Walkers on the Hartkaiser
| Start | Ellmau (Hartkaiser: 1519m) |
| Distance | 11km |
| Height gain | 161m |
| Height loss | 530m |
| Grade | 1–2 |
| Time | 4hrs |
| Location | Southwest of Ellmau |
By use of the Hartkaiser funicular to access the broad range of hills which separates the valley of the Weissache from the Brixental, a variety of fairly gentle walks can be made. Following the path known as the Berg-Welt Panoramaweg, this outing is one of the longest, and it leads to a gondola lift on the north flank of the Hohe Salve, enabling a quick descent to Söll. The actual walk is mostly undemanding, and there are several places en route where refreshments can be had. If your base is Ellmau, before you set out don’t forget to check the bus timetable for the return journey from Söll.
Leaving the top station of the Hartkaiserbahn walk ahead along a path signed to Hochbrixen. When this forks 2mins later you have a choice of either crossing the Hartkaiser summit, or skirting it on a broad path. Whichever you choose, when you come to another junction, branch right to follow the panoramaweg which, true to its name, enjoys a splendid panoramic view across the valley to the Wilder Kaiser mountains.
About 30mins from the start the panoramaweg footpath brings you to a track where you turn right, and 3mins later branch left at another junction. This track now leads across the broad grass ridge with the Kitzbüheler Alps to the south and east, and snowpeaks of the Hohe Tauern forming a distant horizon. Another junction is met 5mins after coming onto this track. Continuing along the track takes you past several alms, while the recommended footpath cutting right visits the Jochstub’n See with its little restaurant. This is reached in another 20mins.
Skirt the end of the lake on a path which then eases along a crest of pasture, zigzags up a short rise to a high point of 1680m from where the Hohe Salve can be seen to the west, then twists downhill to the track of the Berg-Welt Panoramaweg. Passing to the left of the Zinsbergalm building, about 5mins later turn right on a footpath descending along the line of a ski tow, but when an alternative breaks off to the right, follow this to the Brandlalm Jausenstation (refreshments). Take the track leading from the Jausenstation, then bear right at a crossing track and soon come to the complex of buildings of Hochbrixen (1290m) about 2½hrs from the Hartkaiser.
Walkers on the Hartkaiser
Maintain direction ahead, then branch right at a fork. Once again the track forks, but this time you continue ahead, and about 30mins from Hochbrixen you pass the Silleralm building, after which the track briefly rises. Söll can now be seen in the valley below. The track divides at a hairpin bend, and you take the right-hand option which shortly descends through pastures below the Antlasseealm building, and continues downhill to pass through a belt of forest, eventually reaching Hochsöll. Here you’ll find restaurants, chairlifts to Hohe Salve, and the gondola lift which descends to Söll.