BergeSeen Trail S3: Hochkogelhaus - Rinnerhütte

The third section of the alpine variant Schönberg offers you – similar to the variant over the Dachstein mountains – the experience of a moonscape. Only windswept mountain pine tufts and small grass cushions bring a little green to the prevailing gray of the rugged limestone slabs, which are layered like petrified waves between the Schönberg and the Wildensee.

From the Hochkogelhaus, you go back on path no. 211 towards "Schönberg". After the ascent below the Vorderer Rauhenkogel, however, you turn left onto path no. 230. It leads through mountain pines into the wide cirque of the Feuertal, where under the northern cliffs of the Schönberg (Wildenkogel) a large, inscribed and easily accessible ice cave is hidden on a rock.

An effect of the ubiquitous corrosion, which has riddled the rocky ground like Emmental cheese, are also the numerous sinkhole shafts that gape near the trail. Soon the path from the Schönberg eastern ridge merges (it forms a very demanding but secured descent with steel cables, which can shorten this variant by one day). There you follow the rock inscription "Wildensee, Rinner" further east. While descending below the Wehrkogel, the strange summit shape of the Hangender Kogel (1,895 m) impresses on the left. Then you reach a height between mountain pine-covered limestone slabs under the Großer Scheiblingkogel (1,920 m), which can be climbed without marking but easily via a grassy slope on the left. From its small summit cross, you enjoy an incredible panoramic view over the karst wilderness between the Schönberg and the Rinnerkogel to the distant Dachstein. 2:30 h From the height, the marked path continues between the rocky east side of the mountain and the Kleiner Rinner (2,003 m). The route leads over flat and karren-eaten limestone slabs and past sinkholes – through a true moonscape. Then it goes downhill until you stand on a flat meadow next to a huge sinkhole basin (1,803 m) in front of the Rinnerkogel at the next junction.

To the right, the path continues after the sign "Rinnerhütte" and goes up and down over rock steps and through karst corridors before you descend through the south-facing karren and mountain pine slopes below the mountain. After further short ascents and descents, the path crosses to the east side of the Rinnerkogel where it reaches a last fork. To the right, a rocky path leads down to the Wildensee (1,535 m) – you choose this route if you want to continue to the Appelhaus or Loserhütte. The signpost to the left shows the destination of this stage, the Rinnerhütte (1,470 m). After a short traverse of a slope, you meet the route of the 21st stage of the Salzkammergut BergeSeen Trail, which leads left through a small high valley to the accommodation of the mountaineering association Ebensee. 3:00 h

Summit detour to the Rinnerkogel (2,012 m)

• In alpine terrain, watch out for the danger of falling rocks.


• Until early summer you may encounter steep snowfields or firn gullies there – especially when icy, there is acute danger of falling and thus risk to life!


• Due to storm damage, forestry work, or construction measures, some trail sections may be temporarily difficult or impossible to pass.


• Cows in the alpine pasture are often curious. Due to cow-calf rearing, they develop a strong instinct to protect their calves. Move calmly on cow pastures, keep at least 20 m distance from the animals, and do not pet calves under any circumstances! In case of threatening gestures (scratching, stamping), slowly walk backwards (do not turn your back). Dogs must be on a leash; they must not bark at or chase cows. In an attack, they must definitely be let off the leash.

For all stages you need hiking or mountain shoes with profiled rubber soles as well as wind- and rainproof clothing.

Spare clothes for changing and a small emergency first-aid kit should also be in your backpack. How much provisions you pack depends on the number of places to stop for food. In any case, you should take enough to drink. Telescopic poles are especially helpful when going downhill.

With kind provision of the text by the KOMPASS publishing house and Wolfgang Heitzmann.

More information at trail.salzkammergut.at