompanied by the Julius-Kugy-Three-Country Trail, the panorama trail Südalpen, and trails no. 662 and 20 – after about 900 m, partly on wooden boardwalks, we reach the rest area "Puffersäge" with the western (pay) entrance to the Tscheppaschlucht.

6.  On the way to the family farm Sereinig we cross a main agricultural road (HWW) after about 700 m and at a hiking intersection meet the trails turning left: Südalpenweg (SAW 603), Carinthian border trail (KGW), and the Karawanken hiking trail (KWW) – after about 400 m we reach the Sereinig property (Gh. + grocery store) and take the 3rd break in the beer garden or at the old mill by the Bodenbach, 9.8 km, 1,010 m.

7.  We pass the chapel and hike on a natural path, accompanied by the Julius-Kugy-Three-Country Trail or panorama trail Südalpen, southwest – we meet an HWW that takes us with trails no. 662 and 20 after about 1.1 km to the fork right, northwest, and to the Meerauge.

8.  Returning, we continue to follow the trail numbers right, west. Passing Gh. Bodenbauer and shortly thereafter leaving it, we hike in a right curve with trail no. 20 (old: 10) and the "Magical Moments" loop northeast, past the rest areas Singerbergblick and Rijautzablick, up to the HWW and again meet southwest of the Ogrisbauer the two WWW trails Südalpenweg 603 and Carinthian border trail – we take the 4th break, 13 km, 1,190 m.

ALTERNATIVE 2: We hike northwest of family farm Sereinig on a well-marked asphalt road up to Ogrisbauer – immediately after we wait at an intersection (saves 1.5 km and 30 min).

9.  Steadily uphill and southeast past Großen Rain, Cjanovec, and the Kosmatitza we reach the tranquil, non-managed Ogrisalm with the magnificent view to S/SW – we take the 5th break, 15.4 km, 1,569 m.

10.  After about 250 m the familiar trail no. 662 comes from the left (from the "Fairy Meadow") – with this and the JKDW, SAW, KGW, PWS, and the KWW we now head to the partly rope-secured Stinzesteig – at the end of the right curve and steep ascent, we enjoy the view to SE and take the 6th break, 16.8 km, 1,714 m.

11.  We hike further west, north of the Bielschitza, appreciating the gentle Matschacher Sattel (part of the nature reserve). We stay on the trail marking and reach - crossing the municipality border - the goal of the Julius-Kugy-Three-Country Trail – connection via E 2b after about 900 m (17.8 km, 1,664 m).