A Hike to Jakobskogel in the Raxalpe Mountains

A trip to Jakobskogel via the cable car in the Rax Mountains

Starting point

The upper station of the cable car on the Rax plateau. We left our car at the lower cable car station in the free parking lot.
 

Description of the hike

Upon arriving at the lower station of the cable car, we left our car in the free parking lot and had no trouble buying tickets for the ride. In less than 10 minutes, the cable car took us up to the plateau of the Rax Mountains. We were quite surprised that most of the cable car passengers stayed at the restaurant near the upper station and didn’t even go to Otto Haus.

So we set off along a wide path through low trees toward the Otto Haus. It’s a very pleasant walk—just under two kilometers with an elevation gain of about 100 meters. Plus, there are views of the surrounding Schneeberg Mountains. From the Otto Haus, we climbed up an unmarked trail through dwarf pine to the Jakobskogel. The elevation gain is minimal again, so we reached the top from the hut in no time. The views from the summit are beautiful, taking in the Raxalpe range as well as the surrounding Schneeberg and the Fischbach Alps.

From the summit, we followed the edge of the plateau back to the Otto Haus hut, where we had a light snack. Then we headed back. From the Rax plateau, a trail leads down into the valley, passing through an attractive rock arch right at the start. Otherwise, the descent isn’t very pleasant. You have to descend about 900 meters in elevation. The first part of the descent is through dwarf pine and low trees, so you can enjoy the views of the surrounding area. After that, the descent continues through the forest and meadows toward the first buildings in the valley. At the Ausschüttanger junction, we left the red trail and continued toward the village of Hirschwang an der Rax. The final stretch of just under a kilometer runs along the road back to the lower station of the cable car.
 

Difficulty

Although the cable car makes it very easy to reach the plateau, the descent from it is quite challenging and long. The elevation drop is more than 1,200 m. For this reason, the descent is also quite strenuous. The upper section of the descent is in a rockier terrain, while the lower section consists of trails or wide paths.
 

Water availability

You can replenish your fluids at the Otto-Haus and Raxalm Berggasthof mountain lodges near the cable car.
 

Sleeping options

Both lodges on this trek—Otto Haus and Raxalm Berggasthof—offer accommodations. Of course, it’s also easy to find lodging in the villages in the valley.
 

Mountain peaks

From the summit of Jakobskogel, there is a beautiful view of the Schneeberg and Rax mountain ranges and the surrounding countryside.
 

Danger

A very easy hike with no exposed sections. The upper part of the trail leading to the plateau is rockier, but it’s no problem at all. There’s also a steel cable installed there, but it’s really just to make the walk a little more interesting.
 

Food

There are restaurants at the mountain huts along the route—Otto Haus and Raxalm Berggasthof.