Pre-spring ascent of Feldl in Ennstal, Austria

Circular trek over the Feldl mountain on the edge of the Totes Gebirge

Starting point

Village Wörschachwald, large parking lot at the inn and ski lift, free of charge. The village is located on the road connecting the village of Wörschach and the road near the Tauplitz ski resort.
 

Description of the hike

I leave my car in the large car park at the Wörschawaldhof (free). The small ski lift and two slopes are still in use, but there is already grass around on the south slope. I follow the marked route towards Feldl (2 hours). Already from the village there is a beautiful view of the two-thousand-foot Grimming, to the west the Dachstein also emerges after a while. At the end of the village the path through the forest begins. There is still snow in the shadows and ice in places, so snowshoes or at least hiking poles are useful. Hundreds of snow roses bloom on the thawed places.

In about an hour I reach the crossroads by the hunting lodge. Here the turn to Hechlstein goes off to the left and the snow has noticeably increased. I continue on snowshoes. From the nearby Hochtor (1542 m) crossroads, views of the Totes Gebirge, the mountains around Tauplitzalm, Almkogel and Hochmölbing open up. It is only about half an hour's climb to the top. Just below the summit, a chamois watches me curiously. From the summit at 1,696 m above sea level, there is a wide view of the slightly misty Ennstal and the mountains from Gesäuse to Dachstein. The slopes of the Rottenman and Schladming Alps shine white against the blue sky. To the east, the tooth of the Hochtausing ferrata still impresses.

After a rest I descend across the plains to the Stoiringalm with its wooden huts. There is a spring on the Stoiringalm. I then return down the southern slope, towards Spechtensee, the lake in the valley. On the south slope there was a quarry at the beginning of 2025, but the marked path was passable except for a few fallen trees. There are groomed cross-country ski trails around Spechtensee in winter, and the only hut on the route, Spechtenseehütte, was open in February. From the Spechtensee it is possible to return to the Wörschachwald via footpaths through the forest or by road.
 

Difficulty

Feldl is a scenic peak near Grimming, the landmark of the Ennstal valley. The starting point for the climb can be the village of Wörschachwald, located at 1100 m above sea level. With an elevation of about 600 m, the climb is relatively easy and therefore popular even in winter on snowshoes or skialp. The route can also be extended to the surrounding peaks of Bärenfeuchtmölbing, Gwendlingstein, Hechlstein (partially secured route). All routes are marked.
 

Water availability

Restaurants at the beginning and at the end of the path, the spring is at the shepherd's hut on Storingalm.
 

Sleeping options

Tourist area, there is plenty of accommodation in the valley.
 

Danger

The route is on marked paths, there are no exposed places.
 

Food

Food to go, or at the huts at the beginning and end of the trip.