Lake Schödersee is a periodic lake: it fills only after heavy rainfall or snowmelt and often dries up completely in summer because of underground drainage. If you are planning to visit it as a hiking destination, bear in mind that it is a seasonal natural phenomenon—water cannot be expected year-round.
Landscape and Mountaineering Village
One-third of the Hüttschlag municipal area has been part of Hohe Tauern National Park, the largest national park in the Alps, since 1991. Since 2008, Hüttschlag has also been one of Austria’s “Mountaineering Villages,” selected according to strict criteria. The initiative is a project of the Austrian Alpine Club as part of the implementation of the International Alpine Convention.
These two designations give the village different points of distinction: the national park represents the protection of a large part of the municipal area, while the award recognizes its special place in the Mountaineering Villages project. When planning your trip, it is worth focusing on specific destinations and routes—from the seasonal lake to the designated via ferratas.
Hiking between the Schödertal and the Arlscharte
The Hohe Tauern Panorama Trail runs along the northern side of the Salzach Valley to Hüttschlag and is laid out as a route of 17 stages. Its stage-based format makes it a different kind of hiking experience from the individual destinations around the village. As the route configuration may be updated, check the current route with the operator before setting out.
A hike from the national park information point at Gasthof Talwirt leads into the Schödertal and up to the Arlscharte, the pass into the Maltatal. Along the hike to Lake Schödersee, around 50 information boards describe natural and historical features of the Großarltal. This connects the destination with topics presented along the way. A detour of around 40 metres from the trail also leads to Lake Ötzlsee.
There is also a specific point of reference for planning your route to Kreealm Waterfall: from the turnoff to the Kreealmen, it is a five-minute walk, and the waterfall drops around 80 metres. This describes access from that turnoff; it should not be confused with the duration of a longer hike.
Via ferratas with different specifications
The stated difficulty grades and measurements of the via ferratas can be compared without treating the routes as equivalent. The “Kupfergeist” via ferrata in the Hüttschlager Wand follows 150 metres of vertical rock and has a difficulty grade of C–E. The “Gletschergoaß” practice via ferrata is graded A–C, is 150 metres long and 50 metres high. These figures refer to different measurements: for Kupfergeist, the vertical rock section is specified; for Gletschergoaß, the length and height are given.
The “Kupfergeist,” “Gletschergoaß” and “Franzl” via ferratas are around 25 minutes from the centre of Hüttschlag. Check the technical conditions when planning your routes. This keeps the approximate travel time and the stated route details as separate points of reference.
Culture between alpine pastures, forest and local history
The Hüttschlag Valley Museum presents the exhibition “On the Alpine Pasture—Between Heaven and Earth.” It explores the cultural landscape, alpine pastures and forest in the national park. Alongside the hiking destinations, the landscape itself is also a focus: not only its natural features, but also its use and formation as a cultural landscape.
Another historical point of interest is Hüttschlag Parish Church. It was probably built in the 18th century under the influence of the Salzburg Court Building Office. Its probable date and architectural influences add a look at the village’s architectural history to its nature and hiking themes.
Discover more destinations: Radstadt, Wimm, Kleinarl, Mandling, Neuberg, Großarl, Hüttau, Karteis.
Back to the main travel overview: Sankt Johann Im Pongau.
