Service & Contact
Contact
You can find all the information here.
Central Information and Booking Office
SALZKAMMERGUT TOURISTIK GmbH
12 Götzstraße
4820 Bad Ischl
Austria
Tel.: +43 (0)6132/24 000-73
Fax: +43 (0)6132/24 000-4670
Central Information Office
Schladming-Dachstein Vacation Region
756 Ramsauerstraße
8970 Schladming
Austria
Phone: +43 (0)3687/23310
Fax: +43 (0)3687/23232
Requirements & General Information
During the tour around the Dachstein, you will be spending most of your time in high-alpine terrain. Appropriate mountaineering gear and good stamina are therefore essential. Essential gear includes: hiking boots, technical clothing, a backpack, water and food, rain and sun protection, a first-aid kit, a cell phone and power bank, and possibly hiking poles. Your route will be immortalized by your entry in every hut logbook in the Dachstein Mountains. Approximately 5 to 8 hours of hiking time are planned each day. The trails are well-marked, but remaining snow may obscure the markings. Maps and the Dachstein Hiking Guide must therefore be carried at all times. Accompaniment by an experienced hiking guide is available upon request!
Please note that the tours are weather-dependent, but there are always alternative hiking options available!
Dachstein Circular Hiking Trail
Compass
Hiking Guide + Bonus Map | 1:25,000, 8 stages, GPX data available for download
Mountain Safety
General
On this tour around the Dachstein, you’ll hike through many different altitude zones, so the daily challenges vary accordingly.
- Alpine trails at altitudes between 1,400 and 2,100 m
- Glacier hike from 2,100 to 2,700 m
- Secluded trails across the high alpine pastures between 1,700 and 1,000 m
- Flat valley hikes along streams and rivers
Sudden weather changes, rapid drops in temperature, thunderstorms, wind, fog, and snowfields are objective hazards and require appropriate behavior while on the trail. The hut owners are experienced mountain experts; they can provide helpful advice on the weather and the route. Inadequate equipment, overconfidence, carelessness, poor physical condition, and a misjudgment of the situation can lead to critical situations. Glaciers should only be traversed on marked routes.
Sure-footedness
Hiking on alpine trails requires concentration and discipline, good trekking or mountaineering boots, and planning. How long is the hike? Where is the next rest stop? What is the elevation gain? Are there places to stop for a break along the way? And: “sure-footedness.” Caution is especially advised when entering snowfields (which may be hollowed out) and avalanche cones. There is almost always a risk when crossing steep snowfields. Especially in early summer and on slopes, hiking early in the morning (possibly on hard snow) can be dangerous. Rope belaying, an ice axe, good trekking poles, and sturdy boots are then essential.
Equipment
A backpack is mandatory, and since some of the routes are in high alpine terrain, a hat, gloves, a good anorak, and overpants are essential gear! Good, waterproof shoes, sunglasses, sunscreen, and plenty of drinks are essential. A flashlight, maps, a knife, and a small first-aid kit are no luxury. Magnesium tablets are helpful for enriching your water and preventing cramps.
If something happens:
Rule No. 1 – keep a cool head. A cell phone can be a great help – the emergency numbers: No. 140 – the number for alpine emergencies – throughout Austria. If the alpine emergency call is placed, the operations center will dispatch the appropriate alpine rescue teams after assessing the situation. No. 112 – the European emergency call (GSM emergency service) is standard across Europe and is offered as an SOS function on many devices. After dialing, you will be connected to the nearest emergency dispatch center; in Austria, this is the police emergency line — it is treated with the highest priority. Keep your cell phone turned on!
During thunderstorms:
Summit areas, ridgelines, and rope-secured sections must be avoided at all costs. Thunderstorms typically occur in the afternoon, so if thunderstorms are expected, start your hike early! At higher elevations, a sudden change in weather can mean rain, snow, and hail! This is when the quality of your gear really shows.
Important:
There are no charges for emergency calls! Use common sense and stay calm— no taking risks. Always pay attention to the trail markers!
Guide
To help you stay on the right track.
- Find your way with confidence on natural and semi-natural trails and paths around the Dachstein — no asphalt or concrete!
- At a wide range of altitudes between 780 and 2,700 m
- In a wide variety of landscapes — from the valley floor up to the glacier region
