The Hartkaiser Panoramaweg
| Start | Ellmau (Hartkaiser: 1519m) |
| Distance | 12km |
| Height loss | 745m |
| Grade | 1 |
| Time | 3hrs |
| Location | Southwest of Ellmau |
For visitors to the Hartkaiser by funicular, this route suggests an easy but interesting way back down to Ellmau. First it samples the delights of the panoramaweg, with its great views across the valley to the Kaisergebirge mountains, then descends via a series of farm tracks, visiting remote alms on the way, before wandering through the Weissachbach valley. There’s plenty of fine scenery to enjoy, and in the early summer a wealth of alpine flowers in the meadows. Later in the year, there’ll be bilberries or wild raspberries to pick.
Leave the top station of the Hartkaiserbahn and take the marked path to the summit of the Hartkaiser (1555m) in a little under 10mins, then descend by a more narrow trail through forest and out to a grass slope leading to a broad track and a path junction. Here you join the panoramaweg, a lovely footpath crossing slopes carpeted with bilberries, and with a magnificent view to the right where the Wilder Kaiser mountains make a formidable wall on the far side of the valley.
On coming to a broad track at the end of the panoramaweg footpath, turn left to gain a view of the Kitzbüheler Horn in the distance. When the track forks, with the left branch returning to the Hartkaiserbahn, continue ahead sloping downhill, and 5mins later bear right at another junction. Wander down towards the Hartkaiseralm, where a path swings left and descends to a pleasant farm track cutting through steeply sloping pastures and belts of woodland, with alms seen scattered across distant hillsides where the Kitzbüheler Alps stretch among countless ridges and undemanding summits.
Arriving at a double hairpin bend, ignore another track which breaks away to the right, and remain with the Ellmau route. Soon reach a multi-junction of tracks near the Rahnhartalm (1253m) and keep ahead towards alm buildings. Passing along the left-hand side of the first building, descend to the second, beyond which a footpath slopes down to a farm road where you bear left.
This road will eventually lead to the valley station of the Hartkaiser funicular, but serving only a few outlying farms, it’s not at all busy. Where alternatives arise, the Ellmau route is signed, and on entering the Weissachbach valley you first walk along the left bank, then cross to the right, only to revert back to the left bank once more. On reaching the Hartkaiserbahn, bear right across the Weissache for the last time and walk along the road into Ellmau.
The Hartkaiser Panoramaweg